Evening star., 1899-03-25

off the train on the other side. I'm not a
highwayman but l took you for something
worse. Do you know the country" Cor
lears shook his head. About midway be-
tween Columbia and Chester, l should say"
The man scanned him narrowly.
" nat are you going to do?' he said.
Corlears set his teeth. Walk to the next
station, if l don't freeze on the way. and
after that-get to New York some way
You say that you have no money!
I've just SIG There was a pause.
The man appeared to be considering. AT
last he spoke.
If you'd like to earn $500 1 can put you
in the way to do it,
Il should be delighted" Corlears drawled,
ironically Il might earn it shoveling snow
There's good deal of it about"
perfectly serious" the man re-
joined. Listen. You want to go to New
York; 1 want to keep away from it, 1
1ought ticket to New York, but 1 left
the train when it slowed up to put you off.
Iye-er-changed my mind"
Corlears nodded. Il see," he said.
Very good. You about my height
and build. Change clothes with me, take
my ticket, walk on to the next station and
board the first train for New York If
You meet my anxious friends and they
offer you pressing attentions don't decline
them on the score of being some one else -
And them
The man smiled. you will be taken ex
celIent care of and you will be met at the
Grand Central station with a carriage,
MN 1hSS Will uISCONtr tnelr mistake and
they will apologize. In the meantime Won
VIII have gotten to New York and YOU will
be $500 richer.
He counted out five crisp new 500 bills.
Corlears saw them distinctly in The n,nnr.
light. ---'0-t
rs 1t a bargain?"
Corlears trudged on in silence for n mo-
ment Let me see your ticket, pIease?''
Inc man handed it to him. It's good for
stop overs, l see, so | can use if all right >,
..,,,
he said eagerly.
III take the ticket" Corlears said slow
ly, and in exchange for it I'll swap clothes
with you and I'll keep my mouth shut until
five hundred" ~
Don't be fool said the man: .'it will
be worth more than that to me if il
works. COrlears shook his head Il tried
TO peat the railroad company out of q fare
must admit he replied, but 1 usually
play falr l haven't made much of a sue
cess OF my life, but I've lived it squarely
so far It's habit, suppose
The man gave kind of groan "God
knows | wish l could say as much'
LIE exchange of clothing was quickly
made. I'm in n Dunlap hat" Corlears
SAID, with q laugh, though it's rather cold
comfort in this snow heap"
Goodbye. said the man. and he ran
quickly off in the opposite direction his
long black shadow trailing grotesouely af-
ter him.
Ihe next morning when Corlears, footsore
ana hungry, walked into the little station
at Blankville. he found two men there
Iounging by the stove. They stood beside
him at the lunch counter and when he
hnally boarded the northbound train they
entered with him and took the seat behind
nm. Corlears smiled to himself When the
train reached Charlotte boy came on with
the morning papers. Corlears bought one.
William Brand, the defaultng cashier of
the "lnderton bank, has been traced to
n 4 fS Gn1 hot b. l..>s
him some S5O.O00 in bills and gold. A large
force OF detectives is working on his case
and his speedy capture Is looked for. He
was burned in eftigy last night by the peo-
pie OF Winderton, many of whom are re-
duced to penury through his peculations. -
Il m glad kept clear of that $500" Cor
lears said to himself. Then he fell asleep,
for he was utterly worn out
Takes It cool. don't he?" said one of the
men behind Corlears. Wonder If he knows
the game is up"