The Globe-republican., 1890-12-31

earning living. They will maintain
an Office with Real Estate, or Com
mission" or something of that kind,
on the door. To no such stupid vulgar
ity did Mr.. Richard Kerth descend. Not
even suggestion of work cast . cloud
upon his title Of gentleman"
l had known something OF the pre-
vious career of MI. Kerth, and when he
took possession of two of the best rooms
in the house ] fastened to make his
acquaintance. He treated me with easy
condescension, and soon offered to Dor.
row money of me.
did not loan Mr.. Kerth any money.
1t was indeed for long time a source
Of quiet satisfaction to me that while a
number OF others, in plain view on all
Sides were being taxed for the support
OF this American peer. was exempt.
But one day, when I was be ing meas
ured for an overcoat, my tailor asked
me what l knew about Mr.. Richard
Kerth, and told me that he owed fifty
dollars on suit of clothes. 1 answered
Shearsby that 1 thought he had better
charge it up to profit and less. He
Immediately proceeded to do so. The
overcoat which ordered was more ex-
pensive by five dollars than had ex-
pected. and possibly about nine other of
Shearsby's customers suffered q similar
amount of indirect taxation.
AS time passed, 1 gained more and
more of Mr.. Kerth's confidence.
knew just enough about his past per-
formances to make him think that my
silence was useful commodity, and he
sought to purchase it with frankness.
He was, however, 10th to betray his
secret all at once, but prepared me be.
forehand by various significant hints
to appreciate better its mysterious ma
ture.
One evening, when he was smoking
one of my cigars before my fire, he said:
Il am getting very hard up; 1 must
raise some money"
l said: "How will you do it?"
II have method of my own" he an
swered. (which apply whenever I am
in need of ready cash.
What is it like?"
He smiled with the smile of sphinx,
as he replied:
Il call it system Of absence"
On several occasions he made use of
phraseology similar to the above. For
example, once he said to me: II get a
good enough living out of not being in
certain places at certain times"
Further, he would not explain.
About this time his creditors, of
whom the crop seemed to be perennial,
began to press him close, and it was
evident that unless the ready cash
should presently come to his rescue, he
was lost-that is, lost in the same way
that he had been lost many times before.
In the nick of time the money came,
hoewver, and he proceeded. with the skill
OF practical debtor, to make a small
stream OF cash irrigate vast area of cred
it. This being accomplished, he was at
ease again; and one night, over a bottle
of wine and cigars. he told me how he
had raised the money.
at wasn't much" he said, carelessly
five or six hundred. I manage to
raise that sum about four times year.
If you understand how to make it 60
good as twice that you know. Now,
I'll tell you. have, back East, . num-
Der OF relatives-rich. respected and all
that. Money comes from them. Easy
enough, you think? Well, wonder. l |
am the black sheep of the outfit-scape-
grace. you know. And do you imagine
they would ever give up bean for me,
II did not como at EN- with something
worse than agun? Why, sir, the whole |
bloody layout is so mean, and they hate |
me so, that 1 give you my word, if |!
was roasting in the lowest depths of |
Sheol. there isn't ono of 'em would loan
you fork to 60 and see if was done.
No sir! That's the kind of citizens they
ire. But notice they come up pretty
ocular just the same.''
He flicked the ashes from his high
priced cigar into the Fireplace with an
impressive gesture. Then from his desk
he produced several letters and a large
'ook labeled journal"
Here It is" he exclaimed, throwing
he book down on the table in front of
ne; "'Richard Kerth's Ready Letter
Writer. or the Art of Holding Up Our
sSA"sAoAo' anu uCH0 dT0 S6u Die re- |
urns," he added, dropping the letters
n the table. But you had better be-
in at my end of the transaction. Read
the book frst-the last batch of let.
ers copied there. I always copy 'em
D as to keep track of what I'm doing"
1 opened the volume at the place
here he indicated. and began to read
loud: "'Hiram Griffin, Cleveland, OIL
~ Dear Uncle"
MY mothers only BROTHER" interpo-
tied the scapegrace-'Presby
merchant-moral cit
en-"
l read on:
" suppose you will be devilish glad to learn
at have ut last decided to turn my face
'meward. I'm tired Of wandering, and it's 2
ighty poor picking out here expect to start Z
q couple OF weeks, unless hear from you in | a
e meantime. A lot Of California stock will
entered at the fall meeting 1t Cleveland |
d I think can 6x for both of Us to get let in t
the ground floor, 90 that We can make rood q
ing out Of it. How are Bill and jimmy" &
william and James," said the black \
cen. ROLLING nm hia ovao. s.hio .~,. | a.