The Mount Holly news. [volume] (Mount Holly, Burlington Co., N.J.) 1891-1942, 1901-12-24

ned and read the account several times.
Then he folded the paper and put it I'M
der the pillow of his cot. Moriarty' 5
troubles seemed to be a powerful tonic
for him. He improved rapidly and near
! ly drove the doctors insane by asking
them how long it would be before his
condition would permit him to go out.
One visiting day he dictated a note
and sent it out by the nurse. In the
afternoon three men were shown to the
bandaged mans ward, where he sat
wrapped up in his chair.
Denny" cried the foremost of the
three as he caught sight of the shrunken
figure.
The bandaged man favored them with
a grin, which the crosses of adhesive
plaster on his face and the absence of
six front teeth rendered particularly
hideous.
"Sit down, sit down." he said jovially
'Look at the product of bad chemicals,
will your"
The trio sat down and chatted away
until white capped nurse gently limited
! 1t was time for them to leave. Then the
bandaged man turned to the visitor near
est him.
"Dan," said he, "did you ever see me
smoker"
81 don't think 1 ever did, Denny" the
man addressed replied.
The patient turned to the next in order
"Tom," he said solemnly, ''did you ever
see me smoker
"Sure not" said Tom.
did you, JimY' the patient went on,
addressing the third, who shook his head.
"Well, then" said he, remember that,
will you? It's money in your pocket to
keep that in mind" And when the
three reached the street they agreed there
was something wrong with Denny's
mind.
1t was a bright September day when
| the patient left the hospital. He entered
a carriage and drove to one of the Office
buildings down town. He hobbled into
spacious Office on the seventh floor, his
crutches making a vigorous humping on
the thing as he swung past a stout man
at the desk in the outer room and entered
smaller one, where thin little man
with gray beard bent over pile of let
ters The man from the hospital still
wore bandages swathed about his neck,
and there was yet enough adhesive plas-
ter on his face to make his grin rather
pronounced.
"Good morning." said he pleasantly.
sinking into a chair. Don't let me in
terrupt. My business can wait
"Well?" said the other sharply.
"Are you ready?" the intruder asked.
Then he grinned, and the thin man ex
perienced a shock. That grin would
have startled mummy.
81 think I'll smoke" said the man with
the crutches.
"Well, why don't your the thin man
Queried after waiting for some moments
for the other to produce his weed.
"No hurry" was the calm response.
"Ive got to learn first. Want me to
learn, don't your
want what want what?" said the
thin man.
"You want me to learn to smoke, don't
your" the other went on. Course you
want me to-" he added insinuatingly
"Now see here" began the thin man,
but the other interrupted him.
81 don't mind learning to smoke, but
it's expensive. Costs lot of money to
smoke. l wouldn't undertake it less'n
ten thousand dollars"
"What are you driving att? growled
the thin man. "What do | care whether
you smoke or not?"
"Oh, if you don't care" the man be-
side him said easily, swe'll make it fifteen
thousand. I'll smoke for that. I'll smoke
all my days if get that"
"Great heavens! | don't want you to
smoke. What in thunder
| Fifteen thousand and l smoke"
The thin man had lost his temper
"Tifteen thousandp' he roared. What's
your name? What'd | give you fifteen
thousand dollars for? Why should give
you the price of two-fer even?'
Because" saids the man with the
clutches, as he gr nned again and laid
hand confidential on the thin mans
coatsleeve "becaue." he purred "my
names Moriarty. boston Transcript