The people's journal. (Pickens, S.C.) 1891-1903, 1896-04-09

passage paid-which was done by hi.
employers--his outfit could not bt
obtained for less than ESQ. I did no,
possess fifty shillings. In despair
asked Sillery for a loan. He received
my application with derision, telling
me he had done enough for me and my
brother, and if we bothered him furth.
er he would rid himself of the whole
beggarly pack. His brutal behavior
only made me moro anxious to save
my brother from the ignominy OF
being his servant. There was only one
way Of doing this. I went to money
lender.
"Moses Levison lent me ESQ on my
giving him bill for flOO. payable in
twelve months. My brother from his
arrival in India would have good
salary. He promised before the bill
became due to transmit to me enough
with what l could save to meet it.
"The outfit was bought, Frank
sailed, and min. months passed. Then
l received letter from my brother
saying he had been very i'll, and as
yet, in consequence, had been unable
to save any money to send me. Nearly
three months more passed. Then |
received another letter. asking me to
renew on any terms. Frank had been
unable co put by anything. He had
| had to mako good loss due to the dis
| honesty OF his servant. II he only had
six months more he could send me two
or three hundred. l went to Levison.
At first he refused point blank to re-
| new, then he consented to renew on
receiving E20-all my savings during
the year--and another bill for f20O.
| PAYABLE in nine months. | accepted
| the condition. could do nothing else
| and wrote to my brother.
1.-The nine months slowly passed.
| During them | had several cheering
letters from my brother. He was
doing we'll and saving money, and he
was confident he could send me f2OO in
time to meet the bill. Levison on the
times lust to see that | was still there,
and to assure me that if f200 were not
forthcoming on the very day, he would
inform my employers OF the whole
transaction.
"As the day Of reckoning drew near
my anxiety became deeper and deeper.
During the last month | arose every
day looking for a letter from my broth
cr, but none came. At last the final
day OF the bills life broke. No letter
from my brother arrived.
"On that day OF agony | went as
usual to the ollice. Ia the afternoon
was sent to the city branch with two
hundred sovcreigns for Sillcry for
some transactions in which gold had
to be paid. When | arrived be was
in his private Office. Evidently he
had been drinking and was only half
aware OF what he was doing. He re-
ceived me with torrent OF abuse,
took the money from me, and ordered
me, as had been late in coming, to
wait at the Office after the rest left
until he returned. Shortly aftcrward
the work for the day was finished, the
bank closed, and l was LETT there alone
to await Sillcry's return.
81 sat there dumb and half dead
with misery listening to the rain beat
ing against the windows: Tomorrow
was the day Of reckoning. LcvisOn
would demand his money. 1t would
not be forthcoming. He would keep
his threat Of telling my employers,
and should be kicked into the street.
What was before me then? Absolute
, starvation-nothing clsc-possibly the
, Jail, for the days Of Imprisonment for
/ debt were not then over
How long ! sat there can scarcely
say. 1t was very late. however, before
Sillcry returned. He was drunker
than ever before and in u more than
, usually savage temper He went TO
3 his private Office and tumblcd about
there among his papers for Il time.
Then he came out and demanded if
knew what he had done with the
, money brought him. ! told him
did not. He swOre at me, and then
turned back into bis office. | heard
him cursing various women and calling
them thieves, and then it struck me
that, instead Of attending to his bust
ness, he had found his way into evil
company and been robbed. Shortly
aftcrward he stumbled out Of his room
and, bidding me TO lock up and be gone
) left the bank.
81 proceeded to lock up in slow
and miserable way. AS | did SO, it
, occurred to INC that Sillcry had chang
cd his ovcrcoat for Il mack kintOsh
before leaving the Office that after
4 noon, and that possibly he had left the
4 money he supposed he had lost in the
pocket OF the ovcrcoat he had thrown
. oil. a sudden curiosity possessed me
to know If this was SO. | rclit the
9 lights ] had put out, rcOpcncd the
: private Office | had locked up, and
= went in. ! felt the pocket. was right.
In changing his overcoat he had for,
gotten to transfer the money.
"God help me, Frank, a thought
7 just then flashed into my mind that
put me IN u lever. here were Two
hundred pounds-thc amount / needed
: next day to save me from ruin. 1t was
in gold, which could not be traced.
It's owner believed he had los, it under
circumstances too diScrcditabIc to
allow inquiry into them. He was rich,
and could easily replace the money.
He was my opprcasor, and owed him
no love or duty. Why should not
take this money, and save myself from
, destruction
, Frank, never be hard on thief
t till you know all the circulno tanccs
;. surrounding his crime. Sometimes
J. these are so strong az to master the
IL most honest OF us Thcy were too
r. strong Tor mo now. I took the money.
}; ma 1T deep in my inside pocket. [
70 rcarrangcd the 0vcrc0at 80 az to leave
|, itns found 1t; then turned to lcayc,
III AS did 30 II sight met nv cycs
~ that paralyzed me with terror. ON
Or ono side OF tho private Office was a
W window into the staircase leading to
as the nppcr stories Of the house, Which
W wore separately occupied The bind
covering the window was drawn, bu,