New-York tribune., 1891-05-03

4
| heart for an that he was so modest in his doing
of good. and for that reason, say, he must nave
suffered an ininire dea more 'nan M any hnyso told
| me that sometimes after round with his brother
when the latter threatened direful things he wonld
walk the floor half the night and IL he retired at
all it was plainly not to aleep Yet he contrived
| 70 maintain in public always the same unrutlied
| composure. and doubt If he suffered any loss OF
diglity through the awkward situation III WHICH
he was placed
Our people did what they could to assist him
! in the fight. The storekeepers refused to trust
Slug, except on written order from MS Drother,
| and the saloon men would give him very little
| LIQUOR. As to the fellows efforts at blackmei-
for he dealt little in that article, and swore
| that he could tell things about Humphrey that
would send him TO the penitentiary-nobody gave
| them any attention. Now, j think OF IT, there
was one man who actuated by mere curiosity,
did draw Slug out on the subject OF his brothers
earlier lifeand he got in return mess OF extray.
agant lying; which not even bitter enemy-n
| Humphrey had possessed one-could have been
tempted 20 believe
When the struggle had been in progress little
over half year, Slug added a new feature to his
! rascality. He began to steal.
At first he confined his efforts to the pilfering
of small articles left lying about which he would
carry off and endeavor to trade for drink. Ihese
thefts were reported 10 the authorities. who
explained fne hsc mater III tho, 10 rom eap
was his order: and anything that cannot DE
! recovered, | will pay. "a.
@I am coming to believe that shall lose In
this contest ont with Ioul, lie roay at any moment
which I shall be powerlcss to protect him"
"'That is the best thing that could happen,
I said "you have more than done your duty'
| let the State take its turn"
NV brother convict" he exclaimed; mo. |
could not endure it-not even If the alternative
was beggary for me-"
If he commits crime, he must suffer the punish
ment" ,... A.,
"Yes; but can not prevent his committing the ,,
crime? That is the question | continually ask
myself, and can't sleep for the torment OIL II. Wy
brother is not naturally bad but he is determined
aThe internal scoundrel!" I burst OUT TO
trade in this devilish fashion upon his own good
name and your feelings as brother! Ill. at
W L said dd6 M%TDhe o sesa Ts1 IN his dence The
question is, what am to do :? .a.,. 7,
Have YOU assured him." asked. that you 90
not intend to shield him from the consequences u
crime" low, - ry,,nnbre,,
THAT would not he true, you KNOW humphrey
answered. u...
is not case where you can afford to be particular
about trifes You would be justified In saving
or in doing almost anything to get rid OF him. :.
Just and fair; but even if told him what you
suggest he would not believe il.
I was at loss for any further advice The
situation seemed TO be entirely in Slugs hands
md he was evidently not ignorant of thai fact
There was no change for several months. Inc
thefS continued and on several OCCASIONS genera
public exposure seemed inevitable. But Hum
phrey's money, used unstintedly, managed to hush
'-'IS The Slug suddenly disappeared from view and
we believed that the town was rid Of him. men,
toned this opinion to Humphrey. who merely shook
his head in silence.
turn sought an immediate conference with Hum
phrey. When it was over the elder brother sent Tor
me. .s Tow ;s .o bo,o bio
! fhousand dollars
Then he explained that Slugs recent absence
had been occasoned by o trip TO the city; lie
had brought back kit of burglar tools, end pro-
posed TO begin business Immediately. TO that END
he had induced couple of professional cracksmen
to accompany him. and they were now hoverlng
about the vicinity, looking for favorable chahce
This last piece of information Tailed with what
had heard elsewhere that several suspicious nouso
looking characters had lately put in an appearance
! IN the town.
Humphrey spoke in the excited fashion of
man who has narrowly escaped some great dan
IT am 10 give him the money this evening to-
gether with q railroad ticket TO the East, ne SAID
TO bm fnYf his s' old IaGe aowance
| But / objected. " as soon as the money is
gone he will return" ~
will at least gain a month or two-perhaps year
OF relief from this awful torture. i positively
cannot endure 1t any longer 1t will drive me
But what assurance can he give yOu--.' /
began. ,, c,,u go, r,ust ron.
slider: there he has his allowance regularly, ana
here almost nothing. There he has frlends ,ai ana
associates~bere he is a stranger-regarded with
suspicion and even contempt. He has every rea-
Thought differently, but as l saw he was de-
termined to make the experiment / sad n9Ining.
He then asked me to be present in the eDenns M ,s Se
the final conference, TO witness the payment vi Vno
money, and / promised to come .o.
I remember the night as though it were yester-
day-yet it is nearly fifteen years ago me ram
fell in a fine half-mist, which the WIND carried
along almost on q level, The darkness was pltchy
I drove over in buggy, and found Humphrey
waiting in his library the arrival OF slug Oh 'he
dosL before him Law small bag OF CON- -,
Wumnhrey handed me q sheet OF paper on wpicn
vas Written the agreement that Slug was to sign
md I 70 witness His immediate return 10 tne
Fast and perpetual absence from me S.aIe weo nf
1niv nromised in return for the payment M M 0I
q, o0o IN hand and regular allowance OF Sloo
a month thereafter. , A.. aoorroort
| Hardly had l finished reading tne i oTcuIeI. ,ha
h,bao there was knock at the door Dy whlch uIie
1sRa Weu ny tnateS in wing of the house communl-
Gated with the outside. and slug eneieu; inS tI.S
lace wore an ugly, suspicious grim when ne
! nj me. but, as he turned toward MS Dro'nei' !"
| changed TO a malignant scowl. ., I, ,.oa
brought the 10 s0a an he tSe table
Then he noticed uGenS tRs ISs pn GSn on '
"Ha aYes. 1. said Humphrey; the money is here
But Tom. you are soaking wei a. .,u, hrs.
"Eaver mind that. l came mere 70 CdiA 'uer
Humpbrey passed it over 20 him, while stood
choking with Indignation and disgust. lie glanced
Il over hastily. and then reached for pen
Hold on - said. reused to the point where e ~
could no longer keep silent am supposed lode 10 dc
GOES down on that document, want to feel salts
fed that you acting in good m faith bod HS%p Four
I,nyster How is lido you mean to keep this
promise?'
. lie looked up at me with contemptuous frank,
ness which will admit was quite convincing, and
said: "Of course do. Don't want my allow
ance again ?" Then he wrote his name, and l,
with an air of solemnity that it now makes me
smile TO recall, put mine beneath
Humphrey took back the document. method
ically blottcd the signatures, and folded il in
, proper form. Then he pushed the bag Ct gold
say pounced upon it, for the motion was like