Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1888-02-14
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Weil, oiu man, ne salo, 3nytnnS neWt
no. said Mr.. Brown, throwing his over
coat On the bed. The bundle Of lavender
dropped out Of the pocket, and Mr. Brown,
picking it up, SHE'D it after the coat.
''What is thatr said the gentleman atthe
looking glass: manuscript
"So,n said Mr.. Brown, with slight look
Of embarrassment: '-something got at the
hotel Why the devil hasn't that Chinaman
made the beds upr he continued, impatient
Iy. sit is nearly IL O'Clock And going to
the door Mr. Brown called out in no gentle
tones: Here you, Sing Lee. Sing Lee.
MY dear fellow exclaimed his COM
paion, with an aRectafion Of terror, for
heavens sake, don't do that. You will stir
up the old woman I spent q whole hour
this morning persuading her to be quiet for
another week" And drawing Brown back
into the room, he fiptoesl into the entry, and
cautiously peered over the banisterx Then
coming back be closed the door softly. and
heaved a sigh OF relief.
Browns puzzled expression changed to
smile. ''Oh,- he said, Il forgot about the
rent. But, say. Benton, we can't owe her
very much for this little coop; can't you pay
her enough to let me kick that Chinaman
into some idea Of decencys'
Cant be done, my dear boy" said his
companion "You must learn To deny your
self these luxuries."
Talking Of denial said Brown, II am
frightfulIy hungry. Have you had your
breakfast
'This don't happen to be breakfast day.
said Benton, this is lunch day: but We will
have it early, in fact was only waiting for
you to come in We dined off the last Of my
watch last night, you know, 50 as not to
break that s. piece Of yours"
At this Browns face changed and his eyes
sought Tulitas lavender sticks, which lay
upon the unmade bed I'm tell you what it
is, Tom" he said, finally, looking up at his
friend comically, you ought to break my
neck
"Whyf said Mr.. Benton.
"Simply because am not TO be trusted
alone threw away e Of tina: money this
morning. You see,' he continued more
earnestly, II never had an experience Of this
sort before, and keep forgetting"
"Of course" said Benton, sympathetically.
1--WE can't expect . leopard to change his
spots in an instant
Here" continued Brown, taking out his
purse, you take charge Of the rest Of this.
mo, I'll be hanged il do replied Ben
ton. You forget our agreement in San
Francisco after that unlucky stock deal into
which got you'---
And in which you lost fifty thousand to
my five, interrupted Brown.
You forget our agreement continued
Benton, without needing this remark, that
We we're 10 pool our resources, and share
equally gains and losses, from a two bit piece
to Il hundred thousand dollars
"A hundred thousand dollars repeated
Brown, meditatively.
That is nothing sid Benton, ~ have
made much az that before now
I'm stocks, yes said Brown, but they
have no stocks here
"No," said Benton, but they have some
thing "A hundred times better; they have a
magnificent climate, and hnrbor, and every
thing to make n big city. And you mark
my word there i, going TO he of the big
gest booms right bore that the world has
ever seen. Kansas tity won't be cireunl-
stance to IL. WHY the climate alone
"Oh, come down,' interrupted Brown, ir-
reverently.
benton laughed and said, Seriously,
Frank, if we only can manage TO get hold of
some land our fortune is made. | am as sure
of that as that at pre~eIt we are dead broke.
II that wealthy father Of yours back in the
respectable village Of Philadelphia only
knew what glorious chance there was to
make q million or so right heren- and Mr..
Benton sighed
well, he won't know through me-" replied
Brown. 'If the worst comes | can always
drive team, but won't ask him for help"
II think you are wrong, old man." said
Benton. "Not on account of the money, but
on general principles. However, we will
make our stake just the same. And now
about lunch; am starved"
Il think ought to be made to eat the Law
ender,n said Brown, looking ruefully at his
purchase as he disclosed the contents Of the
bundle to his friend. "There, how is that
for 81 investment
But what is it, said Benton, picking up
one of the lavender sticks and looking at it
suspiciously Dynamite. Phz'zz't, For
the old woman with expressive refer
ence to the region occupied by the landlady.
mo, you old Anarchist" replied Brown.
Then in a fine lady's voice he said: It's
sweet lavender. Placed i'll your bureau
drawer, it will give pleasing odor to your
linen, That's right he continued in his own
voice, laugh! was going to give you one.
l shan't now
Did they throw bureau inf" said Ben
ton: 'otherwise, it is not much use to us
"Cse, said Brown, scornfully; think of
buying 81 worth of lavender"
Don't make me laugh any more" said
Benton, lit is weakening, and we can't afford
it. Tell me- how did you come to buy those
things
Nhcreupon Mr. Brown narrated the story
of his purchase.
"Yome." sid Benton, at its conclusion,
''and pretty
II did not say So interposed Brown.
at was not necessary" replied his friend;
1--WE must get acquainted with her"
"Whyf said Brown, in not altogether
pleased surprise.
because she may have friends among the
natives here, who have land that we can
handle for them Land, my dear boy, land,
that is what We want. You don't seem to
fancy the idea continued Benton, as Brown
remained silent; but we cannot afford to be
romantic just now. 1t is absolutely necessary
to use every chance. You have made a
three-dollar investment, and l don't propose
to throw it away. | am supersttious in
money matters, you know, and l have q
fancy that this generous act OF yours may
bring us luck. Three dollars worth of bread
on the waters as it were. l shall make q
point of getting acquainted with your friend,
and should like to have you stand in with
me- Ii you would rather not, why, of
courser-
But Mr. Brown said he would ''stand in,'
only, he it understood, for the sole purpos.' of
keeping Mr. Benton's business proclivities
within decent bounds.
Tuita sat upon the door step of the white
adobe house looking out upon the shining
waters of the bay. The sun was sinking into
the Pacific behind Point Iona and the
soft air was full Of q golden haze.
The Coronados islands and the distant hills
of Mexico worc outlined in a purple sihou-
cite against the evening sky and everything
was still and peaceful-everything except
Tulita's poor little heart. Her mother had
not been very well for the last two or three
days, and the death of her father was recent
enough to cause the slightest illness to fill
Tulita with alarmed foreboding. Then they
were 20 lonely, she and her mother. with no
one to care for them, and they were SO poor:
it was all very forlorn, and they had just
been crying over it together, they two in the
twilight. And now. with that vague inter-
est which the mind after great emotion feels
in trifing matters. Tulita sat on the door
II -