Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1900-03-09

Nv.
I landed in New York on the third
day of the new year, woefully lacking in
projects for my future. The metrop-
oils seemed to offer no promising field,
and soon gave up my idea of adding
another unit to it's hundreds of thou |
sands. Then came thoughts of the
west; but chance meeting with All
old classmate, who had ventured into
that Ell Dorado of impoverished youth
and had returned even poorer than he
against initiating his example. So, at
last, accepting Hobson's choice, re-
appeared in the city from which Capt.
Peck had lured me, and once more en-.
tered the crowded ranks of it's ply
sicians. 1t was growing, busting, &C
tive community, but my share in it's
general prosperity seemed destined to
be sadly limited.
I secured cheap quarters in one Of
the poorer residence districts, thereby,
perhaps, handicapping myself greatly,
but at the same time reducing expenses
to point made advisable by light
purse. Still, in spite Of the most rigid
economy, the outgo constantly ex-
ceeded the income. From small mar
gin to the good passed to small bal
ance on the wrong side OF the ledger.
Worst of all, this balance grew, not rap
idly, for thought twice before spend
ing a penny, but with the steadiness re-
sulting from an unseemly dispropor-
ton between earnings and expenses.
None of the old patients returned to
me-though thatwas hardly matter of
regret-.and new ones were few and far
between. Now and then an accident
case-what keen eye kept upon
buildings in course of construction in
the neighborhood! then perhaps call
to attend some stranger fallen in fiji
on the pavement; then sufferer from
some chronic malady, even deeper in
debt than I, and changing physicians
simply because the charity of the first
was worn out: such was the shadow
ly to round out into a reality. My
garments of decent black became shiny
with use, while my bell-pull lost its
polish through rust. If / looked as
hungry as often felt, it was no wonder
that the ailing passed me by. Little
by little the few articles in my posses
sion of which there was not absolute
need disappeared. Some We're sold out
| right; others We're lodged with pawn
| brokers.
This state of things continued for
more than year, my lot growing more
miserable day by day. At long inter
| walls letters came from FereZ. My re-
| plies We're mailed with the promptnesG
of man whose time hangs heavy OH
his hands. There was no attempt in
roy letters to conceal my troubles;
there was certain relief in setting
forth an Indictment of the world il
general and my neighbors in particular
More than once 1 was sorely tempted
10 seek loan from him, but pride
stood in the way. l had not quite
reached the point of utter defeat, bu:
was very close to it. Not word had
been heard of Mrs. Loring and hel
niece, who, for all l knew, might be il
Europe, Asia, Africa, or America. Let
me that she was at her home in Maine
awaiting the return of her husband
from another voyage round the Horn
Her health, she was happy to add, APP
peared to be reestablished.
AS has been set forth, the test o!
endurance went on for more than i
twelvemonth. 1t was ended in strange
manner, without warning. and at !,
time when l was near &c despair. TIL,
landlord had attempted again to col
lect a pant of the money due him-h;
could scarcely be said to have houndet
ME for it, inasinuch as he had suffered
SO undesirable q tenant to fall severa
months in arrears-and once more III
had been put off with excuses and apol
ogies. lie had not been harsh in hi:
replies, but 1t was easy to understand
that his patience was fairly exhausted
He had left me still in possession, but
feared that few days more would
see me turned into the street and al
most as hopeless as shipwrecked sail
or Oh barren island. In either cast
starvation would be quite among the
possibilities.
| After frugal supper tried to read
but with very slight success, my
thoughts wandering repeatedly from
the book to the approaching crisis il
my affairs. 1t must have been fol
hours that I sat brooding over my per
plexities. AT last, more discouraged
than ever by the unvarying trend o.
the reflections, l started to my feet
and, crossing to the window, RAISED
the curtain and peered out. 1t wa!
later than 1 supposed, for the light.
had disappeared from the houses acros!
the way and the pavement seemed to b'
deserted. Turning back to my desk
I filled q pipe. Tobacco was the sol
luxury left to me, and the stock il
my pouch was running low.
There came n knock at the door, ;
light tap thrice repeated. AS l an
swered the summons man stepped
into the room, and, with quick mo
ton, closed the door behind him. FL
was of medium height, thin, sallow
faced, hooked-nosed, with crisp, blacl
hair and mustache shot with gray.
".Dr. Alfred Morris?" he asked.
I bowed and motioned him to a chair
Disregarding the invitation, he drew
@ letter from his pocket.
| "For you-this" said he.
The envelope bore no address, Break
ing the seal. I drew out sheet o
paper on which was written: LET TIL
bearer command all good Offices" Il
place of the name of the writer was