The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1901-11-26
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utterly escaped me that I had promised
Fishbach my Velpeau's Surgery He is
wide reader for a man In his station
in life. But the work is too valuable to
trust that boy with. Excuse me a mo-
ment, I will run down with 1t myself, it
is only a STEP
Convulsively my hand went to my
trousers pocket, and my tongue framed
the word, don't but alas, L, too, was
moral coward and had not the heart
to strike him down A harmless lie is
mean enough, but to wantonly expose it,
is still meaner.
While he was gone what must have
been infinitely more than a step, l looked
about the room. It was not barren, it
was simply dead. Outside the zone Of
/ light cast by the green-shaded lamp,
there seemed to be greenish gray fog,
just penetrable to the eye when it be-
! came accustomed to it, revealing heavy
dust and smoke-absorbing window hang
lngs. Into one corner was swept huge
pile Of medical journals and case reports.
An old-fashioned bookcase and desk
combined was there, with diamond-shap-
ed panes before the rows of books. These
rows, 1 noted, had gastly blanks, like
missing teeth in skull; gone doubt
less to enrich the wisdom of Mr.. Fish
bach OR someone of his ilk; faithlesS
messengers, who in their worm-eaten
hearts knew they never would return
when once outside the portal.
What few pictures adorned the walls
were well chosen. Two or three TURKISH
rugs covered the floor in part an Indian
hookah lay on the center table, and be-
side it the inevitable water carafe and
glasses, all dust-laden to state Of
capacity almost. I realized that 1 was
in the wrecked apartment of a wrecked
gentleman Of taste.
IT cannot tell you what a relief it Isl
he began, bounding in upon me, ''to know
that you are not distressing yourself
about that sum. The remittance 1 spoke
about is as certain as death itself. /
don't mind telling you that 1t is the result
Of an old claim of my fathers (money
loaned to a friend years ago., q matter
of some $4,000. His son wrote me that
It would be almost a SIN to reinveSt It,
it was doing so we'll In his hands. AS
I have such a miserable head for finance.
I allowed It to remain. My shares, or
whatever you call them, have always
been regularly paid until the last year
or so. 1 have written, and received as,
surance that it would be forthcoming
shortly Oh, yes, number of times =
what Is it invested in?" I asked, by
liz 11SctilS S4AdA1li5 SOIiNiStlOIl LII tlic
security unknown.
Really, cannot tell you," he answer.
ed, drawing the cork from the bottle.
cit is the North American something"
But surely" said, somewhat aghast,
''the letter heads, their drafts, something
of that sort must have told"
mo, the letters were simply from this
personal friend, who is acting as my
agent and the money came always in
American express orders Not bad, this, .
he went on, turning his wine glass in mis-
thin fingers and holding it up to the
light.
NO said, "but not nearly SO good as
it should be, considering 1t is a fermenta-
ton that comes to us through the labors
of one of the greatest surgical writers
this continent ever produces
1t was brutal, and I knew it, but he de-
served it. He got up and walked up and
down the room two or three times before
stopping in front Of my chair.
What did you come here for tonight,
if it was not for the money owe you?
Am I a companion to be sought for my