Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1894-09-23

the big pitcher; he would have given q
weeks freedom to have had the fluid
| suddenly transformed into old Bourbon.
Touch-Me-Light Tom is a representa-
tive specimen of that class Of moneyless
young men who infest the local race
tracks and live solely by their wits.
His thin, oldish-lookiDg face is known
TO the habitnes Of every course 10 this
vicinity, for, rain or shine, Tommy is
to be found plying his vocation at the
races that promise the best profit.
he Is not more than five and twenty
years of age, though in that brief time
he has crowded more experience with
the worlds dark side than many a man
of 40, and If there is a trick in the tout
ing trade that Tommy is not ION to" it
was invented yesterday.
The veriest ignoramus In the art sar-
torial would never have classified the
young man with the suggestive front
name as q dude. On one memorable oc-
casion, when luck had been running
his way, he had the temerity to
appear before his fellows in a new
pet hat and a pair Of patent leather
p%iccadiilieS. But the unmerCiful guy
ing he received upon his advent In the
betting ring that afternoon had dis
heartened him, and, though outwardly
unperturbed, he inWardly registered a
VOW to never subject himself to such
treatment again. Hence, on this par
ticulsr morning, be had no trouble In
choosing from his wardrobe, and after
performing a hasty ablution, he forth
with got himself into q pair OF trousers
remarkable for nothing except their i'm
nense checks and i~ndisputable evil
dences of wear. Having proceeded
| thus far in his toilet the tout was inter-
rupted by 3 timid knock at his chamber
door.
Come in" be shouted, and without
more ado TIE portal opened and q pale,
| feminine face, crowned by a mass Of
carelessly arranged hair, was thrust 10.
Are you up, Tommy" was the
owners somewhat useless query, mas
much as Tommy stood In the middle of
the floor, already half dressed.
Amt yer got no eyes?" answered
the testy young a "Course Pm up.
Dyer think Pm Vanderbilt er some
body wat car lay abed all day?'
The girl mumbled something about
| coming across to arouse him in time TO
get TO the track, which somewhat modi-
fed the %crapulous a%scerbitY OF Mr..
Tommy, who forthwith deigned to ask
her TO come in and have a sea-
For nearly half e year Mame-that
was the only name she was known by
had roomed just across the hall from
Tommy, and during the last three
months of that time she had been
afflicted with an ailment which the
! doctor had never been able to accurate
~ diagnose. Tommy had seen her
! at least once q day, since she had been
i'll, and had often made substantial con-
tributions TO her welfare. Nearly every
| one else had deserted her now; but,
whatever other shortcomings might
have been urged against the little tout,
that OF stinginess could never be. His
money went as easily as 1t came, ard
he had always been particularly gener-
| Gus to Mame-whose weakness and
loneliness touched some soft spot in his
nature, and brought to mind the mem
ory Of his mother, who had passed away
long before he had begun the descent
of Avernus."
To-day he noticed that Name was
looking particularly fraiI, and there
was an expression about her eyes which
| he had never seen there before.
"How's yer feelln' this mornin',
Mame?" he inquired, as he continued
his toilet. Yer don't look so we'll as
yesterday"
mo, and I amt feeling so well,
either, Tommy" replied the girl.
That medicine the doctor gives me
| don't seem to do me no good, snd-snd
somehow I'm getting mighty tired Of
it all, Tommy"
There was a slight break in her
voice here, which Tommy quickly
marked, aud as he shot one glance at
her he saw q tear-drop stealing down
her cheek. Touch-me-L Lights life had
never lainSlong tender lines, but never
the-less, Mmelted him 10 see a woman
weep, and his tone softened psrcepti-
bly, as hdsaid:
"Nevek mind, old girl, never mind.
Everythhg'll turn out right some day;
49, me out in de wash"
uddenIy, with the palpable in
changing tbs~