Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1896-02-15
FROSTBURG, Md. SATURDAY, FEBRJ 15,

out of bed without his being conscious
of the fact. Besides under his pillow I
knew was the pistol, and i'll despair l
had reluctantly to rest on as calm and
unconcerned as possibly could.
All ~aknful | passed that horrible
night, and the slow hours dragged on
interminably. But at length project
presented itself to my now sharpened
senses, which project put into execu-
tion when o'clock struck.
Failure" said to myself, "means
simply death. Success means saved
reputation with my employers and a
vow of strictest sobriety."
Everything being perfectly quiet. I
simulated gradual waking up, and
my first yawn opened the eyes of my
bedfellow. The second had the effect of
raising him from his recumbent posi-
tion in the bed, and when I slowly and
painfully awoke he was bending over
me, all solicitude
Daylight was now stealing into the
room.
"My poor fellow" exclaimed the as
siduous one, chow do you feel now?
You will wonder, no doubt, at being in
my bed, but the fact is ysu were i'll
last night, were you not?'
'Ill?" I said. Zip" And put my
hand mechanically to my head. "Well,
think 1 must have been. My head
does ache sop
He smiled and replied, "Well, my
dear fellow, not to put too fine point
upon it found you late last night in
the gutter, just little bit the worse for
liquor, and two somewhat disreputable
looking men who We're with you asked
me if | could manage to look after you
for the night.
expressed my profound thanks to my
good friend for his unseltish kindness,
but he modestly waved them aside, say
ing deprecatingly:
"Duty, sir, duty! 1 cannot neglect a
genuine case of human suffering or dam
ger without some attempt, however
slight, at succor. -
1 thanked him again.
81 am i'll" said. 81 had too much
brandy yesterday l must have a hair of
the dog that bit me. l must have a nip
now. 1t is the only thing which will
put me right. If you have any brandy
in the house, for heavens sake, sir,
bring me a drop!'
He hesitated moment, then rejoined ::
"Certainly. Lie there and I'll be back
with it in a moment and disappeared.
Much quicker than l can relate it, l
sprang up, went to the birdcage, drew
the sliding tray, transferred all the con-
tents into my handkerchief and thence
into my coat pocket, finally replacing
the tray. Not moment too soon was L
back between the sheets, for i'll an in
slant my good Samaritan arrived with
the brandy. l drank and professed to be
much better. l dressed; so did he.
Would [ have breakfast? No! | most
reluctantly asked to be excused, being
in haste to catch the first train possibly
could back to town, and l pointed out
to my noble host that either breakfast
or that train must of necessity be given
up. Would he forgive me if felt com
PEELED to choose the train?
searched i'll my trousers pocket for
my money, gave Il start of surprise,
shrieked out: "They have robbed me,
those villains. Robbed me last night I"
And simulated as ably as I could most
woeful expression of grief and despair.
My good friend sympathized deeply with
me. He invoked maledictions OH the
head of any one who could be base
enough to rob an unfortunate stranger,
and with generosity we'll nigh un-
o1o ho TO
cept, seeing 1 was penniless, as tenn
porary loan if l liked, the sum Of 10
shillings.
"Do take it," he urged. cit is, you
know, more blessed to give than to re-
ceive. am not rich myself, but a few
shillings in the cause of philanthropy l
shall not, cannot miss.
So, with renewed assurance of in
debtedness, wished my estimable ben
efactor adieu told him I should never
forget him as long as I lived (here
really was speaking the truth) and de-
parted. What the locality was 1 knew
not, but l wandered-nay, l rushed on
and on-until l saw a sleepy looking
jehu, whom l bade drive me with all
possible speed to the station. The train
was Just starting, and jumped into an
empty compartment. Hastily | united
the bag and scanned the contents. Lo
and behold! 1 found that l had swept
the birdcage clean, for when l counted
the money there We're e42 i'll gold and
two e5 Bank of England notes, making
the very respectable total Of f52.
Now am happily and peacefully set
tied in life, and when round the tireside
at night am called on for story, moth
ing delights me better than to tell my
tale of how the trappers were trapped.
London Tit-Bits.
An Unteachable Man.
have always found myself one of the
most unteachable of human beings.
cannot, to tins day, take i'll anything at
secondhand | have in all eases TO learn