The diamond drill. (Crystal Falls, Iron County, Mich.) 1887-1996, 1894-07-21
Icopyngnt, 1904, By The Author. ]

have limited 20 you that / believed
II ever the Old Beau told me his own
story II would be the story OF stories.
There was something about the man,
through all my acquaintance with him,
which had impressed me with the feel
ing that his whole life had been one
long tragedy. Yet, there was no
more genial, companionable man in all
the club. He was replete with nnec-
dote, with gentle humor, with the
quality that is known as the milk OF
human Kindness as you may have
gathered from some OF these tales that
/ have told you. Yet, there was "A GER
tain grave under-current In the man
that had often caused me To wonder at
its reason While desired his story,
with all the keen avidity that a news
paper man Is capable of. | had firmly
made up my mind that would never
suggest this desire 10 him-for / was
confident the tale would come OF his
own accord some day. And II did.
In the lighted street In front OF the
club, / was approached one night by a
miserable vagrant who asked me for
aims. Not from charity, but because
IL was the easiest way, put my hand
in my pocket and gave him a coin. As
j handed IL to him, the Old Beau came
down the steps. He paused as though
turned 10 stone when ne saw the beg
gar, and grew all white, like one who
~ suddenly struck with death. And
the beggar, seeing him, stayed the
hand that had been stretched forth for
the coin, and leered at him and called
him jeeringly by name. | stood look
ing from one 70 the other, knowing
that was witnessing the eliminating
scene OF great drama, yet powerless
TO comprehend its meaning. After a
pause that was, doubtless, not more
than moment, but that had spun out
Infinitely ia my imagination, my
friend came down tho steps slowly,
and placed his hand on my shoulder.
His voice was quiet, but yibrated with
a strange, deep tremor as he spoke to
me,
n"Do me this favor" he said; 'go
with this man, find him shelter and
food, and whatever else he may need.
Do for him all that be asks, for l owe
him a great debt will wait for you
here"
He turned, and went slowly up the
steps again, while gave my attention
10 the fellow before me. i do not need
TO tell you much OF him He seemed
the worst OF his class. Dressed In
rags, filthy and palsled with drink, he
was loathsome Ia the extreme. lie
mumbled now, In Il maudlin way, and
staggered from sheer weakness.
soon saw that his mind was half gone,
aud that nc was III and miserable.
Want had done almost It's worst upon
him. lie easily submitted TO being led,
and took him. first, 10 place where
he WAS bathed, and clcanly dressed
and fed. Then. / saw more clearly
how little strength was In him, and 80
we went forthwith TO a hospital, and
procured bed for him there. After
the physician had examined him, he
told me that the spark OF life hung
only by u thread. 1t might be a mat
ter OF few hours; at the most, but q
few days, before the end would come
1t was far past midnight whom / left
him. and returned To the club.
The old Beau was alone In an uppeI
room. dim light burned on the tn
BILE, low fire in the CRATE. The usua
accessories, tobacco and liquors, wore
notable for their absence.
He looked up when ! entered, and
! saw that he was still very white.
thought could detect the signs 81 :