The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1890-06-13

When Lawrence read this he deeply
regretted his small command of eX-
pletives. His disappointment nearly
burst him.
"Any reply?" asked the man who had
brought the telegram. Lawrence's tenn
per got the better Of him, and he wrote
"Why didn't you send tito Jericho?
''L. D."
He cooled down after awhile, and
finally persuaded the night manager to
have query sent to New Haven. The
answer read as follows:
Lawrence Drane collected money
here. Fully identified"
When this reply had been read by
the night manager it was evident that
he had made up his mind what to do.
Lawrence saw it in his eyes, and he
knew that he was in a bad scrape. He
prepared to get out, for he was well
aware that arrest stared him in the
face. The manager tried to detain him.
Lawrence pushed him over a chair and
fed, hotly pursued by half dozen
messenger boys and few clerks. He
was too nimble for them, however, and
in few minutes he stood alone upon
the street, penniless, tired and hungry
1t is a curious physiological fact that
man can voluntarily abstain from food
for twenty-four hours with far less re-
monstrance from his stomach than that
organ will make if it's owner unwillingly
fasts for half that time. When Lawrence
realized that he had not money enough
TO h,,xr md, oh no hu, nj
than he had ever been before in his life.
He was positively faint, and as he stood
upon corner trying to decide upon a
course of action he closed his eyes and
actually reeled with exhaustion.
A man passing rapidly along ran
against him. Lawrence did not even
look at him.
"Poor fellow" muttered the stranger;
''he's blind" and he slipped ten-cent
piece into Lawrence's hand.
"Confound you!" exclaimed Lawrence,
in rage, 81 can see as well as you
can"
The stranger opened his eyes, his
mouth and his charitable heart at the
same moment.
'Have lived to see this dayr' he
cried. "Here, my friend, here is half a
dollar for the only really honest man in
New York"
Lawrence refused it, and tried to give
back the dime, but the stranger wouldn't
take it. He appeared to be an exceP
tionally humane old fellow. Lawrence
walked along by his side for few steps,
and the idea struck him that here was a
ob,poa +o foil bic ctoru to haliavi Drr aa nc .
He began it with considerable hope in
his heart, but he had got 10 further thar
a brief outline of his real financial solid
ity and apparent poverty when he heard
the stranger mutter: New game; new
game. Never saw it before, but I'm onto
it just the same"
Then he hurried away, and Lawrence
was left alone with the dime still in his
hand. The encounter had not been
wholly Improbable, at all events.
He debated long with himself upon
the question how he should expend his
ten cents. That he should buy food
with it was of course foregone conclu-
sion, but how could he get the most for
his money? He tried to recall all
the stories he had heard of men who
had been IN similar depths OF poverty
stories told by Bohemian acquaintances
who prided themselves upon such ex-
periences. In all of these that he could
remember the salvation of the narrator
had ultimately depended upon that
great modern institution, the free
lunch. He had never had any personal
experience with such fare, because he
was total abstainer, and never visited
places where free lunches are found:
but he thought he knew the machinery
pretty we'll from the experience of
others. 1t was necessary to buy drink
at the bar, after which one could 60 to
a convenient counter and gorge himself
with all the delicacics of the season.
He looked about him for a saloon.
There was one behind him, another in
front of him and several more in sight.
New York is that kind of town. Law
renee hesitated. He reflected that his
circumstances did not justify him in
selecting a gilded den of vice where
drinks might be fifteen cents apiece.
He must choose something better suited
to gentleman in adversely. He select
ed den without any gliding and en-
tered. Approaching the bar he put
down his ten cents and tried to think of
some mild decoction which he could
safely take. 1t was one of Mr.. Drane's
peculiarities that he could not drink
alcoholic liquors, or even wines,
without almost instantaneous inebria-
tion. He never dared drink even
glass of wine with his dinner because it
went to his head. Beer he detested.
He was in quandary.
"Well, young feller?" said the bar
tender, interrogatively. At that moment
Lawrence's eyes rested upon this in
scription:
GENIrINE NEW JERSEY AppIE.IACK