Omaha daily bee., 1899-05-07


her kindly he waited for her first express
sion to see how he appeared In the eyes of
innocence. Not so bad a man, 1t seemed,
though his naturally plain countenance was
not relieved by the seaman's cap and
knitted shirt he wore. For she laughed as
she looked at him, and only ran away be-
cause there wasn't room for him to pass
beside her.
Comforted a little, he sauntered on,
g~lancing here and there with that sharp
eye Of his for a piece of work to be done.
Suddenly he came to a halt. a market
woman had got into an alteration with an
oysterman, and her stall had been upset In
the contention, and her vegetables were
rolling here and there. lie righted her stall,
picked up her vegetables and fruit and in
return got two apples and a red herring he
would not have given to a dog at home.
Yet it was the sweetest morsel he had ever
tasted, and the apples might have been
grown in the garden of the Hesperides
from the satisfaction and pleasure they
gave this hungry man. Then, refreshed, he
dashed into the town. 1t should now go
hard, but he would earn a nights lodging.
The day was windy and he was going
along a narrow street, when something
floated down from a window above past his
head. 1t was a woman's veil, and as he
looked up to see where 1t came from he met
the eyes of its owner looking dow from an
open easement above him. She was g~esticu-
lating and seemed to point to some one up
the street. Glad to seize at anything which
promised emolument or adventure, he
shouted up and asked her what she wanted.
That man down there" she cried; "the
one in a long, black coat going up the
street. Keep after him and stop him; tell
him the telegram has come. Quick, quick,
before he gets around the corner. He will
pay you; run
Sweetwater, with joy in his heart-for 5
cents was a boon to him in the present con-
dition of his affairs-rushed after the man
she had pointed out and hastily stopped him.
Someone" he added, "a woman in a
window back there, babe me run after you
and say the telegram has come. She told
me you would pay me-" he added, for he
saw the man was turning hastily back with
out thinking of the messenger. II need the
money and the run was a sharp one"
With a preoccupied air the man thrust
his hand into his pocket, pulled out a coin
and handed it to him. Then he walked hur-
riedly off. Evidently the news was welcome
to him. But Sweetwater stood rooted to
the ground. The man had given him a s.
gold piece instead of the nickel he had evil
IDENTIFY intended.
How hungrily Sweetwater eyed that coin!
In it was lodging, food, perhaps a new
article or so of clothing. But after a mo-
ment of INDIGESTION which might well be for
given him, he followed speedily after the
man and overlook him just as he reached
the house from which the woman's veil had
floated.
Sir, pardon me, but you gave me So in
| stead of 8 cents. 1t was a mistake; l can
not keep the money"
The man, who was not Just the sort from
| whom kindness would be expected, looked
at the money in Sweetwater's palm, then at
the miserable, mud-bespattered clothes he
wore Che had got that mud helping the poor
market woman, and stared hard at the face
of the man who looked so needy and yet
returned him So.
you're an honest fellow" he declared,
not Offering to take back the gold piece.
| Then with a quick glance up at the window.
would you like to earn that money!
Sweetwater broke out into a smile, which
! changed his whole countenance.
wouldn't l, sir?"
The man eyed him for another minute
with scrutinizing intensity. Then he said
shortly:
Come upstairs with me-"
They entered the house, went up a flight
or two and stopped at a door, which was
slightly ajar.
1--WE are going into the presence of a
lady" remarked the man. "Wait here until
l call you"
Sweetwater waited, the many thoughts go
ing through his mind not preventing him
from observing all that passed.
The man, who had left the door wide open,
approached the lady who was awaiting him,
and who was apparently the same one who
had sent Sweetwater on his errand, and en-
tered into a low but animated conversation.
She held a telegram in her hand which she
showed him, and then after a little earnest
parley and a number of pleading looks from
them both toward the waiting Sweetwater,
she disappeared into another room, from
which she brought a parcel neatly done up,
which she handed to the man with a strange
gesture. Another hurried exchange of words
and a meaning look which did not escape
the sharp eye of the watchful messenger,
and the man turned and gave the parcel into
Sweetwater's hands.
you are to carry this, " said he, ito the
town hall. In the second room to the right
on entering you will see a table surrounded
by chairs, which at this hour ought to be
empty. At the head of the table you will
find an armchair. On the table directly in
front of this you will lay this packet. Mark
you, directly before the chalf ana not 100
far from the edge Of the table. Then you
are to come out. If you see anyone, say
you came to leave some papers for Mr.. Gift
ford. Do this and you may keep the 50 and
welcome"
Sweetwater hesitated. There was some
| thing in the errand or in the manner of the
man or woman that he did not like.
Don't p~otter!" spoke up the latter, with
an impatient look at her watch. Mr.. Gift
ford will expect those papers"
Sweetwater's sensitive fingers closed on
the package he held. 1t did not feel like
papers.
"Are you going? ?" asked the man.
Sweetwater looked up with a smile.
Large pay for so slight a commission"
he ventured, turning the packet over and
over in his hand.
But then you will execute 1t at once, and
according to the instructions | have given
YOU" retorted the man. 1T is your trust
worthiness l pay for. Now CO."
Sweetwater turned to go. After all 1t was
probably all right, and S. easily earned is
doubly So. As he reached the staircase he
stumbled. The shoes he wore did not fit
him.
BE careful there!" shouted the woman In
a shrill, almost frightened voice, while the
man stumbled back into the room in a haste
which seemed wholly uncalled for. IF you