St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1891-02-21

l
Kerth. and told me that he owed fifty
dollars on suit Of clothes 1 answered
Shcarsby that thought he had better
charge 1t up to profit and less He
Immediately proceeded to do so. The
ovcrcoat which ordered was more ex.
pensive by five dollars than had cx.
. pected, and possibly about nine other OF
; Shearsby's customers suffered q similar
amount Of indirect taxation.
As time passed, l gained moro 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.
lie WIS. however, 10th to bctray his
secret all at once. but prepared me be.
forehand by various significant hints
to appreciate better its mysterious ma
turc.
Ono evening, when no was smoking
one Of my cigars before my fire. he said:
Il am getting very hard up; l must
raise some money"
said: ''How will you do it?'
Il have . method OF my own" he an
swered. (which apply whenever I am
in need of ready cash"
what is it like?"
lie smiled with the smile Of sphinx,
as lie replied:
II call it syssem Of ABSENCE
On several occasions he made use OF
PHI ascology similar to the above. For
example, once he said to me: II get .
good enough living out of not being in
certain places at certain tines
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 tho nick of time the money came.
bo':wver. and he proceeded. with the skill
Of a 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 be
had raised the money.
ut wasn't much" he said, carclessly
five or six hundred. ! manage to
raise that sum about four times q year.
Ii you understand how to make it 60
good as twice that you know. Now,
I'll tell you. have, back East, a num-
Der OF relatives-rich, respected and all
that Money comes from them. Easy
enough. you think? Well, 1 wonder. l
am the black sheep Of the outfit-scape-
grace. you know. And do you imagine
they would over give up bean for me,
II did not come at EN- with something
worse than agvn? Why. sir, the whole |
bloody layout is SO mean. and they hate
me so. that, I give you my word. il / |
was roasting in the lowest depths Of !
SheOl, there isn't ono of EN- would loan |
you fork to 60 and see il I was done.
No sir! That's the kind of citizens they
are. But notice they como up pretty |
regular just the same"
He flickcd the ashes from his high |
priced cigar into the Fireplace with an |
impressive gesture. Then from his desk |
he produced several letters and large /
book labeled journal"
Hero It is" he exclaimed. throwing
the book down on the table in front Of
me; Richard Kerth's Ready Letter
Writer. or the Art Of Holding Up Our
Relations And here are sample re-
turns" he added, dropping the letters
on the table. But you had better be-
gin at my end of the transaction. Read
in the book first-the last batch OF let
ters copied there. ! always copy 'em
SO as to keep track OF what I'm doing"
l opened the volume at the place
where he indicated, and began to read
aloud: "'IIiram Griffin. Cleveland, OIL
My Dear Uncle"
my mothers only brother" interpo-
lated the scapegrace-"Presby terian
merchant-moral cit
izen."
l read on:
II suppose you will be dcvilish glad to learn
that have NJ last decided to turn my face [
homewara. I'm tired OF wandering. aud it's
mighty poor picking out hero. expect 70 start
IN couple OF weeks. unless hear from you in
the meantime. a lot OF California stock will
be entered ut the fall meeting ut Cleveland
and think can nx for both Of US to get let in
% the ground floor, SO that We can make . good
hing out Of it. How are Bill and Jimmyi|"
civilian and James," said the black
sheep rolling up his eyes; This sons, I
whom he is bringing up in the way they .
should go-pious youths Of sixteen or i
/,
Il expect they would enjoy the races and ,
ome Of life that could show them. plan to !
pend month in Cleveland, and perhaps may I
ocate there. Some OF the fellows are nakine
p party to 20 10 China n I had . couple Of !
hundred moro would 60 with them, but have .
oily 5nss enough to take me homo. Your anec-
tomato nephew, RICHARD.'"
COLD chills ran down his back when G
10 read that letter." said Mr.. Kerth. .
Here is his reply. He prays for the 4
Aviation Of my soul, and incloses . q
heck for two hundred. See? Read q
be next one" p
Il was addressed to IS Van Doosan n
lerth. The Beauchamp NewYork City" o
nd began: Dear Uncle" q
Fathers brother" the scapegracs q
xplained; ''old bachclor-great swell. n
= never saw me. and has an idea that I
am very wild and woolly. like every O
ling west Of the Croton aqueduct"
! read as follows:
i" DEAR UKCLx-RespocAed brother Of my =
lrent; take my Pen II hand to let you Nov Is
At two weeks iron date ! shall take the train n
" ycur city. and shall visit goa u the Besu =,
amp House. whsso you are staying., II you =,
ould happen u - CT Of town, I viii wait ).
It'll you get back, for mean TO live IL your 20