The times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1882-1897, 1894-11-30

htilhti % rs wore IN OVorcOat. When
al. was arranged, | resumed my argu.
ment about the safety of going unpro-
tected into quarters Of the lowest class.
es. Eut did not tell why there had
lately como upOn me this boldness and
security | did not choose openly to
nvow that in seeking my poor lost sister
"evorywhere' had not neglected
haunts OF poverty and sorrow.
Ot COURSE II was I "a mad kind of
venture. IL Bradford abl Hathaway
had not both = tA.. devil may
care mood winch sometimes comes to
visitors in IL great city after dining
rather too well, would readily enough
have l. lwn orr y olo plan to the
winds. Bct presently wo had entered a
cab, and ~ a IA hour or SO we were
over III the 90, ..e of the town, among
streets may OF whose names | had
scarcely heard. Then we dismissed our
cab and went into h1rrid fiaring den
OF place, with electrics in its windows
and pic tures of hu. Q "schoone-s' from
which the tawny beer prodigally over.
foamed.
Take nothing but settler water, ]
whispered to Bradford, but he laughing
ly refused and called for three glasses OF
beer.
"Now begin" he rejoined, and in
his twinkling eyes l read hints Of in
ebriety by no means pleasant.
Come" / said, while we were all
three slipping our beer i'll presence of a
great, blond, moon faced barkeeper aud
watched by group of shabby loungers,
''it's very plain, Bradford, that this
whole scheme has been idiotic. "
"AhaW giggled Alec, you're back
ing ont! l thought you wouldW 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, Frank is backing
out, and very sensibly. The idea Of
three sane men like ourselves attempt
ing this bravado game Of Stiffness in
1--we different placesl We might regret
it all our lives. Come, now, let's go up
Gown 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 domoralizing him.
Not bit of it, F" he muttered. "The
bet isn't off at all. Frank Amberley's
got to begin. Then he loudened his
voice so it could DO heard in every COR
ner Of the big, vulgar gilded tavern
"How much money, Frank, did you say
you had about you tonight?'
"Alec," pleaded Hathaway's low
voice. "loob at that gang of rowdies
over there We'd best all concede that
we've behaved like fools Do pull your
self together, old fellow, and"-
"How much, Frank" cried Bradford, \
with an obstinate smile and q saucy
shoulder shIug.
Something III his tones challenged my
reckless anger. spoke as loudly as he
did and at once began to act out my
prearranged part
Give thousand dollars" L 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 packagesp' Here |
I lifted them both and gave to each |
little ostentatious flourish Then l re- |
placed them, adding, still in tones clear |
and high, sit makes mo feel kind of |
nervous, but still I don't doubt I'll |
get home all right.
ooh, Jack and / will see you safely |
homep' cried Bradford, with 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 few minutes ago. |
stood at my side. Some trick of the |
garish light left her face in partial |
shadow, but l could see that it was
very pale and hollow checked as if from |
want.
ooh, STRIP. she said to me in q trem-
bling voice, eff you've got all that |
money, perhaps you'll spare me just a
few coins! I've never U swear it to you) |
been in such place as this before. But |
l 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''-
Frank, what's the matter?' flew |
from Alec Bradford's lips as he saw me |
reel little and put my hand dizzily to
my head.
Good God, Ruth! It's you''
caught her to my breast and show |
cred kisses on her poor wasted face.
Ny two friends got us carriage be- |
fore long l learned afterward that |
Ruth behaved like the strong, brave lit |
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 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 half dozen whom we know may |
soon partially rob us of her.
Bradford would never accept my |
money, but insisted on calling the bet |
"off. " And, by the way, as no lives |
.rNt Co.. III