Evening star., 1900-12-22
TO THE 'sCREDT OF 224

ering in his BARE little room, friendless and
alone. For twenty years he had struggled
against the fate that had taken the plenty
which should haYeabeen his and given it to
others. For twehty years he had struggled
and suffered. and those who enjoyed what
was his knew OF his privations but offered
no relief Broken in health now, and in
spirit, he sat in FITS cheerless room and
cursed the world A blanket from his bed
hung about his SHOULDERS and a crust of
bread lay on the table by his side. Near it
was an unreceipted bill for the rent of his
wretched abodet Hew could he pay rent?
He could beg for food or he could find it In
garbage barrels. but rooms were not to be
nad Tor the asking, nor were they cast out
into the alleys as unfit for human use. No
matter how mean any room might be it
commanded price from some poor wretch,
more miserable than it was, because he was
conscious of his misery.
Some water stood in a cracked saucer by
the bread, and there were teeth marks on
the hard crust as If the man were not en-
tirely Indifferent to the demands of his
stomach. He might have gone out and re-
plenished his fare from the barrels, but it
was so cold, and he was very. very feeble
AT O'Clock he was aroused from an un-
easy sleep by knock at his door, and a
messenger boy entered in response to a
faint come in. The boy hesitated he
saw by the dim light of a smoky lamp the
bent and blanketed figure at the table. But
messenger boys are accustomed to the sin
gular and unconventional He looked about
the squalid room for an instant and came
up to the light.
rs this fets your he asked, holding the
telegram under the light so that the ad-
dress might be seen.
The man saw the, name his name, and
caught eagerly at the yellow envelope but
the boy drew 1t away hastily, being expe
rienced in delivering messages on which
there were charges
It's mine it's mine: give it to me- cried
the man. with HIS hands outstretched.>
There's 20 cents extra to pay on it:
we've been to ormueh trouble fndin' you,''
said the boy, backingsstill further away
The mans hands dropped listlessly at his
sides. and his head fell forward on the
blanket punched under his chin,
Fifty cents 1t was more money than he
had seen within a year. 1t was so much
money that he associated it's name with
that of the magnificent hotel on another
street, where he had seen the people coming
and going in beautiful carriages.
haven't the money he gasped.
Then you'll have to come to the office"
said the boy, and he went away.
The mans head fell forward on the blan-
ket under his chin. and he breathed stertor-
ously What word might have been in the
message did not concern him now. He
could not buy it. as he could not buy the
million things others had. His head sank
lower, and he seemed to contract in his
chair. Presently the boy returned and en-
tered without knocking. The sat With
Say, boss" ventured the boy, hesitat-
ingly; but the man gave no sign
Hello you!' called the boy, and laughed,
The man raised his head slowly, and with
much effort and looked unsteadily at the
intruder.
Here said the youngster, extending the
dispatch. I've got half dollar the old
ha uraN Dfyyor Go. N1n;,A
and I'll pay fer the message. Mebbe you've
got some Christmas in it, and guess you're
needin' it more tbaasI am" and the boy
laughed doubtfully
The man. unthanking, took the proffered
dispatch. ands with trembling fingers,
opened it. Hetheld it close to the dim light
and read it through,.' These were the words
1t brought to him.:
Your unclefdied last night leaving you
100000. What disposal shall be made Of
it?'' n.
"Hully gee" exclaimed the boy, who had
stood where he could read the message
you're in luck
The man looked at the boy and smiled
1t had been SO long since he had smiled
that the wan face was slow in adapting
itself to the usaccustomed expression re
stood up straight as if to feel that he were
a man once more, and. gaspng, clutched
with sudden ferceness at his throat
A pencil, quick he said to the boy,
'and your name and number
The astonishsd messenger handed him n
pencil and told him his name The man,
with sudden closing of his lips and a
fiercer hold on f1H throat, stopped and wrote
on the back Of sthe message he had re-
ceived:
John j. Clark Attorney. Chicago:
place it to the credit of Frank Myers,
A. D. T. messenger 224
HENRY MORTON"
He took his hand from his throat, the
blood gushed from his mouth and he drop
ped into his chair, dead.
WILLIAM J. HAMPTON.