The Mt. Sterling advocate., 1892-12-27

about he camo face to face with man
he had known in his old life. The man
started as if he had seen ghost, and
then shamefacedly and hesitatingly ex-
tended his hand.
"Howdy do, Johnson?" he said tim
idly.
"Oh, I'm we'll enough" said Johnson
with short, harsh laugh. "I'm trying
to get something to do. Perhaps you
could help me-"
ooh, novel;, you see, just now
everybody's taken up with Christmas" !"
Eyes, so / see."
"Of course you understand it's not an
easy thing to recommend a-a"--
"a jailbird."
"Well, er-you understand"
eyes, I understand. l won't bother
you. I'll va along in some fashion.
I've little money. But tell me, can you
give me any news of Raymond"
"Well, yes. You heard about his
failure?'
"His failure? No."
"Yes, lost every cent year ago. Poor
as church mouse. Sick, too, heard
few days ago. Rheumatism, l believe.
His wife,
------ ----- - - - -
Eyes, yes, his wife"
"She's supporting him, I understand
sewing. They live somewhere on the
east side in q tenement. Horrible come
down! Well, can't stand here all day.
Goodby. If hear of anything"-and
he was gone.
Johnson stood looking after him in
dazed fashion until q gentle hint from
policeman reminded him he had better
move on.
So Raymond was poor and sick-his
revenge, then, was partly begun-and
that Christmas present?--some way the
thought of killing q poor invalid did not
appeal SO strongly to the Ishmaelite-
somewhere on the east side?-as well
try to hunt the traditional needle-poor,
sick, and Nelly sewing to support him
well, there was some justice in heaven,
if not on earth.
1t was the night before Christmas
when johnson strolled again into the
great rink where tho Salvation Army
was holding it's meetings. He listened to
the burning words which fell from the
lips of a sweet faced woman. She talked
Of Gods best gift to man and spoke of
peace and good will. Then again the
singer came forward, and again tho
strains which had rEng in Johnson's ears
for two days rolled to the roof. While
listening eagerly his eyes suddenly fell
upon the face of woman who was sit
ting three seats from him. A pale, thin,
shabbily dressed woman.
1t was Nelly!
When she rose to go he followed her.
AS she hurried away he stealthily crept
behind her, his hand involuntarily
clutching the knife over his heart.
Up q rickety fight of stairs she went,
and close behind came her pursuer. She
opened the door on the third landing
and went in. He crouched outside,
holding his breath.
The door remained ajar. ...
He looked in and marked the poor
room, with its wretched belongings. He
saw the bed and the sick man bolstered
up by flabby pillows.
SIS that you, Nelly" he heard Ray
mond say. 81 thought you would never
come"
"Well, John, dear, just ran into the
rink a moment to hear the singing. 1t
sounded so sweet as came along. uere
is your medicine now"
Then Johnson, listening, stralnlng ev-
cry nerve there in the darkness, heard
an awful groan.
"What is it, John? the pain again?"
eyes, yes. Oh, this is terrible! Nelly,
/ am dying.
''No, no, dear, you will be better pres
emily. Here, drink this"
The sufferer obeyed and sank back
exhausted on the pillows. Nov"
thought johnson, ''now is my time.
can rush in and stab him before his
wife. Why do ! not do itt"