Wichita eagle., 1888-02-02
A BIG MISTAKE.


But while everybody had good word for
Henry Dyson, very few people spoke well Of
his brother Tom.
On the night our story opens the merchant
! was waiting for his graceess brother, and Is
/ the hours rolled on the frown on his face
grew deeper.
81 can do nothing with Tom," he said as he
paced the floor impatiently. II have given
him every possible chance, but he grows
more idle and disSpated every day. Perhaps
! l ought not to wait for him, but he was so
urgent in his request for an interview to-
night that could not refuse. Poor fellow!
What new trouble can he be mixed up in;n
/ The front door opened and young man
entered quietly, and, after furtive glance
around the store, proceeded to the Office.
'Well, Tonl!' said Henry Dyson.
II am here, you see," replied Tom.
~ suppose" said Henry, that it is useless
! to ask you why you are so late or where you
have been during the past two days"
Tom locked little nervous, and his eyes
/ fell.
THAT is neither here nor there he an
swered in a staggering way; Il have had
some business of my own to look after, and l
! knew tnat you were not short Of help in the
store"
"Well, what is itT' asked Henry abruptly
'Brother," Tom broke out hurriedly and
! in a fatering voice, ~ must have some
money-S200 or So"
II wonder where you will get it." Henry
rejoined. ''You will not get another cent
! from me-that is certain Why should
| toll here and economic in order to furnish
you with funds to be lost at the gaming
tablet?
If do not get this money" said Tom,
turning very pale, 81 shall have to leave the
country"
ga good thing for the country, then"
snapped Henry Don't let me interfere with
your travelling plans"
Tom seemed to fall all to pieces at this reply.
/ He made one more effort.
II hope you are not hard up yourself" he
said
81 was never getting along better, respond
ed the merchant, "but that has nothing to do
with the case"
He pulled open the door of the iron safe,
and pointed to a little tin box.
'tDo you see thatf' he asked. "Well that
! box contains twenty crisp 81 600 bank notes.
drew the money from the bank today for
al investment No, Tom, l am prospecting,
! but am tired of your endless drain upon my
purse. 1t must stop, and now is the time"
Henry rose from his chair and went into
/ little closet for his overcoat
! In an instant, before man could count
three seconds. Tom had drawn the flat tin
box from the safe and slipped it into the
I breast of his heavy overcoat
/ His brother slowly emerged from the
closet, and put on his wrappings Then he
! - L. E
! Il am ready to CO." he said. You have
no further business with me, presume!'
"No, SIR" Tom responded with pale, de-
ter-,ined face. Neither now, nor later,
! good-by."
"Good-by, old fellow" said Henry, with
yawn.
Tom walked ont of the store without
another word, banging the door after him.
81 know him." soliloquized the merchant,
"He will not leave here. He will be around
/ tomorrow with new proposition. Perhaps,
after all l had better look into his affairs,
and give him another chance"
! He walked slowly out of the building, and
! locked the door. A glance up and down the
street showed him that Tom was not in sight,
and he then quietly made his way to his
hotel, where he straishtway went to bed.
H.
After leaving the store Tom Rugged the
| tin box to his breast and walked at a rapid
pace
1T was an awful thing to do" he NUT
tered: ''but / had TO have money and
worked to make some of it,"
The young man sped onward through the
deserted streets until he reached the river.
He crossed the bridge and started up the hill
on the other side.
His plan was plain enough. He was going
! to suburban railway station to take the
train for the west.
Suddenly he pulled up with a jerk. He
| took the tin box from under his coat.
''The devil,n he exclaimed: II must have
been mad am no thief, and | will cut my
! throat before will become one There is but
! one thing to do. will take the box back to
my brother confess MY folly, and then leave
! him.
! He turned and retraccd his steps. When he
reached the bridge he paused n moment and
| looked over into the dark waters below.
II may find peace there" he said gloomily.
He leaned over the railing and listened to
! the swift rolling current.
MY Godln he cried. ''The box! the boxin
! 1t had slipped through his fingers, and al
ready the rushing waters were carrying it TO
the sea.
Tom ran in the direction Of his brothers
hotel. and then wheeled about and ran back
to the bridge His first impulse was TO throw
/ himself into the river.
II am fool" he said Suicide will not
/ restore the money must be man row If
there is any manhood in mer
Across the river and over the hill, into the
! thick darkness of the night. the guilty fugi-
! tive fed Mile after mile he walked like a
mailman.
The lights of the city disappeared from
/ view, and Tom found himself wandering II
} IA unfamiliar locality.
Again the river came in sight. and the
wretched man decided to follow its course. Il
was not far TO the sea- Ee would 90 on 70
( the nearest port and ship as sailor.
/ Anything get beyond his brothers reach,
/ and the syes OF those who knew him
Thus tie light of day found him. but II was
not Likely that any one along the river side
would recognize him. There were few dwell
I ings AID the people be met were farmers
/ who were not disposed to be unplsassntly in
gu;siiive.
So the half crazed man rushed on through
the day, til at nighttall be Enped YEARLY
iato small seaport town.
II,
Henry Dyson made every effort to find his
missing brother.
When be thought Of the panied look in
Toms eyes the night tire poor fellow left. be
reproached himself for allowing him 20 go
away without . kind word of encourage
uleut
The detectives took the matter up. and the