The San Francisco call., 1897-04-25

Pearson, he asked laconically, "W'at
tell? p
Punch what is required out of it." said
Pearson, loftiiy, with a wave of his hand.
It's Communication ticket, you know p
"Commodation -! You pony up 40
cents for this ERE. then" said the large
young man. as he glanced at Pearson.
"But. my friend, bought that ticket
here last night, and -" Pearson began
10 explain, when he was cut short by the
man behind the cigar-case.
BLAST your ticket and hang where you
bought il This place has changed hands
an am running it, see? AM that paste
board don't go ere. You pony up that
40 cents or I'll call cop" and the pimply
ace became frightfuI in its distortion.
Thoroughly affrighted by the belligerent
attitude of the young man, and even
more by visions OF a cell in the City
Prison. Pearson hastened to "pony up"
the forty cents and leave the place. When
he had put several blocks between him
self and the large young man De
Lancey stopped. He slowly drew from
his vest pocket the bit OF pasteboard for
which he had paid SIS so. in the name of
economy, and razed at it ruefully. ''Swin-
Pearson dreaded notoriety more than he
loved money. He knew that he might
succeed in having some one punished for
the fraud perpstrated upon him, but he
abandoned the idea of doing this as soon
as it suggested itself, and did exactly as
the swindlers figured on their victims
dong pocketed his loss and swallowed
his chagrin.
Sore at heart and feeling like war;
derer on the face of the earth Pearson
sought his lonely lodgings. No bright
fire such as he had been accustomed TO
lind awaiting him in his rooms at Mrs.
| Wilson's sparkled and cracked in the
CRATE; the servants had not so much as
lighted his gas, and his rooms were dark,
cold and cheerless. If such a thing had
happened 20 him at Mrs Wilson's Pear
son would have torn and snorted about
the house like madman, but a change
had come over De Lancey. All his OBJ
steperousness was gone, and he no longer
had heart left to kick. He sank defect
edly into an armchair that stood mock
ingly before the fireless crate, and gazed
moodily into the bed of cold ashes. Shiv-
ering, hungry and utterly miserable Pear
son finally crept away to bed to be further
chilled by the clammy, unaired sheets.
Pearson looked up new restaurant at
which to breakfast the next m orning, and
found a place he thought exactly TO his
liking. 1t was presided over by a widow,
and was a marvel of fneatness. The cuisine
was splendid and the service could not have
been better. Pearson was delighted, and
! in the enjoyment of the excellent break
fast that was served bIm he forgot mis-
| troubles and his disagreeable experiences
AMI his heart warmed within him again.
So pleased was De Lancey with this model
restaurant that he had so luckily, he said
10 himself, stumbled upon, that he
promptly purchased Sc commutation
ticket for So when the buxom widow at
the cashiers desk offered him one.
1t was with the most delightful anticipa-
tions shat Pearson wended his way to his
little bijou restaurant for dinner that
evening. He was enthusiastic OH the sub
! ject of 'his discovery" as he elected to
term the cafe. So pleased was he with it,
that he ding g-donged its praises into the
ears of his fellow clerks all day and wound
up by asking two of them to. dine with
him at "his discovery" the following
Sunday. So it was with light heart and
I marty appetite tnat EearSOn LOOK MS
way to the restaurant and--as he fondly
! beiieved-:o dinner. Finally he reached
! the cafe and instantly all his blithe spirits
! fed. The place was closed and evidently
deserted The window shades were drawn
and not glimmer of light came throu gh
! the creyices from within. A hasp had
! been roughly fastened to the doors and
| they were secured with paddock. Below
| this was slip OF paper on which was
written the words, "CIosed by the Sheriff, "
and beneath this was long legal docu-
ment with ali the blanks filled in.
! 1t was the last straw! Pearson deliber-
ately read the legal notice reciting the
woes OF the buxom widow VINO had that
morning so nonchalantiy sold him
worthless piece of pasteboard for So.
| Then he turned and blinked solemnly at
the electric-light on the street corner for
few minutes, while he seemed lost in
thought. Then he boarded an uptown car
and went to Mrs. Wilson's. He was clos
eted with his former landlady for half
hour in the coy little cen she called "the
Office" What he confessed to her. what
promises he made and what she SAID to
him will probably remain locked forever
| in their own breasts; but when Pearson
came out into the main parlor at the end
of thirty minutes he looked meek bu,
serenely happy, and that night ne was