The Washington times., 1894-07-01

but you looked like gentlemen, and was
so tired and so faint I didn't feel strong
enough TO walk home, and | wanted to get
back to my baby
"Well. you shant 20 away and think I'm
blackguard. l don't mean to insult you
| again. and believe every word you say. I'm
! sorry you're in great trouble. and should
like to help you. viii you take this for the
| little one?n
| He took a f5 none from his pocket and
pressed it into the girls hand.
| The girl hesitated a moment Then she
/ closed her hand upon the gift.
Il will take il" she said ''for God knows
want it. All, sir, you don't know what you
have saved me from, but can only take it on
one condition.
'Well?"
THAT you give me an address to which 1
can return it. "
John Alster laughed
''If it will make the gift more acceptable to
you, he said. you shall have it on your own
terms. You can return it to John Alister, the
Talbot Club. Piccadily"
The girl repeated the words slowly to i'm
press them on her memory
John Alister, the Talbot Club. Piccadilly' ;
Thank you. Mr.. Alister, and good night
She shook hands with him. and in mo-
ment was gone.
This is queer go!' exclaimed Alister,
L
is. Poor little woman. suppose it's the old
one-a little work-girl who's come 10 grief
and wants &c keep straight il she can
l suppose shall never see my FLYER again.
Mr.. John Alister was what is popularity
known as good fellow. He had inherited a
considerable sum of money from his father at
the age OF Ave and twenty. and he had had
his fling with it. At the age of 35 he was
little tired of the game and he sat down to
look the future in the face. He saw that If
ne went on at the rate he had been going he
would be lett in an uncomfortable position,
so be dropped some OF his expensive habits.
reckoned up his available capital. found that
by investing it he would be sure to secure
$500 n year and this he presently did Then
he looked about him for means of employ
ing his leisure and keeping himself out of
mischief. and he found a secretaryship which
was worth another $500 and the duties of
which were not too onerous.
On a thousand a year he could live COM
fortably in a set of modest chambers and
having no desire to marry and incur domes-
tie responsibilities he was able to live a
pleasant. enjoyable life
He belonged to good club. and his income
was large enough to enable him to knock
about town after business hours and to enjoy
himself after the fashion of his kind. Enjoy
ing himself in this way it was not likely that
his adventure in Piccadilly would make any
great impression upon him. In few nights
he had forgotten it altogether. and it was.
therefore. with considerable astonishment
that about month afterward. opening a let
ter one evening, which had been sent to the
club for him, he found in it brand new FIVE
pound note.
For moment he thought it must be from
some friend who owed him a fiver for bet
which he had forgotten. or something OF that
kind. but when he had read the letter in
which the note was inclosed his curious ad-
venture in Piccadilly came back to him at
once.
This was the letter:
SIR: / send you back the money you so kindly
lent me one night in Piccadilly. / shall always
be grateful TO you for your kindness.
Yours sincerely, Lillian WILSON
swell, I'm hanged" exclaimed John
Alister as he looked at the note. "This is
honesty with a vengeance. never expected
10 see that again. Poor little girl I hope
she has not put herself TO any trouble to pay
this again. She was welcome to it.. He
turned to the letter again to see If there was
any address on it. There was nothing bnt
London" It was evident that Lillian Viii
son did not desire an acknowledgment
John Alister put the five-pound note in his
waistcoat pocket and the letter in his breast
pocket. and strolled into the smoking-room,
sat down, and picked up an evening paper
and began to read.
Presently his eye was attracted by sensa-
tionai headline. A terrible outrage had been
committed In railway train. An old GENTLE
man mad been murderously assaulted and left