People's voice. [volume] (Wellington, Sumner County, Kansas) 1890-1917, 1893-08-18

CONcICu az tuC bip VI Ouc vi tue lay
ers Of his glove. He paused and
eyed him narrowly.
why! Henson, my dear fellow,
what in the name of Columbus pos
sesses you? You look as fOrlorn as
the last rose of summer. Here. take
a sip OF this Imperial Elixir, it will
brace you up" And he poured out
some and passed it to him.
The man. in the chair took the
glass mechanically, and his hand
trembled so much as he slipped the
liquid that the lawyer thought he
was suffering from an attack of ague
"You are certainly a sick man,
Henson. Isn't the room a little
chilly9 Let me poke up the fire.
The lawyer, without waiting for an
answer, set about to rattle at the
CRATE and throw on some fuel, with
such zeal as would have startled the
most untiring OF servants When he
had finished this timely operation,
the banker was, to all appearances, a
very dejected-looking man. The law
yer felt within him that it was his
duty to assume temporarily the bus
mess OF family physician, so he drew
up rocking chair OF ample dimen-
sions. and proceeded to make a few
traditional inquiries.
30, Billings" said the banker in
answer to his last question, Il am
not sick physically, but mentally"
He could think of nothing else to
say. The lawyer looked nOnplussed.
"Sick mentally" echoed Billings.
What, something the matter with
your head, do you mean"
Henson almost smiled. but he re-
tanned his composure. He felt that
his cue had come. 1t was now or
never.
Billings" he muttered, Il am a
ruined man. | have lost to-day
S75, 900, and. ON my honor, haven't
a cent. /"
The lawyer pushed his chair back
and whistled.
Il dropped $4,000 on the Butter
town mining deal. Jacob Thompson
bought up every share he could get
his hands on, and froze me out COM
pletely."
But, by heavens" put in the law
yer, 'yOu are not ruined by that?"
HensOn's face seemed to be losing
its color. He was evidently growing
worse. His eyes looked CLASSY in
the fires light, and his lips seemed
to twitch uncommonly as he said:
"Sam Billings, you have always
been a II end to me. | have never
cOrSaed such of my business toyOd.
s,Cnough | have often thought that
if ! should ever find myselfin trouble
and in need of an adviser, could go
at once TO you with the perfect as
surance OF help. Can | tell you,
with-with that assurance, some
thing which. six months ago, would
not have even dared to think of"
The lawyer had listened atten-
lively He was profoundly i'm
pressed. He pulled out his hand
kerchief and blew his nose vlgor-
0ps!y. then said:
"Henson, old boy, tell me every
thing. Once your friend, always
your friend and he took the bank
er's hand and pressed it consolingly.
He was prepared to hear almost any
thing, and his eyes were moistening
perceptibly as he looked into his
friends pitiful face.
Billings" said the banker, the
words seeming to stick IN his throat.
Il am deeply grateful for your SYM
pathy. BillingS-Sam-I am short
100000 in my accounts with the
bank.
The lawyer sprang out Of his chair
aS if an electric shock had been sent
through him The banker was in
wardly struggling to suppress smile.
He did smile. but he had presence OF
mind enough to conceal his face with
his handkerchief
"iou short in-you. Henson. my
God! You" cried poor Billings in
his frenzy.
The banker said nothing. only let
his head fall forward. Billings
imagined he had tainted. and rushed
over to a small table and dashed out
tumblerful of brandy. Then he
hurried back, and knelt down on one
knee beside the banker chair.
Here. poor fellow, drink this. Dc
for my sake. it will"
Henson pushed the glass away. and
gotup still keeping the handkerchief
up to his face.
"Come. Billings" he muttered.
trembling all over. al cannot endure
this any longer. | must"
$50 to bed. suggested the lawyer,
softly, as he took him tendcrly by
the arm.
"No. Go to dinner" Henson
shouted. and he burst out laughing
and waved his handkerchief over hi,
head with all his might.
Billings jumped away from hin
like flash and grew pale with hor
ror, for it was evident that Henson
had gone clean crazy.
The banker recovered himself sui
ficiently to pull the telegram from
his pocket and pass it to him. Bill
lings took it cautiously. retreated /;
I stan and rand II Than no o,lared n