Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1890-04-17
CHAPTER ~.
A FOOL AND HIS MONEY.


had overtaken him, though he had
never carried his imaginiDgs to the
point which the actualities Of the case
had reached. He had supposed in
general way that there were plenty OF
things to be done by man in such
position, but when be ran over the list
in his mind he realized that every
course of action involved painful hui
initiation. He knew that there were
many charitable organizations which
sometimes assisted the distressed,
and at other times distressed the
assisted; but he could not re-
member the names or addresses
of any of them, with the single excep-
ton of the Society for the Prevention
of Cruelty to Animals. 1t hadn't come
to that yet, he thought, but there was
no telling when it would. He had gone
to sleep a gentleman and had walked
up tramp; an equal drop in the next
twenty-four hours might make him
chimpanzee or COW
The thought was not pleasant, and it
aroused Drane to desperation. Either
that or his hunger stimulated his mem
DRY, for he suddenly recalled the fact
that a gentleman with whom he had
had some dealings by letter was in bust
ness on Murray street. He asked a
policeman where that was, and the re-
ply fairly staggered him. 1t was niles
away. He felt that he should fall dead
of hunger before he covered half The
distance.
He leaned against lamp-post in ny
ter WEAKNESS, and closed his eyes
Then he heard woman's voice behind
him, saying: Il hoped that you would
come to see Mrs. Bowers, and l have
waited to thank you again for what you
did to help me-"
when | heard your voice." said
Drane, turning to greet his acquaint-
ance of the morning, Il thought l must
have died of starvation, and been adj
mitted to paradise through a mistake in
the records. You can not imagine what
friendly words are to man in my po-
sition.n
"And have you really suffered from
hunger?" she exclaimed, while the tears
came to her eyes. ''Ah, that is horrible!
Take this" land she put silver dollar
into his hand); lit should be multiplied
a thousand-fold if could but prove my
identity, and then l should feel that /
had done but little for you. There, do
not say word now. know that you
will repay me. Oh, dear me! there is
Mrs Bowers; she is coming down the
steps; she will be here in moment
Hurry away, but write to let me know
that you have come out of all your diff
ficulties."
Where shall address you?"
'.Oh, dear! don't know; can't think
of any place at all except that park
where we met"
That's hardly an address, you know, +"
said Drane, trying to be blithesome,
though Mrs. Bowers was bearing down
upon them very fast. Il might try the
general post-offlce but / don't know
your name and"
'And it isn't necessary that you
should put in Mrs. Bowers. Come
along, my good girl. He is not fit ac-
quaintance for You"
She dragged the younger woman
away, and gave her no chance to reply.
Lawrence, half crazed at being thus in
terrupted, was following them when a
hand was laid upon his shoulder, and,
as he turned about, tie policeman who
had directed him to M rray street stood
before him.
Look here, young feller." said he,
II saw de young woman give you some
thing, an that's enough for you, see?
Don't you follow her no more"
Drane couldn't abide the idea of an
other incarceration, and he obeyed the
policeman's instructions, with tn in
his soul. And yet, when he cooled
down bit, he perceived that his condi-
ton had been ameliorated to the extent
of one silver dollar, consideration by
no means to be overlooked. He had
never till that moment realized the
value Of money. In the blessed thought
that he could at last buy something like
square meal he forgot even the means
by which the money had been obtained.
Food was his one great need. He looked
about him for restaurant. There was
none in sight. Away to the left was the
elevated railroad. He knew that it
would take him down town where eat
ing houses would be plenty, and he hur-
ried to station.
An L-train at ten miles an hour is not
rapid transit to a man who has not dined
for two days. Before he reached the
City Hall station Drane fully realized
how badly New York needed another
and quicker system. Electricity in a
moment of excitement would have been
the proper thing to keep pace with his
impatience. However, the journey
ended before the tissues of his body had
wholly wasted away: and two minutes