Connecticut western news., 1895-04-18
CANAAN, CONN, THURSDAY APRIL

visitors in a great city after dining rather too we'll, would readily enough have thrown our whole plan to the winds But presently we had entered a cab, and in half an hour or so we were over in the east side of the town, among streets many of whose names l had scarcely heard. Then we dismissed our cab and went into horrid flaring den of place, with electrics in its windows and pictures of huge "schoone-s" from which the tawry beer prodigally over foamed.
 "Take nothing but seltzer 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 I read hints of in- ebriety by no means pleasant.
 Come" I said, while we were all three slipping our beer in presence of a great, blond, moon faced barkeeper and watched by a group of shabby loungers, tits very plain, Bradford, that this whole scheme has been idiotic." |" "Ahap' giggled Alec, you're back ing out! I thought you wouldl" 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. "Yes, 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 five different placesl We might regret it all our lives. Come, now, let's go up town and call the bet off. 7"
 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 demoralizing him.
 "Not biv of it, he muttered. "The bet isn't off at all. Frank Kimberley s got to begin.'' Then he loudened his voice so it could be 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, Hook 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 saucy shoulder shrug.
 Something in his tones challenged my reckless anger. spoke as loudly as he did and at once began to act out my prearranged part.
 Five thousand dollars" I said Then from one pocket drow ono roll of sham bank notes and from another the second. Twenty five hundred dollars in each of those little packages" Here lifted them both and gave to each a little ostentatious flourish. Then I re- placed them, adding, still in tones clear and high, "It makes me feel kind of nervous, but still I don't doubt I'll get home all right"
 "Oh, Jack and I will see you safely homew 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 tho garish light left her face in partial shadow, but I could see that it was very pale and hollow checked as if from want.
 .tOh, sir!" she said to me in trem- bling voice, Eff you've got all that money, perhaps you Il spare me just a few coinsl I've never q swear it to you) been in such place as this before. But I 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, Ruthl It's youv'
 I caught her to my breast and show cred kisses on her poor wasted face.
 My two friends got us a carriage be- fore long. I 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 a 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 f 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 he lives not far fror-. our Kansas town, and ac- companied me with my sister back into the west, should not be greatly sur prised if
 But perhaps, as their mutual affairs are still quite unsettled, sister Ruth might object to further details on that rather delicate point.-Edgar Fawcett | in Once a Week
 The Onion.