St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1901-03-23
known to be caught mapping

Anown 70 Oe caught mapping
never!"
Il nave heard said" replied th
burglar, nervously, that you are
smart man Of business very smar
man Of business" he added, raisinl
his eyes. and looking Nedhar
squarely in the face. 'Stt4 "
You datter me, young man!
chuckled the portly merchant. "An,
who, may ask, reported SO favor
ably of me2"
MY name" replied ths- STRIPPING
leaning over the stable-"ny name i
Wilkins; my father was your part
ner." And. having fired that shot
he awaited results. -
Nedham shivered slightly, and hi
face changed coler. In moment. how
ever, he had mastered himself. ~
"Ah!" he said, lightly. "Are you tn,
boy I've heard him speak so Otter
about? How strangely people NEE
sometimes! Who could have dreame,
that l should have had the pleasure o
seeing you at such an unlikely hou
and place? Sit down, sir-sit down! 1
is cold as an iceberg here. Let me ge
you . whisky and-soda." And b,
passed over to the sideboard.
The housebreaker protested, but th'
old gentleman insisted.
"To tell you the truth" he said
laughing, you've, given me quite /;
turn. / need something to still m,
huttering heart; and I make it a rul,
never to drink alone when there i.
company about"
So saying. he handed wilkins tn.
frothing stimulant, and, filling up hi.
own glass to the brim, he raised it
with:
well. sir. drink to you; and sin
cerely hope I have net disappointed
you by appearing SO Unexpectedly or
the scene tonight"
The STRIPPING drank in silence; for I
minute no words passed.
Il suppose" Wilkins muttered a
last. "you will now send for the po
police?"
The merchant laughed loudly a. h.
lay back in his chair.
why police?' he said. ''You have
not robbed me-"
81 had that intention" was the re
ply. But, like most Of my other
schemes in life, 1t did not come on
But. remember. If had cleared your
sideboard I should not have called my
self = robber-not even lawbreaker
My father has told me that you robbed
him. and were the cause Of his ruin
at the end"
Nedham drew himself up. fdgeting
on his seat.
81 do assure you." he said, soothing.
II, '.there is no vestige of truth in the
accusation. You may not know that
your father was subject to hallncina-
ticn long before we parted company"
81 disagree with you. sir" put in the
other. with trembling lip. but that
is all past now. and need not be
mourned over. My father Is far be-
yond business ..rickery at. this no.
ment. But. candidly. I bear you = Bit
ter grudge. and ever will do so. So
does another-my mother"
"Your mother2" queried the old
man. in a whisper. "She is still alive,
then? All. the mention Of her brings
back to me the days Of youth. pre-
sumo your father never told you how
he came between us. and made the only
woman I ever loved bis wife? T."
Il am in no mood for sentiment" !"
the young man interrupted. Aud, be-
sides. that. too, is bygone. What I
do know is that the terrible crash
came unexpectedly, and brought down
to the earth like card-castle all that
made for happiness with us. had to
leave college, and, though have tried,
l never have been able to mend the
broken thread Of my life. But oil this
does not interest you" And he moved
towards the door.
do have another drink" insisted
the merchant. ut is bitterly cold out.
side. and you may have . long way to
walk"
The offer was declined.
A. the, gentleman-burglar passed
into the hall he turned with forced
smile. and said: #E
Il came by the back door, and will
go by it, l presume?"
"Not at ALL" cried Nedham, elusive
". mo visitor at Woodlands has ever
been allowed to DO that. Let me show
you out by the front door, and, when
next you come to see me. perhaps you
will give me fairer warning than you
did this morning"
He opened the door and held out his
hand. The youngster took it coldly.
"By. the way" said the merchant, sis
your mother In need of money!"
Money!" said Wilkins. drawing
himself up proudly on the doorstep.
Charity? And from such as you?
Thank God, we are not yet reduced to
that level!"
And. SO saying, he passed out into
The night.
Nedham listened to the retreatin9
for some moments, and then
3uietly shut the door.
Queer fellow, certainly!" he
But = boy Of spirit-ay, a
BOY OF spirit" he added, emphatically,
IS he pulled on the bolts.
The Australian branch of Mr.. Ned
,am's business. which he opened at
some four years ago. is
hriving beyond all expectations. But
vhen business friends congratulate
1r. Nedham, he laughs, and says:
II mustn't take the credit. It's
roung wilkins concern. I'm taking
lin into partnership."-Answers.
An UnnlstokabIe Hit.