The copper country evening news. [volume] (Calumet, Mich.) 18??-1907, 1897-03-04
JUST INSTINCT.

Fate was car and Leonard Herrick
was mouse. There had been some rare
sport, but Herrick was of the opinion
that il could not last much longer. He
had run this way and that way, and
thousand times he had fancied that he
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 big city, all alone. The
people who rushed by him We're 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.
Herrick's hands were in his pockets.
He crumpled cracking piece of paper,
which meant that he could live several
days longer if he cared to do so. AS to
a more extended future, he could not
picture it. All the lines of his life SEEM
ed 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, sir!' almost in his ear. He
turned and looked up at the man ON the
box.
lis it possible" he said to himself,
"that I still look like gentleman?"
He felt toward the cabman as toward
one who had given him a helping hand.
Why not pay the debt? To do so would
cost him only day of his life. He had
q So bill in his pocket.
Eyes" he said. Take me up to the
!, Fifth Avenue hotel"
1t was the first place that had come
into his mind. He got into the cab and
: snapped the door. The cushioned seat
ana the comfortable support for his head
were very refreshing A fancy came to
him that he would dine decently and
then go to theater. The extravaganza
would be trifing, for it was really OF
small importance whether he starved tC
death on Sunday or the following
' Wednesday. He was in mood to make
jest of it all
{ A strong glare from an electric light
t struck down into the carriage and made
e visible to him package in brown pa
g per that looked as if it might be sand
Il witch. The object protruded from under
t the seat He thought it must be thu
, claimants supper which had been bidder
t in some small locker and had fallei
( upon the floor. The idea that the foo'
# should be spoiled was disagreeable t
e Herrick, and SO he picked up the littl
IS brown bundle.
@ It was smaller than he had supposed
Z and it did not feel like bread. But ha
g it been food and he at the last pang c
e starvation the touch Of it would nc
70 h@ve sent such a thrill through all h
1t frame.
He knew that the contents of this
n package were money. Itfelt like mas
IS of bills folded, awkwardly wrapped L
d and fastened with elastic bands
IN Through the brown covering Herric
Id could feel tine crispness of the govern
G. ment paper The amount might be
to Door mans monthly wages or a TIC
ID man s profit on great transaction.
a AS to his own conduct i'll this matte
IN Herrick had no doubt whatever Fa
as had thrown this money into his hand
be and fate might take it way but not
" he could hold ON tightly enough II
lie fingers trembled as he picked at Il
ID elastic bands. Suddenly and witho'
e. his knowing why the rubber strinI
IA, vanished with a loud snap that startl'
n him, and the package sprang open
X his knees. He caught flash OF gree
ND color. and then the cab rolled out
II, light into shadow.
IL II seemed long time before anoth
lis light struck in upon him. AT the III
tie ment when it did so he saw face clio
by TO the cab door, and he lodged bac
he covering the bills with his hands. Is
tic the chance passenger on the street Sd
he nothing. He was thinking OF his oV
ed affairs no doubt and had no inkling
by the strange thing that passed SO close
he his eyes.
th Herrick was himself again III a II
ment. and he bent forward, eager
,ed scanning the bills in his hands a
III, counting them feverishly. There we
me 40 of them and each was OF the demon
is nation of $1,000.
Throughout the later period OF
Young mans misfortunes he had
substantially but one wish-to re
Ia Rest has many forms, suited TO a "
be variety of individual tastes. TO HERR
ed, in his day dreams it had always TAX
iey the form of travel without care
Of paths lie open for man who mas %
Ugh 600. and there is no reason why q
rm should sit behind him as he rides.
ker Herrick had only the most shaao
his thought for the person who had lost