Evening bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1895-1912, 1902-07-11
SHORT STORY FOR
EVENING HOURS
THE !EMTATION Of JOHN BELTERS

waiting, so II seemed to John Better
and his wife. for the child to die.
And the child lay so near death that
a breath of wind might blow him away.
His little white face lay turned up to
the light, his eyes closed, his thin
fingers stretched lifelessly upon tho
COuhterpane.
John Better stared at them with
blinking eyes before he went to his
cab. It was getting late in the after.
noon. and the dim light in the garnet
was DINNER than ever, and the boy :
face looked terribly gray.
rs he all right" John whispered
hurriedly to his wife. You don't think
he's any worse, do you. jenny"
Mrs. Better hurried forward to the
bedside and peered down at the tiny
face. white above the sheets.
mo, no. John. Go to your cab" she
cried. and bring me some money dt-
rectly you get fare. II we can only
buy him a few things tonight he'll he
all right. and perhaps youll have somr
luck"
John Better hurried away-dOwn tho
grimy. narrow stairs, and out into the
street, where his cab was waiting.
He jumped on his box and drove out
into the wider streets which lay close
beside his own narrow one. and then
It seemed that his luck had turned ut
last.
He was hailed almost Immediately.
4 young man, in evening dress. with d
diamond flashing in his shirt front and
another on his finger, looked mp at him
as he stopped, and shouted his direc-
tions.
He got in. and John whipped up his
horse. Here at least was shilling.
and II the fare was generous. perhaps
two.
He drew up with a jerk when he
reached his destination. and waited
for him to get out. He did so quickly.
almost stumbling in his haste. He stood
on the pavement for an instant. and in
that instant John noticed two things
that he had an odd shaped package un.
der his arm. and that he looked
strangely white and shaken and ner.
vous.
He thrust up a coin, and choking
feeling rose in Johns throat when he
saw that 1t was a half-crown.
He touched his cap. but the fare had
turned abruptly and was busy letting
himself in to the chambers at which
they had stopped.
Goodnight, sir. and thank you.
sir" cried John, huskily; Lut the man
did not turn, and John. anxious to get
home. drove away quickly.
He had reached the street and had
just dismounted when q man. lounging
against the ratings looked at him
curiously. and came forward. He was
an eX-convict. living in the house next
door. as John knew.
There's something in your cab" no
said, grufily.
John turned again, and looking, saw
that on the seat was something small
and red. He picked It up. and the next
instant faced the man on the pave
ment with red leather case in his
iluHNo'
They're Jewels" the man cried
eagerly. His eyes were glistening. and
a shrewd, hard, cunning look had come
into his face.
You'd better let me get rid of 'em
for you" he whispered. Il know how
to do II. and it'll be quite safe, and I'll
get more than you'll GET"
John stared.
"But-I-theyll have to go to Scot.
land Yard" he said.
The man laughed.
The more fool you If you take them
there" he cried. They'll give yer
nothing worth having, and II you come
with me and get rid of em, who'll be
any the wiser? And perhaps they're
worth ESQ, Let's look at en-"
John hestitated.
No, no." he began; and then some.
how he opened the case. He had not
meant to do it. but he was """ious, and
The jewels lay bare to the air almost be.
lore he knew II.
The color went from his face when !
he saw them. 1t was a small. hollow,
Silk-lined case. and lying loosely to-
Sether was what seemed to be a blind. |
ng mass of diamond and emerald !
brooches and necklaces.
He looked at them dazedly. They |
cleaned at him northumberland