The Irish standard., 1891-01-17

were occupied, and a score OF men wait
ed for places, staring hungrily over the
shoulders Of those who were being fed.
There was the same rush and hustle as
in the stock exchange, but there was
less of good nature. When anybody on
q stool ordered pie the man behind him
stamped 1npatiently as If a personal in
jury had been inflicted upon him, and
not upon the man who ate the pie.
An unprecedented observer would have
said that there was no cause for com
plant The men on the stools ate fast
enough Indeed it seemed as ii moth
ing but choking to death could save
them from dying Of indigestion. Quicl1
feeding has been brought to such
sciencein New York that the philanthro-
pist might well doubt which to pity more,
the rich who eat so much In minute
Or the poor who eat SO little in year.
The small tables in the Cafe Napoleon
were besieged almost as hotly rs was
the lunch-counter. But Russell sue
ceeded in securing a seat opposite a
rusty old fellow who had just ordered
piece Of apple pie and glass of milk.
Behind Russell were the four young men
whom he had followed into the cafe,
He duplicated the order sivon by one
of them, and thereby laid himself liable
to the proprietor Of the Cafe Napoleon
In the sum of S4.7 This lunch WAS
tho first extravaganza the young man
had committed in good many years.
The pint Of good wine which was in
cluded in it was the first he had ever
tasted. He enjoyed the experiment
thoroughly. He was glad that he had
decided to be rich man for half all
hour.
BY and by the rusty old fellow fin
ished his pie and milk, and departed.
Russell learned who he was by a remark
made by one of the young men.
-''Did you see old Gilbert Ray take his
usual frugal repast?" were the words he
overheard ''He will leave four mill
ions for his heirs to quarrel over, and
his chief regret will be that he can not
remain to take part in the controversy"
''He didn't leave any OF that pie, said
another. II watched him chase the
last little piece of crust all over his
plate. He couldn't get it with his forh
had to shovel it in with his knife. <
figured that his income while he was
chasing it would buy q cart-load of pie"
''He isn'ta bad old fellow after all, :"
said the first speaker. 1.-The story is
that he started on hundred dollars and
had to borrow that. But he paid it on
time and kept his credit up. There's
the whole secret of many a mans life on
the street. If half Of the younger men
down hero had to settle at minutes
notice the other half would go broke on
account of their bad debts. It's a bor
rowing game"
Russell heard this and muttered to
himself: II should like to negotiate
small loan and get into it," The at
mosphere of the place and the food, and
especially the wine, were beginning to
have an effect upon him. He wanted
to continue the experiment
II am not prepared to believe" he
said to himself, that this life would be
permanently agreeable, but a half hour
Of it is too little. would like two
years. I believe that II / could borrow
the life of one OF those young fellows
for two years should know great
deal more at the end of that time than
do now, and should be willing to give
it all back to him when it was due. 7
should like to make contract with the
devil to that effect"
He looked about him as II he ex-
peoted the fiend TO appear with docu-
ment ready for signature, but no such
phenomenon occurred. The slight odor
of birthstone in the air proceeded from
match with which the young man be-
hind him was lighting . cigar.
Whether the contract was signed else
where may be matter OF controversy
II 80, it bore the date May IL, 1888.
CHAPTER H.
SMALL LOANS.
OF all the gifts that are bestowed by
the children Of men upon their fellows
none so little deserve the good name OF
charity IS tips to walters Russell be
AL