The times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1882-1897, 1896-12-25

where it would stop now. The busl-
ness relations between him and his
broker were upon the same footing
again as when he had borrowed 81, 900
to protect his margin couple Of days
before. Once more he was about to be
sold out Whether he wanted to enlarge
his debt to John in order to risk more
or not he had not determined. 1t was
question he had proposed to leave to
John, who had unconsciously settled it
by going away.
While waiting and watching the
thicker" that afternoon, with the gam
bling fever hot upon him, he had, in
obedience to momentary impulse, en-
tered a ''bucket shop" and risked the
last bank bill he possessed upon the
fluctuations of q peculiarly lively Wild
cat mining stock, concerning which he
knew absolutely nothing. 1t was not so
much the prospect of the possible petty
gain that tempted him as the idea he
suddenly conceived that his luck in
that small venture would forecast the
fate awaiting his larger interests, which
was still in the balance 1t was only q
SO note anyway, too small sum to
be Of any practical use He lost, and
accepting the augury was not surprised
when he saw recorded "on the tape" q
further fall Of the stock to which he
had chung with such fatal persistence.
one that "wiped out" his margin. lie
was utterly ruined.
AS he sat alone before Johns fire
turning these things over in his mind
it was singular fact that he felt pc.
culiarly keen regret for the $40 thrown
away in the ''bucket shop" The thou
sands he had risked and lost were SIM
ply Capital" an abstract element in
business transactions, that had never
materialized to his sight in the form Of
bank notes, having always appeared in
the unimpressive guise Of certified
checks. But the $40 note was familiar
and comprehensive thing Of accurately
measurable value 1t would have bought
20 frugal meals. By the way, how much
did he actually have left for the pur.
chase Of food? A very serious question.
He set himself at once to ransackin9
his pockets. Dimes were things for
Thanksgiving; nicl1els, objects of inter-
est; pennies, not to be despised. How
he lamented now the loss Of his good $40
note! But while he was prosecuting this
search something was brought to light
that gave new direction to his thoughts
and caused a new trouble to loom up
before him. 1t was an envelope that he
recognized at once as containing tickets
of admission to tho opera the next even
/ ing. He had procured them a week be-
fore, Irma having expressed desire to
witness the representation. of "Lohen-
grin, announced for that date, but his
business troubles had driven the fact
from his memory for three or four days
past.
What CHASTITY satire upon his misery
that engagement now seemed to him!
Anxious about food for the immediate
future and under contract to take mil
honaire's daughter to the opera! The re-
calling Of opposite Greek and Latin
quotations to suit pretty much all
chances and conditions was his happiest
talent, but it failed him now. He was
too much troubled to think Of anything
that seemed adequate to the occasion.
Irma would expect to be taken to the
opera house and home again in o car
riage, Of course. That was what she was
accustomed TO- But even street car fares
would narrow his dietary plan seriously.
1t occurred to him that there would
bevisdom in feigning sudden indisposi-
ton and sending her the tickets. She
could get her father to escort her. Yes,
she could, but would she? Might she not
nrefer Mr.. Cyrus Pratt's society? That