Lawrence democrat. (Lawrenceburg, Tenn.) 1884-1925, 1895-11-15
FORTUNES OF A NIGHT.
BY FRANCIS DANA.

bIs LhOh0o DAuoputy PuAAS0 " heNe
paper out of his pocket, and scanned
the columns up and down. He was not
looking for his own card of advertise
ment, for he had none. He was not
looking for some notice of an important
case in his practice, for he had no
practice. AS he had begun to despair
Of ever gaining one, he was looking for
q job.
This handsome, ascetic-looking young
man of twenty-five years was dressed
in a shabby suit that had been fashion
able eighteen months earlier. In it he
had como to Boston with his diploma
and youthful confidence that fees and
fortune would visit him. But the only
room he could afford to rent was up
six stories in large business building,
where patients came no oftener than
was natural in city Astounding in
well-known physicians with accessible
offices.
DIR. Bradbury's practice consisted in
waiting faithfully, studying hard, and
eating not much more than his own
heart. Now he had but a few cents
left Of the legacy that had paid for his
excellent education and his meager
sustenance for eighteen subsequent
months.
The room in which he sat was fur
nished with little but the SAVIOR of
beefsteak which had fulfilled the des-
tiny of beefsteal1s 1t had not been Dr.
Bradburys when raw. Nor was this
room his 1t was the residence of his
tall and broad young friend, Jack
Storms, son of the blacksmith in the
Maine village where Tom Bradbury
had been the minister's son.
Jack, having graduated from the
high school, had also sought fortune in
Boston He, no more than the young
doctor, had found that benevolent lady
at home.
But Jack, being big-boned, active
and ready to turn. his hand to any
thing, had lived somehow. He had
even earned enough that day to pur-
chase the beefsteak and potatoes on
which the two had supped after Jack
had broiled 1t on his open CRATE. The
JOunk lCiiOWb udu NV CdtCn bO ROOQ
meal for months before. 1t encour-
aged them afresh, and both laughed
with some show of glee when the doc
tor said:
Well, / own up beaten, Jack, for
the present. forsake my practice.
refuse to wait longer for something to
turn up-I turn to this paper and look
for job"
Look for one for me too, while
you're about it," grinned Jack, rub
bling his mighty hands before the re-
mains of the open fire.
1.-THE very thingr' cried Tom, hand
ing the paper to Jack, and pointing to
an advertisement. Jack took it and
read:
WANTED Able-bodied men who
want to earn a dollar. Call at 10 Pen
die street before s p. m. Friday Room
2O.'"
Fridays to-day. Well, Tom, are we
in it?" asked Jack.
Certainly, want to earn dollar,
said Tom.
$50 do L.
We'll, letx try it together. The
steak has filled me with industry and
thirst for adventure"
it Isl"
A clock in near street answered
Seven" with sonorous strokes.
IF that's true" said Jack, land thai
clock has a reputation for veracity
we've plenty of time to walk to Pendlt
street by eight o'clock. Perhaps you'e
prefer carriage, Tom"
mot |. Leave carriages to the poor
Let's hurry"
The evening was cold, after day o
January thaw. They went down foul
flights of stairs and walked briskl,
forth, rejoicing in their young nigh
and the breath of rising storm. A
five minutes before eight they reached
No. 10 Pendle street.
There was light in room 20, and OF
Its glass door, in large black letters
appeared the words: Levi Ritter
Constable, Collector and Accountant.
Jack happened to have heard Rite
denounced as a very INSCRIPTIONS ras
cal, and a successful one. He wa
noted for being able to collect debt
where no one else could, and was nue.
employed by other constables in worl
they disliked themselves. Part of hi
business was that of collecting rent
from estates in the worst part of tn
city
III don't like the man, Tom" JAG
whispered. But we'll see what's up.
They entered dirty, cobwebb
Office, furnished with desk and tabl
piled with writs, bills and memoranda
agreat iron safe and sundry chairs
three Of which were occupied by Rite
and two others.
Ritter himself was short, wei,
dressed, dapper man, keen-eyed an
strongly built in a monkeylike fashion
with long arms, short legs, deep che.
and muscular neck. His face was tina
Of hard, cold money-getter, with n
other interests of heart or mind.
One of the two men with him was
stout fellow with much OF the bulldo
in his appearance, evidently a rowd
OF the worst kind. The other wa
typical loafer round-shoulderc
lanky, heavy-eyed, with dirty face an
dusty, ragged beard.
To Tom and Jack, as they came il
Ritter nodded.
"You advertised for men. Need an
more?' asked the doctor.
The constable stared. He was n,
accustomed to seeing men of Tom
appearance applying for night work
adubious kind. AS for Jack, he w;
evidently careless, easy-going cha