The Prince George's enquirer and southern Maryland advertiser. (Upper Marlborough, Md.) 1882-1925, 1897-10-01
are getting quite hard up. We are ir-

as if could scarcely be expected to
believe it, But as had suffered from
the complaint for many years, | found
no difficulty in grasping the situation.
As the autumn approached he began
to loo. gloomiIy anxious. The scraps
of commonplace philosophy with which
he favored his conversation became
more cynical and less humorous.
"Arent you going to smoke? I ask
cI one day, noticing the prim little Gig
arctic was not forthcoming.
NO." he said doubtfully. IL don't
think so I'm afraid | shall have to
give it up; it doesn't altogether agree
with me-
lie tapped himself on the chest as he
spoke, to signify, | suppose, that it af-
fccted his throat. But had my doubts,
and persuaded him to try my tobacco.
The little man began to be tritle
less spruce in his appearance. lie had
managed to get wet through two or
three times; at one time he had an nm
brella-l don't know what became of
sit; and his clothes seemed to shrink
and make him look pinched and thin.
BY the time the autumn had set in,
and the number of cyclists was dimin-
ishing, verify believe he was short of
food. At any rate, he seemed TO be
very glad to Join me in Il few sandwiches
at small public house had discover
ed in NauNhall, where the sandwiches
were fairly good and only a penny each
He told me, in strict confidence, that
he would jump at a guinea a week,
''just to keep the pot boiling, You
know" he added with cautious wink.
One day we were sitting in the Park
watching siX-toot policeman manage
a mob of three very small boys, who
wanted to climb the ratings and de-
strov some flowers, when man looked
hard at Smo,.ctt, and then spoke to
him. strolled away.
lie was a wcll-dresscd man of about
twenty-eight or thirty, with the ap-
pcarancc Of one who is prosperous, and
treats himself well. 1t struck me at
once that he was the kind of 4 person
who has proper regard for his own
interest. so that if he had to choose be-
tween going t, the wall himself and
sending another man there, his choice
would certainly fall on the other man.
However, he seemed ~ treat Smol-
lett with some cordiality, and could
see from my friends manner that he
was trying to converse with him, and
at the same time was nervously anX-
ious to secure his help.
At last the stranger went on. and
Smollett returned to me.
That's funny, isn't it, he began.
Hes an old school fellow OF mine; |
haven't seen hm for fifteen years.
He's doing we'll told him | was on
the lookout for something, and he
thinks he can give me work to do at
home"
| congratulated him, but he ran on
without pause.
His names Warehouses; he's run
ming 4 company or something, making
no end of money. lie got my adj
dress"
did he give you his?' | asked.
''Oh, no, it wasn't necessary, you
know
That was just what expected. Mr.
Morehousc didn't want a shabby friend
calling on him in the city.
"Won't my little wife be glad!' he
said, glcefully. Il think | shall 90
home at once and tell her. Good-by."
And he hustled away with his good
news.
don't think Smcllett made very
much money out of his friends work,
Iut it served to meet some of his most
pressing requirements, and gave him
new hope.
One afternoon he turned up in the
park looking pale and exciting. Task
ed if there was anything the matter,
but he was rather taciturn, and said
vaguely that things were looking up
bit
"Don't You think a fellow quite en-
titled to do the very best he can for
his wife and children, and all that sort
of thing" he asked, solemnly.
"Of course he is. Who doubted it?'
NO one" he said curtly, and went
home, walking with rather defiant
air
felt uncomfortable about him.
Ihcrc was something in his manner
which suggested to me that he was
going through Il crisis.
\ day or two later he began to look
thoroughly i'll. To put it roundly. the
man looked half starved and almost
lementcd with worry.
IL suppose YOU haven't heard ofany
thing
'sNo." he said I'm sick and tired
of trying. haven't even enough h mon
ey to pay for postage stamps. My
boots are in holes. can't walk into
the city. My wife is nearly broken
down, and the child is i'll. | wish |
couldn't swim
Why"