Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1890-11-29

ment-a real swell-come to thisp
The man gave back hooking echo.
"Yes-come to this"
IA filthy sandwich crawling the streets
like tortoise for nine bob week There
is likeness. Ye lief
Again the gentleman spoke in the calm
tones that are always most convincing.
shall prove it to your"
II will not believe ye," said Kelly yehe-
mently.
The baker-boy came back from his er-
rand down the street, and paused to look
at the old chaps, who appeared still to be
quarreling. But as they did not come to
blows the matter did not promise to be in
teresting, and he passed on whistling.
'Listen, Tom Kelly" Here, as if to
emphasize his speech, the gentleman
knew me last l was young rnan still-a
plucky, restless soldier, ford of wine and
cards."
"For sure he loved his glass, the Captain
did, and would pick up his cards and run
his horses with the best of EN-"
Without regarding the interruption the
ex-Captain went on: II threw away a
decent fortune with the carelessness Of a
gambler"
Fright We arel The Captain chucked
about his gold like farthings."
| The voice went on without ceasing.
"You, my servant, were charged by me
with stealing some missing moneys, to
which you and l alone had access You
see, my man, / know all the details of
your miserable story. The theft was
brought home to you by circumstantial
evidence, and you were convicted"
The wretched sinner listened to the
history of his life with wild eyes and
bloodless lips
"And that sentence sent me down hill
bit. 1t amt easy to live alongside rogues
and villains in Jail for years without
gettin' taste for their sort O tricks.
The gentleman with the tattered cap
smiled with a sort of contempt.
"You still declare you went to prison an
innocent man, then?'
"Aye, before Almighty God, l did; but
1 came out minded to be guilty. have
served more than once SINCE" There was
something in this wretched creatures atti-
tude which seemed to demand belief
"And you served your full sentence for
some other mans guilt" said the other,
| Ills ldG6 HUH tllc HAL lie tOILuISu.
"For sure did, and my curse lies on
him wherever he may be. Think of it,
sir"-the old habit of respectful address
broke Quito let man rot in jail; to
take me away from me wife and child, and
to shut me up for long years with thin
divils." There was long pause, and in
the silence the wind whistled and the
traffic of the streets made muffled roar.
At last Kelly turned puzzled look on the
man who stood beside him.
"Me Captain was fine outstanding chap,
with a bold face and laughing eye, and
ye-ye are"
Then came a fierce rejoinder.
"While l am hang-dog wretch, a cring-
ing, shrivelled sot, with no soul, and very
little body left. Yet l swear / am the
man claim to be-"
at can't be true" said Kelly, still star
ing at him in fixed way.
kelly, my man, do you remember a
wounded officer left in your charge in the
forest of Walkaro, and that you were at
tackled by five natives, and defended your
Captain single-handed, at the risk of your
own life? Oh, you were brave man, Tom
Kelly, let me tell you" The tattered
gentleman stopped and patted the hero OF
his story on the back.
"No one remembers that tale" the hero
muttered.
"You deserved the Victoria Cross, but
you did not get it. See, do you remember
this wound?'' The officer barred one arm
of rags and showed the mark of deep cut
either of spear or knife.
"By the blessed saints, then, ye are me
Captainl but sure we've got new face
| VIII We shake hands, sir? We're not SC
far apart now"
"No," came the answer, with fierce de-
cision, from the man of birth. For a Sec
ond's space they looked into each others
face, and then it was worthy of notice that
the officer dropped his eyes. Remember"
he said slowly, 81 gave evidence against
you at your trial"
'Be sure, sir, I've forgiven ye that
thrlfe. The look of the thing was against
me. and t is all so long ago." He smiled
in dreary way.
Kelly had begun to think his companion
was a bit cranky. The short, sharp re-
plies, the unreasoning laughter, and the
contempt of his own beggary and wretched-
ness convinced him that his old officer was
somewhat distraught. 1t was no uncom-
mon experience to meet with half-witted
sandwich-men, harmless enough, and capa-
BILE of carrying boards as directed, but
withal with some important screw loose.
While Kelly sat rejecting on the strange
meeting, half doubling that life still held
anything surprising for him, another pas
senger drew near unobserved. The new
conner was young man with quick, firm
tread and strong, resolute face.
"Good-day, my men. Not got crust
between you, this dinner-time Have
either of you seen young lady pass this
way? She is tall and slight, and she
wears gray dress"
Kelly indicated st. Adams Place with a
grimy forefnger. For down this passage
the girl had gone. "Thank you, my man
Here's a shilling apiece" His rapid
glance searched the face of the man who
had not spoken, and apparently its disco
lutte and gaunt appearance was clear tc
him. Go and have dinner somewhere
/! Now, don't drink all of it.
THANK We koindly, sill" said Kelly effu-
sively, ducking his shock head repeatedly
and after he had watched the passenger
disappear ne hobbled off in the opposite
direction, to some familiar drinking-bar
The young man did not, however, go far
round the corner, and his step gradually
slackened as he proceeded. He said to
himself that it was more than hopeless to
attempt to assist old reprobates of that
class. And then, stirred by the sudden
recollection of woman's tender pity for
such friendless waits and strays, he re-
traced his steps. He would see what he
could do. One of the men was under a
small obligation to him already, and he
had recognized him at a glance.
And this man was now solitary beneath
the colonnade, occupied in tossing the coin
so lately beloved upon him. Evidently
the ruling passion was still strong, for he
pursued his game of chance with so much
attention that he did not hear any APP