Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1888-11-09

AAhS hAAO AAOu
"Nonsense after all these years the
lion must be sleeping"
perhaps, but easily aroused, Jack.
Now sit down, and tell me why you came
here. We are wholly safe from intrusion
or interruption.
''Ten years ago, Dick, parted from
you under rather peculiar circumstances.
How has the world used you since
thenp
"Well, until now," I groaned, as
leaned my head upon my hand.
'And Claire, and and mothor2'
asked he, faltcringly.
Both are we'll; your mother is living
with us"
Il thank you for that, Dick, " uttered
he warmly, as he reached out and
clasped my hand in a fervent embrace.
"What seems to be the trouble now,
Dick2"
"Iam upon the verge of failure"
"No! What you fail"
Yes; times have been close, and sew
eral failures among some of my creditors,
all have combined to work against me. {"
"And you cannot meet your indebted
ness dollar for dollar2 Is that what you
meanW
''It is. Tomorrow morning the papers
will spread broadcast my ruin"
''Is there no alternative." he asked. |
shook my head. "How much do you
owe, Dick"
"Fifty thousand dollars" l groaned
in despair.
"And you have got in yonder safe?"
| looked at him in horror. What right
had he, an escaped convict, man who
had served portion of his time in Sing
Sing for burglary, to ask me such a
question: But then he was my wifes
brother, my dear friend, Jack Harkens,
of my schoolboy days.
''Ten thousand dollars"
"But drop in the bucket. Why
sacrifice it to your greedy creditors9"
''Jack, you forget yourself. Your
life has been vastly different from mine,
you will recolect,' said as l rose and
turned from him.
at will give you time"
"Time2 what do you meau9" | quickly
asked, as I again turned toward him.
"Listen to my plan. Sit down; /
will tell it in few words" l reseated
myself, and gazed upon his handsome
face as he revealed what he was pleased
to call his plan.
'It is years since 1 did any job of
this sort, but l think my hands and
brains have not lost their cunning. You
are pressed by your creditors. You
want to settle with them dollar for dol
lar, but cannot. You would give them
this paltry ten thousand dollars, which
would only whet their appetites for
more. To-night-now listen and do
not start uAL crack your satet You
will say that you had forty thousand
dollars in it. Your creditors greed
will be turned to sympathy, and they
will give you further time. Now, what
do you think of my plan2"
He leaned back in the chair and fixed
his eyes upon my face, as though he
would fain read every thought running
riot through my whirling brain.
My safe broken open and forty thou
sand dollars taken from it'll The whole
city would talk about it; the officers of
the law would take speedy steps to cap
ture the burglar, and my creditors would
give me time to retrieve my losses be-
cause of my calamity. No one would
know but Jack-and my God and con-
science. Heavens! how could face the
phantom of my past unblemished life,
and still the little voice which would,
every moment of my after life, confront
me with that name thief.
"Jack-I-I-cannot I weakly ut.
tered, as fell back, utterly bereft of
strength.
"Spoken like a man. All! Dick, olo
boy, you withstood temptation, as 1
failed to years ago; and now, l beg you
to forgive old Jack for presenting plan
he never intended to follow. \ ou start.
Well, perhaps you have reasons. I, too,
am now an honest man, and have been
ever since we last parted"
"Thank God, you did not mean it, l
gasped.
"Crack your safe? Do anything that
would place me back where | was years
ago2 never! But have another plan to
eiease you from your present disagree
able emergency.
SWhat do you mean2" I asked in
amazement.
"This cheque l will fill out for the sum
of fifty thousand dollars" and as he
spoke he drew out a checque- book, and
proceeded to fill it out and sign it. Then
he handed it to me, and leaning back,
laughed heartily, as he saw the look of
wonderment which must have spread
over my features.
"This is not your name"
"But that name, Edward Strange
Winters, is good for half million of
dollars i"
"What, the rich banker of San Fran.
cisco2"
"None other. Dick, you know it will
not do for me to stay here in the city too
long. Some OF my old comrades might
recognize me, which would be quite un-
pleasant, you will admit. While you are
at the bank I will pay flying visit to
mother and Claire. NOW, good bye, old
fellow; say, don't forget your friend,
the eX-burglar."
was alone. In my hand was the
cheque, and, thank God, | was free
man. could now meet my creditors,
and face them proudly, for possessed
that which would and did satisfy every
claim against me.
Before sundown the cloud had passed
entirely away from my financial sky, and
then | went home free man. Upon the
faces of Claire and her mother l Isaw sun
shine.
Life prospered with me after that.
The millionaire Californian is growing
richer, and even the law, l believe, has
forgotten Jack Harkens, my burglar
friend. = Yankee Bi0de.
Ages Of Noted Trees.
A writer in the Christian at Work
gives the ages of some noted trees. The
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