Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1890-04-17

pay his check. just there temptation
seized upon him. He wanted to smoke.
1t seemed as if his longing for food had
been feeble to his present craving for
Just one fragrant Whit of tobacco.
"How much are those cigars?" he
asked indicating some which the man
a. the desk had just spread before Gus
te..ar.
Fifteen cents-two for quarter"
was the reply.
Drane reflected that man SO poor as
he was could not afford to pay fifteen
cents for cigar when he could get Ii
for twelve and half by simply purchas-
ing two. Overcome by this. unassailable
arithmetic, he laid down his last quar-
ter, and in another moment he was en-
joying one of the weeds for which New
York is Justly infamous to such degree
as he had never enjoyed good one in
his life. But he was penniless again.
He crossed City Hall Park with firm
step, and his head in the air. His woes
we're floating away in smoAe; his hopes
were high. He walked down Murray
street and quickly found the number he
sought The name Richard H. Billings,
in white letters on window of the
lower story, set all doubts at rest; and,
indeed, the man himself sat at desk in
plain view from the side walk. Lawrence
identified him at once from description,
and he felt that he was saved.
Mr.. Billings, however, was engaged in
earnest conversation, and Lawrence,
after staring at him minute through
the window, decided to walk around the
block and give him chance to finish
his business. When he had completed
the circuit Mr.. Billings was no longer
in sight The rolling top of the desk
was closed, and when Drane noted that
fact his heart stood still He hurried
into the Office.
Mr.. Billings has just left for the
Grand Central depot, said an Office boy.
He Is going on to Boston tonight. II
you hurry up there you can catch him.
Have you got message for himY'
mo; wish to see him personally
go on said the boy, you want to
strike him for the price of beer"
Drane could not wait to reprove the
youth for bis impudence. lie was in
too much of hurry to get TO the depot.
He learned that the train which MIR.
Billings was to take left at six O'Clock.
1t was then half-past five.
When he had reached the street he re-
fected that It would be necessary TO
know where the Grand Central depot
was, before going there. He had sup
posed that if it vas central" it must
90 near at hand, and he learned with
no "ror that it was more than three miles
awag To reach it on foot in time was
out O. the question, and he had not a
cent!
He cursed his folly in eaying Billings
door unguarded. and was inclined to be-
offended WI b Billings for going TO Bos-
ton. The wol d had turned blue again.
He could see nc hing ahea Of him but
another nightin T. street.
For the next three ours he wandered
about the lower part of he town, and at
nine o'clock he found himself in front
of the Pennsylvania railroad ferry-house
at the fe5t of Cortlandt street. Then
the thought came over him like fash:
This road goes to Trenton. Bob Tyler
my old friend Bob-lives there, and
he'll let me have thousand quicker
than wink If / can only reach him"
But how TO do it? Supported by
good dinner he would have started along
the ties cheerfully, but ferry was a