The Newtown bee., 1900-06-01

round--and while 10 doing t1Aking . certainty of my surmise that his syncopeI had proceeded not wholly from ptiysiyalI fright, but in part at least from achronic : weakness of the heart-I hinted, as de- licately as could, that was prepared to purchase any item of his art collection that he found superfuous. ssFor this I said, placing my hand upon marble statue of Poverty, with briars athef feet and roses in her hair. 1T will give you if you can bring yourself to part with it, $1OOO.o Curley drew himself up, and was pre-
 pared for what was coming, but not wholly. i'sIt is yours, doctor, :" he replied,
 ''as testimonial of my regard, other
 wise 1t remains where it stands" Agreed" rejoined, "provided you
 will accept its equivalent as gift from ! me-"
 l knew, as spoke, that our friendship,
 such as it was, was broken, and can only ask the indulgence Of the reader for an
 old mans foibles, when I confess to
 feeling of sadness and regret. On bid. ding Curley adieu left on his table a | check for the sum named, and on the fol- l lowing morning sent 1or the marble figure. There was nothing else in the studio, nay agents told me on their return, every
 thing having been surreptitiously re.
 moved late the preceding night, as they
 had been informed by young man, son
 of the lsndlady.
 For nearly three years subsequently,
 lost trace of Curley, save that during the
 second yearI chanced to read his name in the published list of sufferers without
 insurance, by the fire that guttsd the
 slight ip Quiries, which resulting in noth- ing, concluded he had permanently left
 the city. In this opinion I,rested until one
 day, during rambling walk, whimsically
 attracted by some oddity in the window Of an old tumble-down second hand store
 went within, and who should come for
 ward to wait upon me but Curley him.
 self Curley, but oh, how changed l and
 with what. surroundings! He did not
 or did not choose to, recognize me, and
 making some sort of hurried excuse, 3 quickly withdrew. He followed me to the doorway, not, however, as one wish ? to overtake and address another, and sf- 8 ter had passed through he drew the I door about him and stood looking after me through the narrowed aperture. He Q had hunted and unkempt look, II thought, |, but though he viewed me somewhat tim- e orously, he obviously did not regard me d as much in the light of hunter as the !. possible hamburger of 8 hunter.
 "He richly deserves his fate," I though, l. stoutly, while lingerlingly walking away s but even ss I so thought, I was feeling J. the pocket wherein I habituslly carry l, my money. fear I would have turned l. back-truth to speak, did impulsively IF swing round to turn back, and in doing J. so bumped precipitetely against 8 young f. man in overalls carrying short ladder " and bucket. In the concussiun some 0. k the contents-paste, inferred-of tn, ,r last were spilled upon the pavement, ana
 looking at the man whilst apologizing, , recognized Roderic Cleaver. Recognition
 proved mutual, he set down his bucket fo
 brief talk but his first words, greetin, le over, embarrassed me not little.
 Have you seen anything of Cur Nj C
 Kim, recently ?" he inquired eagerly. ,e Unadulterated truth, my boy, is tn basic principle of gentleman, that o' what had said to my grandson no three hours prevlously by my watch y which found occasion to consult befor' III answering. "How recently do 70 ?" meanf"
 o' "Oh, about 8 moth or so," he re '" joined. "Pve trace him to this locality y and when have finished this job of pa le per hanging and have enough money s' go on with for time, expect to fin hlm hereabouts."
 'U And when you find him? queriei i' ''If living in this locality he eertainl ls will not be able to repay you, unless b 10 has turned miser, which, in view of b ," nature and habits, is .inconceivable an ~ if he cannot repay you, why should 70 oA care to find him? Would you kill him e He perceptibly winced. Originally h o1 nature had been fine one, but iudgin ie from his present exI ression, it had grea ly deteriorated. Youthful candor an GU the something -to-live-for look that ha sn formerly characterized it had faded frol 'o his face, and in their room was 6 sort c 'e, savage, bsffied energy that suggested t 'o my mind 8 tired but resolute houn
 thrown temporarily off the trail. be "Come, Roderic," exhorted, "be tn man; McKfm can never repay you, if | ny would re fleet that vindictiveness on you as part is as bad as thievishness (puttin eF Curley's fault in its worst light) is on hi m- Give 1t up."
 IT, He shook his head, firmly, negative nd turning it while so doing, and to my col IT. sternation, in the direction of Curley IT. whereabouts, and saw or conceived al saw, the nose of the, latter just pro jectin lie beyond the door-post.
 te twill you," cried excitedly, "perm
 this scamp to ruin your life, by thu c. wasting your time and neglecting th n- talent am sure you possess, in the frui ve less pursuit of a shadow"
 b. I saw had made an impression, fo ed his countenance, after exhibiting sigr is of turbid emotion, suddenly settled in e. deadly pallor.
 ne "Ruin my life, ,"he cried unevenly, "h
 has ruined it. He has killed my mothe ho for we were sold out through his i, debtedness, and she died from the worr
 and loss he has cut off the springs (
 my ambition at their source he has o- "But the last, at least,"I quickly il