Evening star., 1901-12-21
Can great merchant" asked his lord

"can a great merchant" asked his lord
ship. 'be ruined for the want of fo0o?'
mo. my lord, not as rule. But there
are times when certain calls have been
met and certain other calls have to be met,
when 600 makes all the difference. count
ed on this $500; it was intended to meet the
charge of a certain liability. 1 relied on
the lady entirely; she was a lady of rank,
by marriage, though by birth and education
| nothing more than the daughter of a Lon
don citizen. As the money was overdue,
went II call upon her; / represented the
dreadful situation 1 should be in if she TAD
not ay men. She did not warn me of her
Intentions"
Otherwise" Pinder Suggested, II believe
that you would have clapped her on the
king bench
Il should wish had done so. l have
always regretted that l did not. But We
are fools, We great merchants: L trusted
her because she was gentiewoman.
1T is reported Pinder again suggested,
that you yourself had fallen into diffcul-
| ties owing to your habit of drink :,
The story is quite faise.wicked, as well:
smile Pinders face. THAT is, L never
used to drink in the days of prosperity. To
be sure, the tavern IS the natural place for
the conduct of business. If l was a good
zeal in the tavern, it was not to drink. The
fact only proves the magnitude of my
transactions.
The magnitude of your transactions al
lowed you to fail for the want or toUo, SAID
Stratherrick, quickly.
Stick to the truth-stick to the truth
man. whispered Pinder. No man in
large way was ever bankrupt for the sum
of t500.''
"Well," he went on, grumbling. NO mat
ter what the magnitude of my transactions
Of the business carried on at the tavern.
The lady owed me 1860 and did not pay.
Said Pinder: When she would not or
could not pay, what did you do?"
II was expecting her money. l knew that
if she did not pay 1 must be bankrupt. And
then there came to see me woman named
Mrs. Brymer, dressmaker of Monmouth
street, a woman with whom l had done
business. Mr.. Fulton she said, or Mr..
Joseph Fulton l forget which, l came to
you from your debtor. She owes you 1000
she cannot pay it, Why, madam, / said,
If she cannot pay it she shall go to prison
and shall there lie till she can pay it.
'Never-not so,' said Mrs. Brymer, for the
lady has transferred the debt. having been
this day married in Newgate to q prisoner
named Adolphus Truxo, who is sentenced
to death and will be hanged on Monday
At this blow was, as you may say fairly
knocked over. 1t was, however, true-the
marriage had taken place. l went to New
gate and learned that it was true
And then said Lord Stratherrick, the
lady married, the man was hanged and
you became bankrupt. Is that all?"
Then became bankrupt. My stock was
seized my furniture was seized. l lost
everything I had in the world and 1 was
turned into the street with my wife and
children penniless.''
"Your creditors did not, then, as is usual
lock you up?"
mo; there was some talk Of it. but had
nothing. l should never have anything. /
had no relatives who could help me; my
wife was the daughter of a country parson
who could not help me at ALL So they let
me CO..
"And how have you been living since?''
1T was three years ago. We have been
living on the charity of friends. l
have been unable to get employment.
Every day I have gone out in search of
work and have been dependent on my old
friends for food and trifie of drink. If
your lordship can help me"
Go Be Continued)