St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1896-07-25
HIS REFORMATION

Whe0 mother sang.
Charles z. Cook. In Troy PreoA
HIS REFORMATION
ny HA8OLD Z. NICKIRsON.
Henry Dyson was alone in his little
Office at the back end Of his place of
business. The hour was late. and all
his employees had gone. Mr.. Dyson was
a pleasant-looking man of about IS or
40. and his fellow townsmen frequently
pointed to him with pride as self-made
man.
But, while everybody had . good word
for Henry Dyson, very few people spoke
well Of his brother, Tom.
On the night our story opens the mer-
chant was waiting for his greceless
brother, and as the hours rolled on the
frown ON his face grew deeper.
II can do nothing with Tom, he said.
as he paced the floor impatiently. Il
have given him every possible chance.
hut he grows more idle and dissipated
every day. Perhaps I ought not to wait
~ - ~ Aowas 20 urgent in his re
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The fFoat dor ope1ed a661yunG
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o -. :. 49, ~ -. :.
"Well, Toni - = -
II am here. you see," replied 16l1s
81 suppose" said Henry, -it il useless
to ask why you are 50 late or where you
have been during the last two days?"
Tom looked nervous and his eyes fell
THAT il neither here nor there" he
answered, in . staggering way. Il
have had some business of my own to
look after, and knew that you were
not short Of help in the store"
"Well, what il it?" asked Henry. ab.
ruptly.
Brother" Tom broke out, hurriedly
and in . faltering voice, II must have
some money-at least $500"
II wonder where you will get it?'
Henry rejoined. "You will not get an
other dollar from me-that il certain
Why should toll here and economic
in order to furnish you with funds to be
lost at the gaming table?"
"If 1 do not got this money" said
Tom, turning very pale. II shall have to
leave the country"
"a good thing for the country, then. .
snapped Henry. Don't let me interfere
with your travelling plans"
Tom seemed to fall all to pieces ut
this-reply. He made one more effort
II hope you are not hard up your
self7" he said.
II was never getting along BETTER
responded the merchant, "but that has
nothing to do with the case"
He pulled open the door Of the iron
safe and pointed to little tin box.
do you sec that" he asked. well
that box contains 20 crisp $500 banl
notes. I drew the money from the ban]'
to-day for an investment No, Tom,
am prospecting. but 1 am tired Of your
endless drain upon my purse. 1t must
stop, and now IL the time"
Henry rose from his chair and went
into little closet for his overcast
In an instant, before . man could
count three seconds, Tom had drawn
the fiat tin box from the safe and
slipped it into the breast of his heavy
overcoat.
His brother slowly emerged from the
closet and put on his overcoat. Then hi
closed the door Of the safe with . click
II am ready to CO." he said. "Yor
have no further business with me,
presumeT"
mo, sir" Tom responded, with pale
determined face. "Neither now mol
later; good-by."
"Good-by, old fellow" said Henry
with q yawn.
Tom walked out Of the store withou1
another word, banging the door aftel
him.
| II know him." soliloquised the mer
chant. HE will not leave here. He vii
be here tomorrow with new PROPOSE
tion. Perhaps, after all. had bette
look into his affairs and give him IN
other chance"
He walked slowly out Of the store an
locked the door. A glance up and dow
the street showed him that Tom wa
not in sight, and he then quietly mad
his way to his home and straightwa,,
| went to bed.
After leaving tho store Tom hugge'
the tin box to his breast and walked q
a rapid pace.
ut was IN awful thing to do" b
muttered, ''but had to have money
and 1 helped to make some Of It for m
lucky brother"
/ The young man sped Onward AhrOug
the deserted streets Of Painsvi0e MT
he reached the river. He crossed th
bridge and started up the hill on III
other side.
i His plan was plain enough. He Va
} going to the railroad station to take th
train for New York.
Suddenly he pulled up with . jerl
He took the box frum under his cost.
Hang IT," he exclaimed. II mus
have been mad. / am No thief, and
win cut my throat before 1 win beeou
one. There il but one thing 70 do.
win return the box back to my brothe
confess ny folly and then leave hi'
forever"
He turned. and rs&z1ced his step
When Ae reoehed tie bridge he panss
} 10 moment and looked into the da1
waters below.
II nay ind psacs there" be sai
+ | 11nnnilV