Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1894-11-26

es. But / did not tell why there had
lately come upon me this boldness and
security. ] did not choose openly to
avow that in seeking my poor lost sister
''everywhere'' I had not neglected
haunts Of poverty and sorrow.
OF course it was all a mad kind of
venture II Bradford and Hathaway
/. Il not both been in that devil may
care mood which sometimes comes to
visitors in great city after dining
rather too well, I would readily enough
have thrown our whole plan to the
winds. But presently we had entered
cab, and i'll half an hour or so we were
over in the east side Of the town, among
streets many Of whose names I had
scarcely heard. Then we dismissed our
cab and went into horrid haring den
Of place, with electrics in its windows
and pictures of huge "schooners" from
which the tawny beer prodigally over
foamod.
'"Take nothing but settler water, /
whi:pared to Bradford, but he laughing
ly refused and called for three glasses Of
beer.
CHOW begin,'' he rejoined, and in
his twinzling eyes ] read hints Of in
+ OOLiSty ny LIZ plCcaoC1Alt
Come" I said, while we were ell
three slipping our beer in presence Of a
/ great, blond, moon faced barkeeper and
watched by group Of shabby loungers,
''it's very plain, Bradford, that this
whole scheme has been idiotic."
"Aha" giggled Alec, ''you re back
ing out! I thought you would" He
called for three more glasses OF beer,
having drank his own, and the bar
keeper, with great alacrity, whisked all
the glasses away and supplied us with
! fresh ones.
Hathaway slipped in between Brad
| ford and myself Eyes, Alec,' he anx-
/ iously whispered, Crank is backing
out, and very sensibly. The idea of
| three sane men, like ourselves attempt
ing this bravado game of Stiffness in
five different places! We might regret
it all our lives. Come, now, let's go up
town and call the bet off. -
But Bradford tossed his head stub
bornly. He was the best fellow in the
world at ordinary times, but drink,
even in limited supply, had the ugly
trick of demoralizing him.
''Not bit of it, - he muttered. 'Tho
bet isn't off at all. Frank Amberley's
got to Begin Then he loudened his
voice SO it could be heard in every cor
ner Of the big, vulgar gilded tavern.
s'How much money, Frank, did you say
you had about you tonight"
'EAlec,' pleaded Hathaway's low
voice, ''look at that gang of rowdies
over therel We'd best all concede that
we've behaved like fools. Do pull your
OH o,I''
GLOW much, Frank" cried Bradford,
with an obstinate smile and ii saucy
shoulder shrug.
Something in his tones challenged my
reckless anger. I spoke as loudly as he
did and at once began to act out my
prearranged part.
Give thousand dollars,'' I said
Then from one pocket drew one roll of
sham bank notes and from another the
second Twenty five hundred dollars
in each of those little packagesn' Here
I lifted them both and gave to each
little ostentatious flourish. Then / re-
placed them, adding, still in tones clear
and high, cit makes me feel kind of
nervous, but still [ don't doubt I'll
get home all right. -
ooh, Jack and will see you safely
home!" cried Bradford with a glance
across his shoulder at the listening
group Of loafers.
Just then something touched my arm.
A young woman, who must have en-
tered the place but q few minutes ago,
stood at my side. Some trick of the
garish light left her face in partial
shadow, but I could see that it was
very pale and hollow checked as if from
want
sob, STRIP she said to me in a trem-
! bling voice. eff you've got all that
money, perhaps you'll spare me just
few coins! I've never G swear it to you)
been in such place as this before But
I was SO sick that lost my chance Of
work in the big shirt factory not far
Off, and tonight my landlady has turned
me into the streets, and, oh, sir
Crank, what's the matter?' flew
from Alec Bradford's lips as he saw me
reel q little and put my hand dizzily to
my head.
''Good God, Ruth! It's you!''
I caught her to my breast and show
cred kisses on her poor wasted face
My two friends got us carriage be-
fore long. I learned afterward that
HULL UeHd'Su liho eIc oGlOHS, HdV0 IIt-
tie creature she had always been,
though the tears streamed down her
shrunken cheeks, but that babbled in
the silliest way and narrowly escaped
being dragged to prison as a disorderly
bacchanalian.
Ruth is at home with Clara and my
self now, and we are both very happy in
her company, though the return of
healthful bloom to her cheeks often
makes us believe that one admirer out
of a half dozen whom we know may