The morning call., 1894-09-09


1t took old Eliphalet jenkins many days
to coalesce the fantasies of his shattered
reason into definite conceptions as TO MS
Identity, his being, his Whereabouts.
When be did grasp the situation he dlsre-
garded utterly its real SeriouSn ess-the I'M
able and rapid approach of death.
lie was mortified, chagrin ed, BUNDLED for
the nrst time in his life. To think that he
should be dependent for existence and
care on strangers and that those strangers
OF alt people on earih should be the wife
ana child OF that ridiculous old mutf,
Alexander Watson! 1t seemed aS if all
3he humlllatlODs which, through his fail
nre and ruin, he had been able TO ignore
Oy virtue OF Self-esteem preserved, now by
surprise were crushing him.
lie mated the neat little room where he
lay; he hated the widow whose hands and
voice were soft, even If ner face at times
grew stern, and he hated the young girl
who seemed patrOnizing in her kindly at
tentonB. His very chGler made his dulled
senses acute, and often when he seemed to
sleep he was watching and listening. Thus
he got to know the simple secrets of the
houSehold-the love between Lillian and
Herbert La Grange, the weakness Of
their poverty, the strength of their hope.
One might suppose that the view of such
an idyl might have softened his temper,
for the toughest heartstTing will often
strike accord to sentimental drama. but
III HIS prosperity us SN pdbUl6S Hdu u6eH
self limited and adversely had contracted
them far closer than his nerves.
AS be lay, helpless and WitherinG, with
fingers significantly picking al the spread,
one other problem besides his mortality
were they working out, and that. how to
repay this accursed obligation. In every
other respect his accounts were balanced,
his paltry accounts, in which base income
had paid for baser appetites. He had
nothing, but he owed nothing. Had that
stroke given him a fve-mnute respite of
life and consciousness he would have died
proud of his record of Independence. But
now two miserable paupers had relieved
him, he must lie indebted to the women
whom Alexander Watson had left pennl-
niess. Oh, it was unbearable.
What consummate old ass and dOlt and
fool that man had beeu to cast away such
good money for an idi0tic scruple. He
had been out Of his mind, if, Indeed, he
ever had anv. Why, with that sung little
patrimOny these two young. romantic SIM
pletons might now marry aud make each
other miserable TO their hearts content.
AS ii were there was 5000 as If hidden
away in hole, forgotten and useless. No
one claimed it; it belonged TO no one. On!
but was that true? Did not he himself
among his papers have proof OF title?
Might he not assign This claim, and .heo
die as he had lived, behOlden TO no one?
The skeleton fingers ceased their picking.
and painfully scrawled note.
In response to this missive Judge Stan
ley came, i'm mpelled by sense of duty.
Pm sorry to see You in such distress,
Jenkins" he said. Il suppose you lack
means?'
You can attend to matter of business
for me on the usual business conditions"
replied jenkins. Il am not given to beg
ging."
A stiff refusal sprang TO Judge Staney's
lips. The idea that he would touch any
OF the foul matters with which this man
had been busted! But then there was a
mute appeal OD that wasted CHASTITY face
he could not dispute the authority Oh
death.
"Wel. well." he added. "Tell me what
you want"
''DO YOU know in whose house l lie ?"
asked Jenkins.
"Certainly. In the Widow Watson's, a
good hearted, charitable woman, too"
"Yes, the widew of old Alexander Wat
son. Do you know. Judge, you were right
in what you said about equity. / nav4
never forgotten It. l did bribe the old
driveler."
you did?'
"Oi course ] did. 1t was our only hope,
and money was no object with me then.
The 'P. and O. would have allowed twice
the amount for incidental expenses had |
won. But you can't buck against soften
ing OF the brain, you know"
IL trust you realize, Mr.. jenkins. the
grave consequence Of such an infamous
confession TO me ?'
"Grave nonsense If were alive and
kicking. instead of n1ne-tenths of corpse,
you could Go nothing, as you vfTy we'll
know. l was acquitted of bribery, and
the time for indictlng for perjury has long
since passed"
Then whv-"
81 will tell you. want you TO recover
that mnnaV for nn mi, I Cd
II. Here IS proof of where l drew it, the
numbers of the bills aud every hing com
pleie. Trust fox 10 conceal his trail.
but to remember every winding"
You must excuse me" began Judge
Stanley.
persisted jenkins. land hold it in trust
for one Herbert La Grange. who is a clerk
In your office. Invest t for him IN any
way so that he may marry Lillian Wat
SOP. the daughter of that old blockhead-"
Hum u rehec ed Judge Stanley. "The
you wronged! Well. l believe it's the
thing for you to do. l consent You wish
to make IeparatiOn. Well, repentance al
the last hour. il sincere, is efficaeiOus.
Remem Der the dying thief"
My good SIR" said Jenkins, with
toucn OF Old-ttme blandness, don't. Let
us Keep professional acumeu entirely dis
tlnct from didacIic recreation. They make
mushy mess. Nv motive is simple. |
always pay my debts. My career has been
consistent with self-respecL These people
have befriended me, hence they are en-
titled TO Quid pro quo. They need never
know whence the money comes. Indeed
such a course Is prudent, for all mental
disorders are strictly entailed, you know,
and the girl might refuse it,"
Tne Judge shook his head and sighed
ana IN silence took bis departure. Then
followed the signing of papers, researches.
consultations, aud friendly suit Elipha-
let Jenkins gave his evidence clearly, ir-
Tetraga bly,, triumphantly before a commits
sloner. The next morning he lay dead in
his bed, and on his face was a smile uf
peace.
After little Lillian snd Herbert La
Grange were married. and the money
which for so many years had been dead
ened in power now became fecund with
happlness.-New York Times.
ln health and during exercise tie aver
age man has about twenty respiratipus a