Chicago eagle. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1889-19??, 1896-10-10


II Jumped up and ran into the hall,
and there found Jim sitting.
"'Comc in, old man. said, and
shook him warmly by the hand.
Jim followed me into the dining
room, and when shut the door sat
down at the table and cut Of great
chunk Of bread.
"'1'll speak when I've eaten a Bit
he said, and broke into a laugh. funny
thing. man with f1O0, 900 being nearly
| starvcdv
II looked at the poor chap anxiously.
thinking his head had been turned with
the trouble he had gone through, but
though he was in an even dlrtier AMI
more ragged condition thnn when last
saw him, he had no look Of the mad
man.
"When he had crammed the last piece
Of bread into his mouth lie Jumped up
and seized me BY the shoulders.
~ nm not mad. old chap. or dream.
ing. though you know you think am.
Look Mt this letter. and then tell mo e
| you don't think this IL a d,vilish funny
world
II read the letter quickly.
"'Good heavens, It's true! was all I
could say.
eyes, said Jim, I'm the proud pos.
SCISSOR Of 100000. left me by an old
unclo who refused to give mo q cent
six months ago. BY -, It 10 a dcvilish
funny world
HE fell into q chair and burst into
roar Of laughter, and I couldn't help
Joining him.
"'But look here, old boy Jim said,
suddenly growing serious again, this
IL not oil I came for. came to tell you
that you've got to share this with mo.
Wen have q real good time with this
money. It's no use shaking your head.
you must join me. And Ill tell you
what I'm going to do with 1t. I'm not
going to invest It or speculate with II
or do any Of that nonsense. I'm going
to spend II. I've had a CHASTITY, awful
time Of II for the last six years; I've
lived among people you'd scarcely care
to touch; I've been an outcast. a scum
Of the earth, sewer rat. And It's all
because Of the lack Of this confounded
money. Now I've got It I'm going to
mako Il pay me back for some Of tho
ills IL want has caused me. I'm going
to live for Are years. shall have
100000 year and you'll share II With
me; and on this day five yeays hence,
when the moneys all gonc--as It will
be--lm going to blow my brains out.
HE stopped for moment and be.
gan to pace up and down the room.
"'Don't talk like that I said; you
know you don't mean IT, He came up
to me. put his hands on my shoulders
and looked me straight In the face.
"'Old chap he said solemnly, 4 do
mean It. 1 am going to live for Nvo
years, ana swear before God that on
this day i've years hence I shall put
bullet into my brain. swear IT,"
Vernon broke on and looked at tho
clock.
II say. it's getting very late" no
said; TN finish this yarn another day"
mo, NO; 90 on" I said.
well. Jim got Ills money nil right,
banked It and started to live. He went
In for cvcry kind Of luxury. yachtcd,
raced. shot-did everything man with
10000 year can do. was with him
great deal, and tried to put check
on some Of his excuses. but all to no
purpose. He lived a very devil Of q
Ito. was never In bed before In the
morning. smoked like a chimney. drank
like q Ash and played old Harry with
his constitution generally. 1t was no
good trying to argue with him; II one
did his answer always was, I'm only
going to live for Ave years. old boy .,and
I mean to enjoy those years. can tell
you
"For four years this life went on, and
he then woke up one morning to lind
he had only got $4,000 and one year Of
life left, and-he was madly In love
with woman. She was q widow, ab.
solutcly pcnniless, but az handsome az
paint, and % attractive into the bar.
gain. Poor old Jim became her abject
slave. He was always about with her.
loaded her with presents. and grad.
ually saw less and less Of him. Onu
day. however, he wrote to me and ask
cd me to come around to his rooms. Al
hs had something special he wanted to
say to me. ! went and found him In
very excited state. pacing up and
down his room like a mailman.
"I've been q fool he said almost a.
soon a. had closed the door. a con.
founded idiot. have been living like
, . beast for four years and a half. and
thought l was enjoying myself.
made IN idiotic VOW. and my money,
all gone, barring $4,000. Curse It.
what fool I've been!'
"'You know the proverb about split
milk. Jim.' said.
He sunk into chair with kind oil
groan.
"'Yes. I know he said. but. hang t.
can't help crying over 1t. For I'm IN
love with the best ana loveliest woman
In the world, and she'd marry me to-
! Inorrow--only have wasted most Of
| my money. All. old boy, as l told you
, four years ago, It's q FUNNY world.
have made q COMPOUNDED mess Of my
, life and ! suppose deserve what I've
/ got, but it's hard, devilish hardv
, "'Poor old boyv was all could say
Jim squeezed my hand hard and "a,
, silent, staring into the glowing fire a.
J II there he might find some way out o.
! his perplexity. shall never In my lift
! forget that hour In his rooms. car
J SEQ the whole scene quite plainly n
this moment. The cozy, we'll furnished