The National tribune., 1893-03-09
TIE MAN WITH
OUT \ POCKET,
The Strange Fortune of Samuel
Naples.
AMUEL MAPLE:

Inc e q, was HIe-s
dresry plod to the measure of dirge. 1t Ii
hard when one can make enough to-day to KEEP
alive through tomorrow so as TO make enough
for the next day: but when IL hours lncessani
work in great retail emporium results only
in an increasing financial deficiency, despite
the coafsest of food aud he ihinnest OF clothing
then one does not wonder whether life is worth
Gving-one knows.
So Sammy was thinking, and besdes-fol
who so wretclled rs not to wish to share his
misery ?-there was Kate, his bonny Kate, al
he had once called her in a burst of originality
Were not things bad and sad enough but that ht
must needs make them worse by quarrelIns
with her, and thus deprving himself of the
hope for an impracticable future? Why had
Kate been so short with him? Perhaps hel
mother the Widow Quigley, had weighed hin
in the balance of acccptablity and had found
him. as be was sadly wanting.
All. WE'LL worrying was poor plaster Tor an
aching back: at least sleep remained for him
Sammy thought of his dismal lodgings with
longing, and Quickened his steps, AS he was
crossing the avenue, he heard feeble cry fol-
help. There on the track in front of him was
quivering bundle ofrags Charging full upon
it was a car, and to the right and left impatient
trucks.
Sammy dashed forward and under. He
raised the poor old creature and dragged her to
the corner. He collected her basket and kerr
chief and staff. From remote corner of his
rocket he snatched shrinking dime and
pressed it in her palsied grasp. Then he hur.
ried on, not needing the blessing, nor the assur-
ance that whatever thing he would wish for
that he should receive. No, indeed; he was
too impressed with the perception that now he
could not alleviate his crust with modest pint
of ale, to bother with the mumblings of half
crazed beldam.
Samuel turned the latch of his lodging house
" he oh nd half VIZ m
stairs in bound, but search-light from an
opening door below caught him and strident
voice pesled forth:
Begging your pardon, Mr.. Naples, if you
please, but I'm a. awaiting for you as you prom
ised for the butcher will be to hand in the
morning, and he haint no poor lone wilder to
be deluded by spendthrifts and wuss, more's
the pity"
Presently. madam" replied Samuel. as he
repeated the bound and secured himself within
his cherries quarters.
Now what had he meant by saying Pres
emily, madam" when he well knew that he
had not one cent in the world? Was it right
thus to deceive that long-suffering soul? But
was anything right where work was existence,
and starvation its reward? On the table by
the candle was the BUTTERFLIES loaf and at one
side was the brown jug, so tempting because SO
empty. "Even if / had the dime / wouldn't
dare to get you filed, murmured Sammy with
o sickly grin.
He thrust his hands into his trousers pockets
and paced modify up and down the room. 81
wish" he continued, that every time / put
my hand in my pocket might draw out q ten
dollar greenback. Oh, wouldn't that be nicei
Well. I'D rather SMILE"
But Sammy didn't smile. he stopped short.
he stood sghast. Surely nothing could be
more empty than mis- pockets not even the jug;
but surely he felt something He slowly drew
fnrfh bfe hcp and h11d hon hafn ha
die. He turned pale and livid and green and
sank on the chair with the broken back-the
other one lacked a seat-snd well be might, for
in each he had fresh, crisp ten-dollar green
back Twenty unexpected, unsccountable
dollars to a penniless man, whose salary. as he
termed il, was six per-" and only recently
thati
Sammy sat in daze, eying the money and
assuring himself of its substance. His wish
truly REQUIRED to him, but only idly as an as.
founding coincidence to an incomprehensible
event. Little by little light dawned. "She
must have slipped them in my pockets when i
raised her. Who would have supposed she
was 90 rich? God bless her? " he faltered.
he bounded lightly down the stairs. He en-
tered the dread sitting and startled his
awful mistress over her tea.
"pl just settle that little account" he said.
The landlady caught the notes like trained
soprano. After brief search in an old stock
ing she returned a email amount of change.
(which / do say, Mr.. Naples" she added,
with gratifed air, you was allus that honor
able. Won't you set by and take drawin'?"
No. Samuel had an important engagement.
he remembered the BUTTERFLIES loaf and the
parched jug. He FASTENED to his room and
thence with the latter TO the neighboring inn.
"A quart of Extra X. and just wrap up cut
Of that ham and bit O. cheese, will your" he
said grandiioquently as he ished in his pocket
for coin.
The proprietor recognized the air and ap-
proved Of il, as he saw what Samuel extended.
A tenner, eh?" he replied. "Just let it 20
until the next time, Mr.. Naples. can't break
that very we'll"
And Sammy, once more dumbfounded, folded
the greenback in his grasp, picked up his par
GELS, and departed TO his room.
He placed the brown jug on the table and
slapped his brow.
That's it," he chuckled. "She must have
slipped in three instead of two"
he locked the precious note within the strong
box in which he kept bis Sunday necktie He
devoted himself to reality instead of casuistry;
and so. having eaten and drank, he went to bed
and thence TO Sleep shake of his apparel as
suring him that the third was the last and that
the coins were still there.
The next morning he stopped at jewelers.
after his masters watch which had been left
there for repairs. Having obtained il he lin-
gered in admiration Of q little lacepn of for
get-me-nots. But before he could formulate
his desires the accusing clocks on every side
warned him that he was late. So he tore away
and jumped on a downtown car. He gained
Q seat between two fat women, and was thus
preserved from reproachful feminine chances,
since those who had to stand envied him not
but not from the circumjacent gaze Of the con-
ouctor.
Fare, Z" demanded that official,
Without raising his eyes from his paper
Sammy extended his hand.
You ought to know that / hain't got no
nine ninety-fve.
Sammy looked down and grew hot and cold.
"Oh! ah what the--well, here then"
Come, come, sir me times to valleble for
foolin'"
again Sammy looked and again beheld
F-eenbsck. He felt in third pocket with like
result.
Yez have more money than brains, be
thinkin,." And the passengers laughed. the
fst women dangerously so since their mutual
attraction increased from their vibrations
I'll get cut and walk" said Sammy feebly,
fucking away his unavailing wealth, "I-Pm
not feeling over well this morning"
The conductor rang the bell sharply
Stay to hum TO night and drink tay for o
change" be advised.
Samuel stood, like Lots wife after she had
tasted the salt, in the midst of the pressing
throng. What mystery had enthrslled him:
was be bewitched or simply crazyf He knew
that the hand which shook SO was HIS. and so
were the patched boots and the threadbare