Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1901-12-05
l7MIE TURIN OF
u ITHE WHEEL
BY BARRY PAIN.


TIE cabman who told me the story
prefers to remain anonymous, nor is
there any necessity to mention the
rame Of the out of work valet.
"Come on pretty thin streak.
haven't your" said the cabman. what
threw you out this last timer"
"Oh, the usual" said the valet la
conically and without shame.
"Well. I've chucked 1t myself. 9th
erwise we might-well, what do you
think? One wouldn't hurt u.s."
mot for me-" said the valet 81
swore off when l got the sack. In
fact, that's my only chance to get an
other place and living"
''Then well have some tea some
where. l know a place near here where
they can do you chop. and It's not
too filthy"
Its awfully good OF you. but
'I've been In luck lately-backed
winner at a very good price. My
'missus' has a brother in the stable.
You come along"
The valet came along and ate that
which was set before him. Then he
sat with his head in his hands smok-
ing a short clay, silent, with a grim
and deadly look on his face. Then he
began soliloquizing. bitterly, incoher-
emily and reminiscently.
Cant stand dining in hall. Too
beastly uncivilized. Charming girl.
that Danced with her at the Masonic.
She was at the A. Il. c. with us too.
Cad. they're gaining! Half a length.
Rowed-well rowedm
He shouted the last words, half ris-
ing from his place fand brought his
hand down hard on the table with n
clatter of the coarse crockery. Rather
less OF that, please" said a sharp voice
from behind the counter. The out of
work valet subsidized, replacing his pipe
I'm his mouth and resuming his attitude
of dependency.
Hold your row. said the cabman.
II refused a good berth yesterday"
what on earth for" said the cab
man. placed as you are. you know"
he added delicately.
Couldn't help 1t. 1t was a chat
who'd made money. That's the kind
look for nowadays. I've got charac-
tiers of sort-that | know my work
thoroughly and don't steal the spoons.
and so on. But my trump card Is that
I was for year with Scarborough. The
new arrival likes TO say, Yes. very de-
cent fellow-I got him from Lord Sells
borough And. mind. you. Scarborough
has let me down very easily as to-er-
why | couldn't stop. This chap I'm
speaking OF was called Smith. It's not
name that suggests anything. but it
struck me that knew the face. told
him the best story | could. and he said
he'd give me a fair trial IL | would
sign Off drink altogether. Just at that
moment | recognized him and placed
him. I'm afraid can't take your stu
alton / said. He glared at me. Why
notT he asked. 1t happened that we
were both standing up at the time.
sat down with my back to him and
spoke to him over my shoulder Smith.
| said. L wish you'd run over to the
kitchens and ask them why the devil
they can't send me what | order Yes,
Fact! 1t was Smith. my old gyp. You
remember him? or course you do. And
then he remembered me. He sort of
sank into the earth and called me sir
Then he told me how he'd made his lit
tie pile-ten years close savings and
some phenomenal luck in speculation
on the top of II. And that's not bad
chap either. We talked over old times
for awhile. He never asked me what
had brought me down In the world
he ought to know that. though. Pres
emily he said that he'd had many and
many a sovereign from me, and II
loan of ten or twenty would be any con-
venience-well. cut that short and
came away. Still, he's not bad chap.
and / was civil enough to him. But a
coincidence of that kind brings things
back. Suppose now
"Oh. it's too late TO talk about that"
the cabman interrupted. What's the
next step to beT'
Don't know" said the valet drearily.
II wish now I'd kept my mouth shut
and taken the place. l wish I'd borrow
ell the beggar's money; likewise. now l
come to think of IL, wish | was dead"
"Well." said the cabman. "you know
where to come II you run short before
you get work. 1t wouldn't be much.
but
The valet stopped him, thanked him
and appeared to recover his good spir-
its. That's all right" he said; Il won't
forget you
shortly afterward they parted. The
valet spent . shillIngs that night on
combination OF four ale and gin. But
this detail. together with one or two
others that I have mentioned. the cab
man only learned afterward at the In
Guest.-Black and White.
IL Altered the Case