The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1897-11-29
JUST INSTINCEN

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Este was . cat, and, Leonard HezEiOk
was q mouse, Ths,s had been some rare
sport, but HerTick was Of the kopinion
that It could not last much longer. He
had run this way and that way, aud a
thousand times he had fancied that be
was going to escape. But always the
velvet paws, with the long. sharp claws
springing out Of them, had caught him
Just in time. So at last he lay still,
painting, not knowing which way to
turn.
He was in a big city, all alone. The
people who rushed by him were like the
thoughts that whirled through his brain
they were shadows, and the everlast-
ing train Of them had no beginning or
end. He could not distinguish the real
men and women whom he saw from
those whom he merely remembered
Now and again there appeared in the
throng the faces Of the dead. He did not
mind those. But, there were others that
he shrank from.
He stood with his back against the
iron fence in front Of Trinity church.
Her1ick's hands We're in his pockets.
He crumpled q cracking piece Of paper,
which meant that he could live several
days longer if he cared to do So As to
more extended future, he could not
picture it. All the lines of his life SEEM
cd to end in knot which could by no
means be united, but must merely be
dropped. He remembered that there
were miracles, but he could not think
Of one to wish for.
He crossed Broadway and walked
down Wall street, slowly and with hest
tation, for he had no errand. A voice
cried, "Cab, STRIP almost in his ear. He
turned and looked up at the man Oh the
box.
"Is it possible" be said to himself,
"that still look Ike gentleman?"
He felt toward the cabman as toward
one who had given him helping hand.
Why not pay the debt? To do so would
cost him only day Of his life. He had
a s5 bill in his pocket.
Eyes" he said: "Take me up to the
Fifth Avenue hotel"
It was the firsy place that had come
into his mind. He got into the cab and
snapped the door. The cushioned seat
and the comfortable support for his head
were very refreshing. A fancy came to
him that he would dine decently and
then 60 to a theater. The extravaganza
would be trihing, for it was really of
small importance whether he starved to
death on Sunday Or tho following
Wednesday. He was in mood to make
q Jest Of it all.
A strong glare from an electric light
struck down into the carriage and made
visible to him package in brown pa
per that looked IA if it nirht he Q sand
wich. The object protruded from under
the seat. He thought it must be the
claimants supper which had been hidden
in some small locker and had fallen
-" the floor The idea that the food
. -. =, anoiled was disagreeable to
m 11.ua;a 10 49,; ~ Ia picked up the little
DTOWll UtlHtllc. .....u.J
It was smaller than he had su,
and it did not feel like bread. But h.
it been food and he at the last pang Of
starvation the touch Of it would not
have sent such thrill through all his
frame.
He knew that tho contents of that
package were money 1t felt like mass
of bills folded, awkwardly wrapped up
and fastened with elastic bands.
Through the brown covering Herrick
could feel the crispness Of the govern
ment paper. The amount might be a
poor mans monthly wages or p - -,
mans profit on great trnr~: -'on
As to his own Gov . .'':.t.u
- ...u no doubt whatever. Fate
-.au thrown this money into his hands,
and fate might take it way, but not if
he could hold on tightly enough. His
fingers trembled as he picked at the
elastic bands. Suddenly and without
his knowing why the rubber strings
vanished with Il loud snap tfiat startled
him, and the package spraEg op,n on
his knees. He caught fash Of green
color, and then the cab rolled out Of
light into shadow.
1t seemed IL long time before another
light struck in upon him. At the mo-
ment when it did SO he saw q face close
to the cab door, and he lodged back,
covering the bills with his hands But
the chance passenger on the street saw
nothing. He was thinking of his own
affairs no doubt and had no inkling Of
the strange thing that passed SO close to
his eyes.
Herrick was himself again in q mo-
ment, and he bent forward, eagerly
scanning the bills in his hands and
counting them feverishly. There were
40 Of them and each was Of the denomi-
nation of 81 900.
Throughout the later period Of the
young mans misfortunes he had had
substantially but one wish-to rest
Rest has many FORMS suited to a vast
variety of individual tastes. To Herrick
in his day dreams it had always taken
IHe 10TH Ol travel WltllOuO Ctuc- ALI
paths lie open for man who has S40,-
900, and there is no reason why care
should sit behind him as he rides.
Herrick had only the most shadowy
thought for tho person who had lost this
money. He did not even speculate upon
the manner of its loss. 1t had passed
into the control Of one who needed it,
and that was enough.
He disposed the notes in his pockets
i'll the best interests of comfort and safe
ty. Then he folded up the brown paper
and pocketed that also, with dim con-
seriousness that if it were left in the
cab it might get the driver into trouble.
The fellow was honest, no doubt, and
Herrick did not wish that he should
suffer wrong He preferred to keep
the wrapper himself and take the risk
Of it until be could find some means Of
iisposing of it that would be safer than
throwing it out Of tho cab window. go"
How to leave the cab was question
which concerned him nearly. He did
not wish to confront the driver again,
| for there might be all investigation,