Waterbury Democrat., 1902-01-27

lfberality'
 While the rest were chatting with all the enthusiasm of care-free youth Old Slouch sat miserably trying to figure out some plan of campaign. If Wicked Bill had been in his shoes Old Slouch could have saved him without turning hair. At this critical juncture, ' he would have written, Bill anxiously thrust his hand into the pocket of his coat. His index finger discovered a hole in the lining, and at tbe bottom of the aperture, he felt omething Hat and hard Breathlessly our hero drew it forth. It was twenty-dollar gold piece!"
 But fertile as Old Slouch was in re- sources for the relief of suffering ban dits and imprisoned and impoverished heroes, he was absolutely barren of in- vention in his own behalf. So dis turbed was he that when the bright eyed lilly turned from the attentive Tim and called to him across the aisle he answered her so absent-mindedl dly that she was piqued and turned again to Tim before he could repair his error.
 s'Tic41ets!' said the conductor, sharply The dreaded summons had come and found him still unprepared. Old Slouch began to tumble through his pockets. Everybody else had the necessary pasteboards, but Old Slouch still fumbled, getting redder and red der every moment. The conductor looked at him with increasing stern ness.
 T Slouch, faintly, when his search had obviously become farce, ''I'm afraid I've lost my ticket
 Didn't you drop it on the foor?'' sugge tied Jake. All hands scrutin- ized the floor.
 s.Well, well!'' said the conductor, inn patiently. You'll have to pay your fare then.'
 ITO be sure," said Old Slouch, mis- erably, and he felt for his r cents. ssWen, I declare,'' he exclaimed in we'll simulated amazement. T haven't any money"
 sWhat!' roared Tim. Had Old Slonch been himself he would have detected something very like consternation in his friends tone. As it was, he saw only ridicule and he took fatal step.
 s.That is to say, he went. on, pull ing himself together, ..snothing hut a $50 bill.'' .-.-...,..
 "Oh!" said Tim, plainly relieved,
 s'That's all right said the friendly Jake. "I'll pay it. Here you are." And he gave the cenductor4 40 cents.
 Tim rose and sauntered up the. asle.
 s'Come and have smoke P. he said to Old Slouch. The latter responded with alacrity. Here was his opportun- ity at last But as the door of the smoker closed on them Tim broke out:
 Say, old man. you nearly scared me into fit. l had only enough to buy my ticket one way, but I came along because I knew I could borrow a dol lar or two from you"
 Old Slouch collapsed. q near fell on the foor,'' his tor1nentor went on, 'when you said you didn't have any coin. but when you mentioned the fifty, why, knew it was all right''
 .sBut it ain't," Old Slouch replied, weakly.
 "No?" roared the other.
 s'Not cent,v said Old Slouch, huslSi- ly. "I was going to borrow from you 7
 s'Well," said Tim, when he had par tially recovered from the blow, you'll have to touch Jake.v
 Rather not" said Old Slouch, short ly ''You do it.''
 Rather not myself" Here the two looked in opposite directions.
 .'One of us has got to,' said Tim at i last.
 Match you for it, from the dis tinguished author. So they matched and Old Slouch lost.
 It spoiled his day. lilly was dis posed to be nice to him, but he wa so taciturn, thinking all the while of l the unpleasant task that awaited him, l that she turned in despair to Tim, who had never been in better spirits l in his life. It was beautiful moon light night and they planned to re- turn to the dock in time to catch the last train for town, which left at ten o'clock.
 They were about a mile from shore when the wind died out. They drifted idly for half an hour. Jake looked at his watch.
 'We'll miss the train and have to stay all night at hotel, if there is one in the place." Horrible visions of hotel bills crossed ola Slouch's mind | Then he had an inspiration. 1 Lets row for it." he suggested. And row they did-rowed as they had never rowed before, he and Tim The night was warm, and the two oarsmen were perspiring and breathless when the boat finally ran her nose on shore At the same moment they heard the whistle of the approaching train. All hands ran for it and scrambled aboard just as the train pulled out.
 All due 10 your splendid rowing said the panting lilly as she sank into her seat. ''It was awful good work. IT ask you both to my wedding for that
 '.Weddingl" shouted Old Slouch and Tim in chorus.
 'sI'm to be married to Mir. Jimmy 1 Grenner in the fall,' said the blushing maid.
 Silence fell upon the downcast suit ors-a silence deep and wide.
 "Tickets!. said the conductor. ! Old Slouch fled to the smoker in pur- suit of Jake He had no objection to borrowing from him now. Alas! N Y. Times.
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