The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1893-03-05
THE MAN WITH
OUT POCKETS.
From ne ~ 20 Times.

the keen night mist and penetrating mire
than OF the throng, the hustle, aud the
Raudy allurements for hapless rustics. All
these were an old story for him, and SO, in
deed, was ife-a dresry plod to the meas
ure OF dirge. 1t is hard when one can
make enough to-day to keep alive through
tomorrow 80 as TO make enough for the
next day; but when twelve hours incessant
work in a great retail emporium results
only in an increasing financial deficiency,
despite the coarsest Of food and the thinnesu
OF clothing, then one does not wonder
whether life is worth living-one knows.
SO Sammy was thinking, and besides-for
who so wretched as not TO wish to share his
misery There was Kate, his bonny Kate,
as he had once called her In burst Of orig
inallty. Were not things bad and sad
enough but that he must needs make them
worse by quarreling with her, and thus de-
prlving himself of the hope for an imprac-
tlcable future? Why bad Kate been 80
short with him. Perhaps her mother. the
Widow Quigley, had weighed him in the
balance of scceptability and had found
him, as he was, sadly wanting.
Ah, WE'LL worrying was a poor plaster for
an aching back; at least sleep remained for
himl Sammy thought Of his dismal lodg
inRs with longing, and quickened his steps.
AS he was crossing the avenue he heard
feeble cry for help. There on the track in
front OF him was quivering bundle of
rags. Charging full upon it was a car, and
TO the right aud left impatient trucks.
Sammy dashed forward and under. He
raised the poor old creature and dragged
her 70 the corner. He collected her basket
and kerchief and staff. From a remote cor
ner of his pocket he snatched a shrinking
dime aud pressed it in her palsied grasp.
Then he hurried on, not needing the bless
ing, nor the assurance that whatever thing
he would wish for that he should receive.
No, indeed; he was too impressed with the
perception that now be could not alleviate
his crust with a modest pint Of ale, to
bother with the mumblings Of half-crazed
beldam.
Samuel turned the latch OF his lodging
house noiselessly, as he thought, and was
half way up stairs in a bound, but a search
light from an opening door below caught
him, and a strident voice pealed forth:
Begging your pardon, Mr.. Naples If
you please, but I'm a waiting for you as
you promised, for the butcher will be to
hand In the morning. and be hein't no poor
lone wilder to be deluded by spendthrifts
and wuss. more's the pity"
Presently, madam" replied Samuel, as
be repeated the bound aud secured himself
within his cherries quarters.
ANOW WuAk uhA ne meant DY saying 'Er0H-
emily, madam when he well knew that he
bad not cent in the worldl Was It right
thus to deceive that long-suffering souIl
But was anything right where work was
existence and starvation its reward? On
the table by the candle was ths BUTTERFLIES
loaf aud at one side was the brown lug, so
tempting because so empty. Even If had
the dime wouldn't dare to get you filed,
murmured Sammy with a sickly grin.
10 10 IL.
pockets and paced mOodily up and down
the room. 81 wish,n be continued, 'thRt
every time put my hand into my pocket
l might draw out q 80 greenback. o.
wouldn't that be nice! Well, I'd rather
smile.n
But Sammy didn't smile. He stopped
short. he stood RRhsst. Surely nothing
could be more empty than his pockets, not
even the jug; but-surely he felt something.
He slowly drew forth bis hands and held
them before the candle. He turned pale
and livid and green and sank on the chair
with the broken back-the other one lacked
a seat-and well be might, for in each
he held u fresh, crisp $40 greenbackl
Twenty unexpected, unaccountable dollars
to penniless man, whose salary as he
termed it, was six per-" and only recently
thatl
Sammy sat in a daze, cycling the money
wish truly required to him. but only idly
as an astounding coincidence to an incom-
prehensibls event, Little by little light
dawned. "She must have slipped them in
my pockets when | raised her. Who would
have supposed che was so rich? God bless
her" he faltered.
He bounded lightly down the stairs. He
entered the dread sitting room and startled
its awful mistress over her tea.
h'Ii inst 6RkFlA that litfla aCnn,pk !,
said.
The landlady caught the notes like a
trained soprano. After brief search In an
old stocking she returned small amount of
change.
Which I do say, Mr.. Naples" she
added, with a gratified air, you was alus
that honorable. Won't you set by and take
a orawln'Fn
No. Samuel had an important engage
ment. He remembered the BUTTERFLIES loaf
and the parched Jug. He hastened to his
room and thence with the latter to the
neighboring inn.
"a quart Of Extra x, aud just wrap up a
cut Of that ham and bit o. cheese, will
yool" he said grandiloquently, as he fished
10 his pocket for coin.
The proprietor recognized the air and ap-
proved OF it, as be saw what Samuel ex-
tended.
"a tenner, chg" he replied. "Just let it
go until next time, Mr.. Naples, can't
break that very well.n
And Sammy, once more dumbfounded,
folded the greenback in his grasp, picked
up his parcels, aud departed TO his room.
He placed the brown jug on the table and
slapped his brow.
That's it" he chuckled. "Shs must have
slipped in three instead of two"
He locked the precious note within the
strong box in which he kept his Sunday
neoktie. He devoted himself to reality in
stead of casuistry and so, having eaten
and drank, he went to bed and thence to
sleep, shakeiof his apparel assuring him
that the third was the last and that the coins
were still there.
The next morning he stopped at q jewell
er's after bis masters watch, which had
been left there for repairs. Having OBJ.
tanned it, he fingered ia admiration of a
little Iacepin of forget-me-nots. But before
be could formulate his DESIRES the accusing
clocks on every side warned him that he
was late. So he tore away aud jumped on
downtown car. He gained a seat betw cen
two fat women. and was thus preser we'd
from Teproachful feminine glances, since
those who had 90 stand envied him not; but
not from the circumjacent gaze of che con-
duotor.
"Fare" demanded that official.
Without raising his eyes from his paper
Sammy extended his hand.
you ought to know that l hain't got no
nine nlnety-five."
Sammy looked down and grew hot and
cold.