Evening capital. (Annapolis, Md.) 1884-1910, 1896-01-30

night, and the slow hours dragged On
unfortunately. Bot at length a project
presented itself 70 my now sharpened
senses, which project ITut into execu-
tion when 6 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.
simulated a gradual waking up and
my first yawn opened the eyes If my
bedfellow. The second had the effect Of
raising him from his recnmIent posi-
tion in the bed, and when l slowly and
painfully awoke he was bending over
me, all solieitude.
Daylight was now stealing into the
room.
My poor fellow, . exclaimed the as
siduons one. how do you feel nows
You will wonder, no doubt. At being in
my bed, but the fact is you We're i'll
last night. were You nots"
"Illg" l said. mp And put my
hand mechanically TO my head twell.
/ think / must have been. Ny head
does ache sof'
He smiled and replied "Well, my
dear fellow, not to put too fine point
upon it found you late last might in
the gutter, just little bit the worse for
liquor. and two somewhat diSrepuahle
looking men who We're with you asked
me if could manage 10 look after You
for the night.
/ expressed my profound thanks Go my
good friend for his unselfish kindness,
but he modestly waved them aside. say.
ing deprecatingly:
DUTY, sir. duty cannot neglect a
genuine case of human suffering on dam
ger without some attempt, however
slight. at succor.
/ thanked him again.
Il am i'll. = / said Il had too much
brandy yesterday. / must have hair Of
the dog that bit me. must have nip
now. It is the only thing which will
put me right. If you have any brandy
in the house, for heavens sake, sir,
bring me drop''
He hesitated moment then rejoined ;
Certainly. Lie there and I'll be back
with it in a moment, and disappeared
Much quicker. than | can relate it,
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
back between the sheets, for in an in
slant my good Samaritan arrived with
the brandy. drank and professed to be
much better. ] dressed; so did he.
Would / have breakfast? mol l most
reluctantly asked to be excused, being
in haste to catch the first train ! possibly
could back to town, and 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 in my trousers pocket for
my money, gave a start Of surprise,
shrieked out "They have robbed me,
those villains. Robbed me last night y
And stimulated as ably as | could most
woeful expression of grief and despair.
My good friend sympathized deeply with
me. He invoked maledictions on the
head of any one who could be base
enough to rob an unfortunate stranger,
and with generosity we'll nigh I'M
paralleled he pressed upon me to ac-
cept, seeing was penniless, as tenn
porary loan if l liked, the sum Of 10
shillings.
EDO take it, -. he urged. ut is, You
know, more blessed to give than 10 re-
ceive. am not rich myself, but few
shillings in the cause of philanthropy
shall not, cannot miss
So, with renewed assurance of in
debtedness, / wished my estimable ben
efactor adieu; told him / should never
forget him as long as / lived (here
really was speaking the TRUTH and de-
parted. What the locality was / knew
not, but wandered-nay, l rushed on
and on-until saw sleepy looking
iehu, whom l babe 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. IL
and behold / found that had swept
the birdcage clean, for when | counted
the money there were e42 in gold and
two So Bank of England notes, making
the very respectable total of e52.
Now / am happily and peacefully set
tied in life, aud when round the firesid'
at night am called ON for a story, moth
ing delights me better than to tell m,