Los Angeles herald., 1892-12-04

uOnG want It.
He was turning away when Mr.. Bar
ker stopped him. 1t began to dawn upon
the young man from Twenty-third street
that he was being blackmailed
Here's your ten dollars, you black
rascal"
He took the money from bis pocket
and handed it to Joe.
Bring us up couple of bottles Of
claret," he said.
"Tvsg got to buy 'em, sab. Thatll cost
you five dollars more. It's mighty good
wine and cheap, sah."
''You black rascal"-he began again.
"That expresshun will cost you just
two dollars, Mars Barker. Doan you
call 'specible servant no black rascle.
You'd better put up de cash. Lunch an
wine and dem things is apt to rise
mighty quick in this house under some
circumstances"
Barker saw he had to alter his tactics.
He put up another five dollars without
o murmur.
Mr.. Hanson and his wife had departed
upSldlTS W WdSu uIlclI llttuNlS.
"It's awful" murmured Evelyn as she
passed him on her way to the table.
Mamma ran right onto one of the Van
Lith trunks in the front ROOM"
He drank his FIVE dollar wine recklessly
to gain courage. Old Hanson sat and
gorged himself on the ten dollar lunch,
Mrs. Hanson, he thought, eyed him sus-
piciously, and old Joe served them with
broad grin on his ebony countenance.
"If this kind of thing keeps up for q
week l am ruined" he said to Evelyn as
the day finally closed, and at last be saw
his wife's parents safely retired fer the
night.
"I've an idea mother already suspects
something" said Evelyn. "I've a good
mind to take her into my confidence and
confess all"
But this proposition alarmed him more
than anything else.
Don't do that. I've got $400 left yet.
Let's stick it out. At, say, forty dollars
day, how long can we hold the fort?"
"Just ten daysr'
"And in ten days then it is either
flight, the North river or the norgue."
Ten days is a good long time," re-
piled Evelyn. ~ shan't worry myself
so far ahead. Good night. I'm off to
Sleep"
Eight days of the ten had elapsed.
The Barkers, with courage born of
DESPERATION, had "stuck it out" They
had become accustomed to their new DO.
sition, and, despite their failing means.
Charlie sometimes even fancied himself
rich.
n X =
The Hansons We're delighted with their
new son-in-law. No words in the Eng
lish language were expressive enough to
sing his praises. They had driven here
and there, been taken to all the theaters
and feted every day on the fat of the
land. They had been made to feel their
Importance. The Hansons, of Denver,
had never enjoyed themselves so much
in their lives.
Barker was nearly crazy. What would
he not have given to be back in Twenty
third street, ard, if he must be shot for
running away with old man Hanson's
daughter, at least have the satisfaction
Of dying like an honest man?
On the morning of the ninth day he
found letter on the breakfast table.
Old man Hanson was there with his
famous appetite, eating eggs which had
cost fifty cents apiece and ham which
had been purchased from the blackmail-
ers at dollar slice.
The letter was from his father in Bose
ton and read as follows:
MY DEAR CHARLEs--Your mother has lust
learned from Mrs. Stewart, who arrived in
Boston from New York yesterday, of your re-
cent marriage and also of your late good for
tune in Wall street. always knew you would
fall on your feet, and you can now afford to
laugh at those who have hitherto called You
the fool of the family. Meantime you may ex-
pect us by an carly train tomorrow, as we are
anxious to see our new daughter. Your affec-
lionate father, HORACE B. BARKER.
p. 81 send this to your new house in Fifty
seventh street, which Mrs. Stewart tells US
you purchased of the Van Lith estate. She
says it is q splendid property. / hope you got
bargain.
1t was the last straw. Unable to re-
press his feelings, the miserable Barker
uttered a loud groan and rushed from
the room, nor did he stop until he reached
his chamber. Throwing himself into
chair, he buried his face in his hands and
remained for some time in a condition
almost approaching stupefaction.
He was aroused by light touch on his
shoulder, and looked up to find the door
closed and old Joe standing over him.
Don't you be blamed fool, Mars
Charles. Don't you go an give it yup.
You's doin splendid. I'ze been talkin to
de people down stairs, and dey's all
agreed you's daisy"
Barker raised his head and stared at
the man in blank 81. prise.
"We'ze amt goil! IL pinch you no mo-,
Mars Charles. We done it as much fo'
lie fun dere was in it as fo' de cash. Now
you gets everything at market price.
Yon's a daisy"
The love OF human appreciation is the
handspring Of great deal of human en-
deavor.
When Charlie Barker heard himself
called ga daisy" he took new heart.
In five minutes he was man again.
He went back to the breakfast table and
told another falsehood-abouth having a
sudden indisposition. He was now de-
termined to see matters through.
Suddenly there was ring at the bell.
ga telegram, said Barker aloud. "Per-
haps to say that father and mother can't
come. How provoking!" but inwardly
he rejoiced with an exceeding joy. He