St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1898-05-14

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aud said:
81 beg your pardon, sir, but well,
the fact is-well, can you let me have 40
cents?'
''Then he stopped as if that were all
there was to it.
".Forty cents I said. what for?'
"'Thirsy-five would do he answered.
7 could walk to the ferry
"sWhat's the matter?' I asked again.
sHe hesitated bit, and then he said.
with nervous little cackle that was
half laugh Well, the fact is. haven't
got a cent, and I've got to get out to
Orange in the morning or lose my job
The story went more smoothly as he
got along with it. You see, he went
On, I'm a railroad man. was paid off
yesterday and came in to town last
night with my money. Well, the fact
is, got to bucking the tiger and | lost
i, all. Ii get to Orange this morning
in time to go to work again I'm all
right, but if don't I'll lose my place
"That was an explanation of his
penniless condition that would have
caught great many men and they
would have given up 10 him. But 1t
made me suspicious. Somewhere had
read or heard that gamblers never per-
NIT a man to go out of their places in
that condition if they know it. And if
he actually had lost his money in a
gambling house it was certain that the
gambler would have staked him to
enough to get home. So | hesitated
about giving him anything. and for lack
of something better 10 say said again:
How's thato ] don't understand
HE went over the whole story again
very gently and smoothly this time. and
put in few little extra f1ourishes that
convinced me that he was fakir. As
he talked he stepped a little in front OF
me and noticed the badge of my college
fraternity which I wore on my waist
coat 'Ah!' said he, you belong to that
fraternity, eho was Psi Q from Co
lumbia.' He went on with lot about
college fraternities that made rle think
| he had eaten fraternity book. He
knew more about them than had ever
| heard, and l had had foremost place
in the rush line in my senior year. He
| seemed to be familiar with them ALL
| and he talked about them in very in.
| teresting fashion for nearly half an
hour before he got back to the subject
of the fare to Orange. Then said:
| "'No, 1 shall not give you any money
because I believe you are profession
al beggar. But you've got good game
and you probably make good thing
out of it. However, / should advise
you to modify it a little. Gamblers
you know, will always grubstake man
who has gone broke in their places, SC
that's weak point in your story. Patel
it up a little, and don't be SO glib, and
you're all right for some time
81 assure you.' he protested, that
/ never asked man for money in my
life before / saw you. l realize that
am not in A position to resent your in
suit, but | want you to understand thai
it is an insult and that you have mis-
taken me. | am actually in need o.
that money to save my place, and if
don't get it don't know what shall
do; can send it back to you, and vii
do so gladly as soon as l get back t
my friends
"'No,' / said, and turned away; :
don't believe you.'
"I am mason, too, he called aftel
me- / turned and walked back to hin
at once. Ihave been member of an up
state lodge ever since | was in college
and thought would try him. 'Wher'
were you made a mason?' asked. III,
hesitated an instant and then replied
In Hornellsville.' Well, suppose ma
sons are made in Hornellsville, but the,
don't admit it in that way, and L sait
to the beggar: Never try that gam'
again. for you can't tell when some ma
son will try you and you don't square.
Then | went away.
well, that fellow met me three time
on the street after that, and each tim
began his story. At last told him tha
he was a fool as well as beggar. be
cause he couldn't remember the face
of the men he addressed, whereas an,
man would remember forever such
| SlcTN dS lie tOiu. HcH he SuiIttu Ill
ground. and I never saw him again.
The doctor laughed. "Your expert
ence was something like one had jus
the other day, but it didn't result in TIL
same way. About six weeks ago tall
gray haired. tinguished-looking maj
came into my Office and presented
card which read: