Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1888-09-06

| INTO a gooQ cluD, tney could not get II out
again, II can only afford to act respectfully.
Let them whisper what they like behind my
back, all that have to deal with is what is
said or done before my face, and the hounds
would be silent, for they can prove nothing.
II the brutes have TO lick me what do care
If they would like to bite. Heavens, what
a contemplate thing is human naturer the
great Napoleon used to say when he was a
young man starving in Paris. Contemplate
is not the word. Worthless-indifferent
unworthy Of even contempt-poor wretched
puppets. You band together, and club your
wretched selfshness into what yo1 call re-
spectability. Respect Why you will have
more real respect for me, who'll force my
way, and walk alone among you, than you
have for the sleeIyest creature Of your pack
Yes, Lions walk alone, iackals herd
together as Pitt used to say, and one can
play the Pitt or the Napoleon in private, as
| well as in public life, IL need be. Yes,
have only to wait now till Mr.. Oswald
smashes up the little that's left of his con-
stitution. Not many months at the further
| est Strange that the last 10000 should
| come altogether in this way; l might have
/ been three or four years getting it together
/ Perhaps longer. Who can tell2 We make
! more bad debts than people think, and, like
the snail crawling up the post, might now
| and then, have slipped down at night twice
! as far as had crawled during the day.
"But here, the whole thing is done. The
I last ten thousand made, as the saying is by
q stroke of my pen. And yetit's curious how
| | have had a suspicion from the first mo-
| ment l set eyes upon this brat that he'd be
at once ny making and nv ruin. Tushi
such nonsense; the thing is perfectly legal.
and the money is perfectly safe. Even if I
| lost il, I'd be very far from ruined: but it is
quite safe. SO, Mr. Oswald. YOU shall have
your thousand pounds, more especially as
you are pretty certain to kin yourself with
il. Still have a strange liking for the lad.
He has good qualities with all his folly.
But oh. humbug! what have | to do with
these feelings! If had any one to leave
my money to-a child of my own to inherit
nv wealth. might wish to leave it little
cleaner than it is. Yes, it's hard to think
that the riches for which have toiled will
go to people who curse my name--if don't
leave them to the nation, or turn them
into cash and fling it into the sea before
die. Come inn
The last two words were in answer to
knock at the door.
"Mr Oswald, SIR" said boy who acted
as sort of clerk TO Mr. Heath.
"Show him in" said the latter as he re-
sumed his seat at the table.
A tall, handsome, but very delicate young
man entered the room.
"Well, young sir, what can I do for you?n
said Heath in gruff voice, which was in
tended to be pleasant and assuring.
One of Mr. Heath's pecuIiarities was that
he seemed to take delight in making his
clients state their business as often as pos
sible however well he might be acquainted
with it.
''You can offer me a chair IL you want to
be civil, and a glass of brandy If you're in
clined to be friendly" replied Oswald, in
languidly familiar manner, which just Dor
dered on being contemptuous.
$50, please be seated, my dear sir, il you
insist on ceremony" said Heath, pushing
the bottle and glass toward his visitor as
he spoke. "And now, besides Offering you
a chair and little brandy, what else can
do for you!''
"Well, confound it! you know what
have come about. You have had my letter.
What's the use of asking such questions"
was the impatient reioinder.
Eyes. l have had your letter, but don't
like the business. l tell you frankly, don't
like to see young man running himself as
you are doing"
80, curse it all! have not come here to
be lectured," interrupted Oswald, angrily.
"Will you do the thing or not! This is
Thursday. | must have the money by
Saturday night"
81 would have to give notice to the trus-
tees of this fresh charge, and there is barely
time to get the thing through. l would
rather you took the matter somewhere
else" replied Heath, obviously.
But is impossible, and l must meet my
engagements on Monday" was the answer
The result of some further conversation
was that Mr.. Heath, with great show OF
reluctance, suffered himself to be persuaded
to have every thing ready to make this
further and final advance on Saturday.
''YOu will have twenty pounds in gold,
eight ten-pound notes, and the remaining
nine hundred pounds Short" said Oswald
as he was leaving the room.
Eyes, hope you viii take care of it, re-
piled Heath.
~ shall win twenty thousand over the
Guineas. Good evening"" was the answer,
and Mr.. Oswald took his departure.
On Saturday Oswald duly received the |
e, 900 after he had executed a deed, by |
which he assigned the policy of assurance |
and his life interest in the eI5,0)O cOGso!s |
to Mr.. Heath. According to the will of the |
late Mr.. Oswald, the el5,0OO was, if Robert |
Oswald died without issue. to pc paid to
distant relative who lived in America.
Mrs Oswald, may add, derived her in
come from certain investments in Ameri-
can railway stocks. She was supposed to
be very well off, but it was curious thing
that, though She went a good deal into
society, nobody seemed to know much |
about either her or her late husband. They
had come from America about five years
before and taken a house in Dorchester Ter
race, Bayswater.
The late Mr. Oswald brought very salts
factory references from Chicago, kept a
very good balance at his bank, and enter
taired, as did Mrs Oswald, in very hos
pitable manner. This, however, was really
all that was known about tdem. As to their
son, Robert, he had unluckily taken to bet
ting and got into the clutches of Mr. Heath,
with what result, so far, we have seen
above.
1t is not necessary to say mora than that
Robert Oswald lost his money, and brought
himself to his death-bed during the next
two months. As Mr.. Heath knew, he was
in consumption when he sold his annuity,
and the effect of his losses aud constant
dissipation precipitated the collapse of his
system. when sorrows come, they come
not single spies but in battalionsn On the
morning after the race for the Two Thou
sand Guineas," when Robert was left ut
terly penniless, and in debt to a number of
Mrs. Oswald received letter
from her stock broker, saying that he
would like TO see her at her earliest con-
venience. Accordingly she went at once