Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1890-03-23

ed. was following them when o hand was
| laid on his shoulder, ana as lie turned
about the policeman who had directed
| him TO Murray street stood before him.
Look here, young feller," said he, u
| saw dc young woman give yOu something
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
| pOlceman's instructions with wrath III
| his soul. And yet, when he cooled down a
| bit, he perceived that his condition had
| been ameiOrated TO the extent of one sill
yer dollar, consideration by no means TO
| be overlooked. IIo had never till that mo-
ment realized the value of money. In the
blessed thought that he could at last buy
something like a 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 a restau-
rant. There was mono in sight. Away to
the loft was the Elevated railroad. lie
knew that it would take him down town
where eating houses would DO plenty, and
he hurried 10 a station.
An l. train at ten miles an hour is not
rapid transit to q man who has not dlned
for two days. Before he reached the City
Hall station Drane fully realized how
badly New York needed another and
quicker system. Electricity in moment
of excitement would have been the proper
thing to keep pace with his impotence.
However, the tourney ended before the
tissues Of his body had wholly wasted
away; and two minutes later he was seated
at a restaurant-table and had ordered Just
seventy cents worth of food. Nothing,
from fsh-ball TO terraplu, had ever tasted
so good to him as that soup.
eff ever meet a hungry begGar again"
thought he, when the food had begun TO
take effect, "Tll treat him TO Il ten-cOurse
dinner"
The world took on different aspect as he
ate. lie felt sure that everything would
come OIt right. His acquaintance at Muir
raw street would gladly help him out of his
predicament, and he could laugh at bis
strange experience. With tight waist
band and ninety-fve cents in his pocket,
he was a rich man again as he strolled up to
the desk TO pay his check. Just there
temptation seized upon him. He wanted
10 smoke IL seemed az if'his longing for
food had been feeble his present craving
for lust one fragrant Whit of tobacco.
Glow much are those cigars?" he ask
ed. indicating some which the man mt the
desk had Just spread before a customer.
Fifteen ccnts-two for quarter" was
the reply.
Drane reflected that a man so poor a. he
WAS cNUlU lltb huOiu " pay DilNNu b'LAo
for a cigar when he could get 1T for twelve
and a half 10y simply purchasing two.
Overcome 10y this unassailable arithmetic,
he laid down his last quarter, and IN an
other moment he was enjoying one OF the
weeds for which New York IL Justly infa-
nous to such a degree as ne had never en-
loved good one III his life. But he was
penniless again.
lie crossed City-Hall Park with firm
l., ba afp Ifq
were floating away in smoke; his hopes
were high. He walked down Murray
street and quickly found the number he
sought. The name Richard III. Billings,
in white letters Oh a window Of the lower
story, set all doubts at rest, and. indeed,
the man himself sat at Il desk in plain view
from the sidewalk 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 nj him minute through the VIM
dow. decided TO walk around the Block and
give him chance TO finish his business.
When he had completed the circuit Alr.
Billings was no longer III sight. Iherolling
top of the desk was closed, and when
Drane noted that fact his heart stood still.
lie hurried into the Office.
MIR. Billings has just left for the Grand
Central depot" said an oiiice-boy. He is
going on to Boston tonight. If you hurry
up there you can catch him. Have YOU got
o message for hlm?"
mo: ] wish to see him personally"
go on" sad the boy, "you want TO
strike him for the price Of q beer
Drsne could not wait to reprove the
youth for his impudence. He was in too
much of a hurry 20 get TO tho depot. lie
learned that tho train which DIR. Billings
was TO take left at O'clock. 1t was then
half-past ,.
When lie had reached the street he re-
fected that il would be necessary 10 know
where the Grand Central depot was before
going there. lie had supposed that II
K was central" it must be near at hand
aud he learned with horror that 1t was
more than three miles away. 10 reach II
on foot III time was out OF the question,
and he had not cent?
He cursed his folly in leaving Bllllngss
door unguarded and was inclined TO be
offended with Billings for going TO Boston.
The world had turned blue again. lie
could see nothing ahead of him but an
other night in the street. =,
For the next three hours he wandered
about the lower part of the town, ana at
| 9 o'clock he found himself in front OF the
| Pennsylvania railroad ferry house at the
foot Of Cortlandt street. Then the thought
came over him like q flash This road
goes TO Trenton. Bob Tyler-mv OLD
| friond Bob-lves there, and he'll let me
have thousand quicker than Wink IL L
can only reach him." g,
But how to do iii Supported by COCA
dinner. he would have started along the
ties cheerfully, but ferry was different
matter. How he regretted the extraya-
gance that had left him penniless!
Across the street from the ferry was q
| little high stoopn house used as an hotei-
Lawrence had come to the conclusion that
ne must look up some charitable institu-
ton and ask for nights lodging, anu WIN
this purpose in mind he entered the hotel
Office and as ked TO see the directory. MMle
he was consulting it a man with con-
certina in his hand dropped INTO CHAIR
near him.
Hello, Billy" said the clerk to the new
arrival, where's your side partnerl"
~ dunno" replied Billy. Guess he's
in the jug. | haven't seen him since the
3 O'Clock boat this morning."
Going 70 play lone hand tonight =
Guess I'll have to. l can do the dane
ing all night, but | can't sing. YOU'D pei
ter come along, Jimmy, and try your httie
song on the public"
Jimmy laughed, and it was evident that
the olferwas intended as joke; but 1t SET
Lawrence thinking. The man with the
concertina took seat in remote corner
and appeared TO be somewhat downcast.
Lawrence approached him.
Did understand you TO say that you
were going 70 give an entertainment some
where and desired singer2" he aked.
Billy looked up with an amused stare.
Can you singl" he inquired. NO
foolin', now. ltook a Teller on his word
some years ago, and when he opened his
mouth aboard the ferry-boat the passengers
came pretty near throwin' US both over
b0ardn
:" didn't know that entertainments were
allaMaa ON thu ferry-hoatsn said Law