The Owosso times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1897-1926, 1897-05-21
JUST INSTINCT.

Fate was u cat, and Leonard Herricn
was q mouse. There had been some rare
sport, but Herrick was of the opinion
that 1T 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 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 tho
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 a 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 Grand. A voice
cried, "Cab, sir!" almost in his ear. He
turned and looked up at the man on the
box.
sis it possible, he said to himself,
'that still look like 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 a day of his life. He had
a 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
and 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 to
death on Sunday or the following
Wednesday. He was in mood to make
a jest Of it all.
A strong glare from an electric light
struck down into the carriage and made
visible to him a package in brown pa
per that looked as if it might be sand
witch. 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
upon the floor. The idea that the food
should be spoiled was disagreeable to
Herrick, and SO he picked up the little
brown bundle.
1t was smaller thar, he had supposed,
and it did not feel like bread. But had
it been food and he at the last pang Of
starvation the touch of it would not
have sent such q thrill through all his
frame.
He knew that the 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 a rich
mans profit ON great transaction.
As to his own conduct in this matter,
Herrick had no doubt whatever. Fate
had 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 loud snap that startled
him, and the package sprang open ON
his knees. He caught fash of green
color, and then the cab rolled out of
light into shadow.
1t seemed long time before another
light struck in upon him. At the mo-
ment when it did so he saw 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 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
the form Of travel without care. All
paths lie open for man who has $40,-
600, and there is no reason why care
should sit behind him as he rides.
Herrick had only the most shadowy
thought for the person who had lost this
money. He did not even speculate upon