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

embarrassed from lack OF pocket
money. He was seldom implicated
in any "big deals" and consequently
his losses were comparatively small,
He rarely risked more than s.. O0J in
a single month, and, as general
rule, gained perhaps a fifth as much.
But he had recently got good advices,
and now he had played heavily,
desperately for him, $2j, O0O-it made
him vince when he thought of where
he should be if he should lose.
"HeighO! I'm tired" he said,
yawning, but he had hardly uttered
the words when the door-bell rang
with a loud noise. He hurried out
of the room and down the stairs.
calling to the servant that he would
attend to the door. As he had ex-
pected, it was a messenger boy. He
scrubbed his name on the delivery
book and slammed the door. then
tore open the envelope.
'Buttertown Mining clean sweep
FREEMAN"
He read it through again; then his
face frightened and as he waved the
telegram iOyfully over his head and
cut pigeon wing toward the stair
case, he cried:
I'm going down town to see Bill
lings. Where's my hat? Wait I'll
get Billings up here and we shall
have a good time. Old Billings
funniest man | ever-let me see. let
me see," he said, hesitating. why
can't | fix up some little surprise for
him. Oh! | have it. III make him
think have lost $4,000, Just to zee
how he will take it. Always brim
full of cheerfulness-i will make him
serious for once in his life. A little
judiciOus leVity won't be unbecOming.
my good fortune. Let me see,
hOuuOI uOH Cdn put IL,
Down on State street, on the left
hand side, and set back a bit We
tween two nigh :.c3s stTuctures.
is situated what is supposed 30 be
the Oldest building in the lot. It's
dilapidated entrance certainly indi-
Gates as much Tackled on an office
door at the head of the fight OF
stairs which leads right up from the
street is sign bearing the following
words: ''Sam Billings, Attorney at
Law
Within the Office a short little man
with a respectable paunch, in an
ample gray vest, and worthy red
face well framed with tufted white
whiskers. is sitting at desk writing.
He is debating what he writes to a
girl who is playing business sonata
OF one note on a typewriter in an I'D.
joining room.
"All right now his heirs and
assigns for their own special use.
Period. And the said Timothy Muir
ply, of the first part. and his be-
loved spouse. Abigail Demise Muir.
ply, of the second part, do, by the
grace of God"
But at that moment two pro.
lOnged rings sounded at the tele-
phone. Mr.. Billings laid down his
pen, and as he hurried over to the
instrument muttered under his
breath something about internal
machine. "
Hello! Hello,'
lis this 44lS-2?" came over the
wire.
THAT you, Billings?'
Yes! Halo! Hensou,-what':
up?" recognizing the voice.
Say, Billings, come up to the
house right away! Pm"
81 understand. Just keep your
equilibrium for five minutes, and II
be with you"
As he hung up the receiver, tn,
girl in the other room ventured Il
ask:
Anything serious, Mr.. Billings
"Yes. HensOn'S house is probabl,
on fire and his family and furniture
in the street" he replied, not, how
ever, without causing a light blusl
to tinge the cheeks of that indis
pensable young lady.
Mr.. Billings did not waste man,
minutes in locking up his desk ant
putting on his hat aud coat, and Civ
ing some directions to Miss Perry
was soon under way. When h
reached Henson's house he looked a
his watch. 1t was half past two
The servant opened the door an
told him that Mr.. Henson was in tn
library.
Hello, Henson! What's tn
trouble? You look as if you wer
out OF tune, said the lawyer as h
entered the room
The banker was seated before tn
fire. He had thrown off his coat an
had on a long, gray dressing gov
which was buttoned up to his necl
He turned his head slowly when tn
lawyer spoke, and said in a wea
voice:
billings, am thankful to you fc