Daily public ledger. [volume] (Maysville, Ky.) 1892-191?, 1896-10-03

/ AACsN AOAAOA hAS tAihlCuNCs
zone morning, however, about TIVE
years later, when was sitting over !
late breakfast, my servant came in ans
told me rough, dirty-loolxing mar
wanted TO see me-
Il told him you were al breakfas'
sir, West said, but he said that didn'.
matter, he was sure you'd see him all
! the same
: "What name did he give?' asked
wondering who on earth my visitor
could be.
'Barham, think he said, sir, my
servant replied.
II jumped up and ran into the hall,
and there l found Jim sitting.
"'Come in, old man., l said, and
shook him warmly by the hand.
Jim followed me into the dining
room, and when 1 shut the door sat
down at the table and cut off a great
chunk of bread.
"1'll speak when I've eaten a bit he
said, and broke into a laugh. Funny
thing, man with 100000 being near
| ly starved'
Il 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 dirtier and
more ragged condition than when last
saw him, he had no look of the mad
man.
I when he had crammed the last
piece of bread into his mouth he jumped
up and seized me by the shoulders.
I am not mad, old chap, or dream
ing. though you know you think am.
Look at this letter. and then tell mo
if you don't think this is a funny world
81 read the letter quickly.
Good heavens. it's truer was all 7
could say.
Yes said Jim. Tn the proud pos
SCISSOR of 100000, left me by an old
uncle who refused to give me cent
six months ago. 1t is a furry world.
He fell into a 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 |
Is not all came for. came to tell You
that you've got to share this with me.
Wen have a real good time with this
money. It's no good shaking your
head; you must join me. And I'll tell
you what Tn going to do with it. Tn
not going to invest it or speculate with
it or do any of that nonsense. I'm 20
ing TO spend IT, I've had CHASTITY, aw-
full time of il 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, a sewer rat. And it's all
because of the lack of this COMPOUNDED
Now I've got il Tn going to
make il pay me back for some Of the
ills its want has caused me. Tn going
10 live for five years. shall have 90
900 year and you'll share it with me:
and on this day five years hence. when
the moneys all gone-as it will be-Pm
going to blow my brains out!'
He stopped for a moment and began
to pace up and down the room.
Don't talk like that said: won ,
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 ,
10 mean it. | am going TO live for five
years, and I swear before God that on ,
this day five years hence shall put
bullet into my brain. | swear it,"
Vernon broke off and looked at the :
clock.
II say, it's getting very late" he q
said; I'll finish this yarn another
lay"
No, no; go on" l said.
We'll, Jim got his money all right. s
banked it and started to live. lie went !
n for every kind of luxury, yachted, I
'aced, shot-did everything a man with
{ 20, 900 year can do. was with him
/ great deal, and tried to put check o
IN some of his excuses. but all to no :
purpose. He lived a very devil of a :
life, was never in bed before in the
morning, smoked like chimney, drank
ike fish and played old Harry with
MS constitution generally. 1t was no 4
good trying to argue with him; IL one
lid his answer always was: I'm only
going to live for five years, old boy, and
mean to enjoy those years, can tell :
you.'
For four years this life went on, and '
ne then woke up one morning to find !
ne had only got G 10000 and one year OF l
life left, and-he was madly in love with
| woman. She was widow, absolute
y penniless, but as handsome as paint,
md as attractive into the bargain. Poor '
I'D Jim became her abject slave. He z
vas always about with her, loaded her
With presents, and gradually saw less
md less of him. One day, however, he L
wrote to me and asked me to come
round to his rooms, as he had some
hing special he wanted TO say to me.
went and found him in a very excited
tate. pacing up and down his room y
Ike a mailman.
I've been fool ne said, almost as :,
Don as | had closed the door, "a con-
ounded idiot. / have been living like
beast for four years and half, and
bought was enjoying myself. I ,
made an idiotic vow, and my moneys