The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1898-07-26
A Stolen Coin.

had gone there TO read the proof Of an r.
ticle intended for the next mornings pa
: per.
AS he passed along Fleet street IL &C.
Cured to him that he would have a glass
Of something 10 drink before returning
home to his lonely bachelors quarters.
He sat down at one of the tables in a
public house and slowly slipped hot tod
dy. When ne had finished he put a half
crown on the table ready for the waiter,
and turned round to pick up his cane.
Just as Hector rose a hand suddenly
snatched up the silver coin. and the thief
Immediately darted out of the door, In
an instant Hector drew another coin from
his pocket, threw 1t on tho table, called
10 the waiter. and then started off in
pursuit.
1t was very evident that the thief knew
he was being followed and It was also
evident that he was inexperienced in his
avooation, for he ran on and on, up one
street and down another, coming out
again hundred yards away from the
place he had started from.
Hector was Interested, for he was 700
bright not 70 know that the man in
| front Of him was not an ordinary pick
| pocket. Hector himself knew all the side
! streets and passages thoroughly, and ne
! suddenly turned down one ran al full
| speed, and came out again under a lamp
just as the wretched man reached il.
Both men stopped short. and Hector
said, shortly:
Give me back my money"
The thief stood motionless, and the jour
nalist saw. by the light of the street lamp,
| the saddest human face he had ever
looked upon.
The man before him was apparently
| quite young but his face was pale and
pinched and his black hair and mustache
! gave him a ghost-Hke look. His clothes
were shabby, and he had altogether what
! has been described as the look of a
! drowned man" Hector, at the sight of
such evident misery, felt as though he
| himself and been guilty of some crime.
! when the wretched man held out the sill
! Yer coin to his accuser, without attempt
! ing to offer a word Of apology.
He took the coin, put it carefully in his
vest pocket. and then pressed his purse,
containing about GO, into the mans hand,
and made off himself as though he had
been the thief.
Ten years passed, and after much up
| hill work and struggle. Hector had gain
ed for himself considerable lame as jour
nalist and art critic
In spite of his success and fame the
first hard years of struggle had left their
traces on him. There was always a touch
of melancholy which he never quite sue
ceeded in throwing off. He had seen the
comedy of human life too near, and it is.
alas! no comedy for those who are behind
the scenes.
One bright May day, however, Hector
was quite gay as he entered one of the
most fashionable OF the Strand restau-
rants. At one of the tables there was
a group of professional men-artists,
journalists and lawyers-and they were
engaged in an animated discussion re-
garding an art exhibition then open.
Hector's arrival made a sensation and
many hands were held out toward him.
Somewhat absently and yet with the easy
cordially of a man accustomed to So
Getty, he answered the various greet
lngs and then took his customary place
al a small table, where Paul Martens, the
young landscape painter. and Charles
DENIM, well-known portrait painter,
were waiting for him.
why. Hector!" exclaimed Paul, you
look positively radiant this morning.
What has happened, and what have you
been doing?''
Why, precisely the same as every one |
else. have been looking at pictures and |
sculpture, but have discovered one piece |
which has done me good for the whole |
oay. A perfect masterpiece-an insplra- |
ton"
Hector's friend listened eagerly, and at |
the neighboring tables the conversation |
ceased, for it was worth while hearing |
what the great art critic had to say, |
and hearing it from his own lips before |
the papers got it the next day.
There certainly are some fine things
in the exhibition but in my opinion there |
is one that surpasses ell, one such as we |
only get once nj about ten years-I mean |
Jean Sturtevant's Wreck -
n murmur of approve was heard from
the other tables as Hector pronounced |
the young sculptor's name.
During dessert Charles DENIM got up
from the table and went across TO the
other end Of the restaurant He soon re-
turned, accompanied by tall, handsome
man of about 30. we'll dressed and bearing
the unmistakable stamp of a gentleman.
His dark, deep set, brown eyes were full
Of restless energy, but there was an ex-
preston Of earnestness in them which al
most amounted to sadness.
Hector said Charles, Il want to in
troduce my friend TO you, Jean Sturte-
want"
The journalist rose quickly and shook
hands warmly with the young sculptor
Il must thank you" he said, ''for the
enjoyment l have had this morning
y our Wreck is a marvellous work of art
and l certainly think I have never felt
so much pleasure in seeing piece of
sculpture as in that"
The artist drank in these words from
the critic with delight, and. on Hector's
invitation, he took a seat at the little ia
BILE where the viands were now giving out
their inviting aroma.
He thought of various acuuaintances he
had made at the clubs artists studios,
etc. but, no. he could not recall having
met this man before, and still the look
IN those eyes haunted him.
Gradually the tables around were de-
serted, and Hector called the waiter and
paid the bill. He left a coin on the table
"a tip) for the waiter. and selling that
Il had escaped his notice. he called HIM
back, saying as he extended it on his
palm:
Here. take this"
Suddenly Jean Sturdevant looked at It
and then at Hector. His face became still
oaler, the expression in his eyes still
more intense, a shudder ran through Aim, |
and AZ Che same time the memory of
IN utterly wretched face seen on a No
rember evening by the light Of a street
amp, ten years ago, flashed across Hec-
TX. They we're all getting up from the
'Sble; he smiled sympatheticaIly al the
-oung sculptor. and held out his hand,
which the latter grasped and wrung s.
entity, but with the gratitude OF his whole
aoul.
Hector and Jean were from this day
orth firm friends. and the sculptor told
he story OF the utter misery and poverty
,e had been in when Hector's timely and
help had rescued him from
despair. and his beautiful young sister
rom death. She was row . years old.
fright. happy and gay, the very sunshine
Il his home.
Hector was frequent visitor at the
.~llln-o-'s S-frfi1 and he often f0l-a5 tha