News and citizen. [volume] (Morrisville, Vt. ;) 1881-current, 1890-03-27
blamed If thew wouldn,tI, and a choke

blamed if they wouldn't!" and choke
came in his voice; 'and my wife, l
tell ou,''-and the choke deepened
into q dry sob-''my wife, if she seed
me hundred yards off, why, she'd fly
down to me light as snowflake ON an
oak bough. Dash! you mought knock
me down with straw. If L can't get
home, mought as well slam my pistol
to my head and yank the trigger.
No one else will come and say he is
Allan Brayon; and you can just tote
that money on to my wife, and say i'm
dead"
"Oh, nonsensel Cheer up" cried
the cashier, who was feeling little
choky himself. Nonsense! Some
one must come along in day or two
who will know you; or, suppose you
send for your wife to come here"
How can L? Every cent is locked
up in that draft, and it won't pay no
dividends"
He walked to the outside door of the
office, looked with his keen glance up
and down the street; then burying his
chin in his great curling beard he
seemed to be plunged in deep thought.
Suddenly he faced about with shout
that made all the clerks in the office
jump, and set the ink bottles bobbing
around the desks. His eyes cleaned
lightning. ''It's all right; this'll
fetch it," he cried; ''don't want any
thing better to IDENTIFY mel"
AS he was speaking he was tearing
off his coat, tearing off his vest, snatch
ing off his necktie and unbuttoning his
shirt-his eyes blazing, his breath COM
ing in great gasps. Then he gave his
broad, heaving chest sounding blow,
AM in tones full, moving, like the re-
sounding tones of an organ, though
each eager, breathless word seemed to
have a great sob at the bottom of it,
he pointed to his breast and exclaimed:
''Look! loo here, here is the 'denti-
fication! l. were warranted fast colors
I've secured it with soap and water
these twenty year. A sailor chap did
it when | were boy and ran away to
sea in a fit of cussedness. 1t hurt so
that | yelled like circus hyena; but
thank God! thank God! it'll IDENTIFY
me now!"
He held the bosom of his shirt wide
open, and there right across his heav-
ing chest was the name ''Allan Bray
ton" tattooed in India ink, with fishes
and flourishes all around it AT sight
of the name, all the clerks at the desks,
who had been eagerly listening to his
appeal, forgot dignity and discipline,
and, rising as one man, cheered Allan
Brayton with a heartiness that made
the rafters ring.
Something was the matter with the
cashiers spectacles, for he took them
off and wiped them carefully before he
spoke.
Then, clearing his throat, he said,
"You are right, Mr.. Brayton; that
sailors work has identified you more
certainly than the spoken declaration
of any other man. l am glad you
have been able to satisfy us so COM
pletely. You will shake hands with
me, am sure, as token that you be-
lieve that my caution was necessary,
and that in our business, as you must
acknowledge, Eternal vigilance is the
only price of safety"
In five minutes more Allan Bravton
had his money in new, crisp banknotes,
securely fastened into a large pocket
book, which the cashier presented to
him. A relieved, almost radiant look
displaced the dismayed, wild, hunted
expression of his face as he quickly
and silently resumed his garments.
Then, shaking hands all around, he
strobe out of the office, and went glad
ly and swiftly on his way.-New York
Independent.