The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1901-09-15
THE NEW
Mr.. JOLLY

tul after this, and III do my best to settle
down to business. But don't you see that
IL can't get this money! only want
@o'JoO-I shall be done for; simply can't
go on Come. don't be hard; give me a
chance again."
Will give you chance again." said
James after moments thought, but on
one conditional business condition"
Hang your conditions"' exclaimed the
other laughing, glad TO think that he would
get what he wanted after all you know
I've no head for business or for figures;
leave all that kind of thing to you. Let me
have the money and I'll accept your con-
ditions, whatever they are"
MY condition is this" said the other
slowly, that you shall relinquish your
share in the business to me completely-in
consideration of this five thousand pounds;
that you shall drop out of it entirely, and
never come into it again"
But doesn't that sound rather hard?"
asked Bob. What's to become of me when
the five thousand is gone? Am I to starve?'
That is your own affair."" replied James
coolly. you can't expect me TO be re-
sponsble for your future. I advance you
this money. which you say you cannot do
without
in Bob
very good; then you must pay the price
for it; we don't get anything for nothing
in this world, you know. Now, 1 really
can't waste more time in talking to you;
you know the one condition under which
you can have this money. Resign your
partnership Il will have a deed prepared.
so as TO save you all trouble in the matter)
and you shall have the money"
Very We'll" replied Bob, recklessly, 81
suppose it's the best thing 1 can do. L
must have the money, and it's very evident
that 1 was never made for business. I'll
sign anything you like, only let me have
the money"
So the unequal bargain was concluded;
Bob took his five thousand pounds and
went out into the world to enjoy himself,
as long as the sun Of prosperity should
shine upon him, and James Jolly reigned
supreme, and began to make more money
than ever.
The sun did not shine long on Mr.. Robert
Jolly; the five thousand went almost at
once, and he was reduced to the most des-
perate straits. In despair he went to his
brother, who calmly pointed to the deed
which dissolved the partnership and would
have nothing further to say to him. After
that the reckless fellow dealt in curious
shady transactions, not unconnected with
slips Of blue paper; and, getting deeper and
deeper day by day. finally disappeared al
together, and was reported to have enlisted
and then to have gone abroad.
In the meantime James Jolly prospered
moro than ever, and built up huge for
tune. In time business began to pail even
upon him; and he finally foated the con-
oa1Ir city "a
from it altogether, so far any active
interest in it was concerned. The years
went on. and in time the story of the twin
brothers was almost forgotten, and the
disgracefu1 behavior of the one was swal-
lowed up and overshadowed by the virtues
and the great wealth Of the other.
1t becomes necessary that we should fol-
low the fortunes of the wastrel Bob-profit-
less though the search may appear to be.
AS a matter Of fact, he had not enlisted,
nor had he gone abroad; he had simply
been in hiding, at time when the atmos-
phere was thick with writs and other terri
BILE things against him, and when he
emerged into the light Of day again. it was
in very forlorn condition and under an
other name. He dared not apply to those
who had been his friends, and he had to
start life again, as it were, under new
conditions, and with neither money nor ex-
perience to help him.
Needless to say, he became a cropper-in
fact, a succession of troopers. Sinking low
er and lower, the poor wretch picked up
precarious living as best he could in the
streets-cadging for a meal-earning a cop
per or two here or there by selling small
articles when he could get them to sell,
from door to door. Had any one known his
story they might, indeed, have drawn a
moral out of 1t, and out OF him, sufficient
to teach a very striking lesson.
But it is doubtful if. even under these
conditions. the man was wholly unhappy.
He knew what it was to be cold and wet
and to feel the cravings of hunger, but he
was contented the moment he got a good
meal or some fairly warm shelter in which
to sleep. In the summer. when he met
others of the tramp fraternity upon the
road, he was really happy, and could forget
the scurvy tricks Fortune had played him
for so many years.
1t is possible that the same Fortune, pro-
verbally tickle, determined at last to serve
him well-to do him good turn. At all
events it brought him. one night, into the
neighborhoOd Of the house to which his
brother had retired; imposing-looking
place, SIdQulnB IN It's own SIOulluS
Now he had not the least idea that his
brother lived there, or, indeed, lived any
where; he had long lost all thought-ex-
cept a very casual now and then-of
James Jolly. His sole object in going to
the house was the hope that with his
plausible tongue he might wheedle some
thing out Of the servants-might be for
tunate enough to get a meal and chance
10 sleep in a barn. For. although he was
getting on in years. and although his hair
and beard were touched with grey, he still
had a way with him which had often
proved Irresistible, especially to women.
He reached the house, and with wary
eve for dogs made for the back part of the
premises. lie peered in at tho window; the
kitchen into which he looked was empty.
In a moment the sash was raised and he
was inside.
1t was too good a chance to be missed.
Adversely seldom makes a man honest, |
despite all that the moralists may urge 10
the contrary and this man was no better
than the rest of those who pick up living
by tramping from place to place. He
wanted a meaI-he wanted 10 find if posi-
BILE the means to get other meals in the
future So he looked rapidly round about