Omaha daily bee., 1902-02-09

that no rats could be; perhaps he expected
to see them in the parlor
without the summer morning was fresh
and clear; the sunshine was bright; the air
was cool. Strange that men should prefer
the sinking parlor of a tavern to the fresh
air of the morning.
Oliver wheeled round his chair and sat
down before the man. Sir" he said. Il
would have a little discourse with you"
MIR. Fulton raised his head and looked
at him with a little languid curiosity.
"Sir," he said. "You are a lawyer. 1
love not lawyers. I have had enough Of
lawyers. What do you want with me?
Charles-Charles," he cried p~ettishly. my
ale. Bring me my tankard."
IT am not come with any hostile intent.
Fulton. You were once a bankrupt. 1 be-
lieve.'
ruptcy worth remembering. I'm not afraid
of you. AS to my debts, the creditors were
content to leave me my liberty"
$50 1 have heard"
"They took all my worldly goods, sir
the stock Of my ship, worth many thou
sands; the good viii of my business. worth
as much again; my furniture and silver
plate alone worth many hundreds; my VAL
liable books and pedigrees and furniture;
heirlooms, sir-they took all. Their ra-
paeity WIS beyond belief. Let me tell you
sir. that no bankruptcy In the city ever ex-
cited more interest. For weeks there was
nothing talked about On change. A noble
failurel Charles, my tanSard, my tankard!'
"Siri" said Oliver. ~ know the history Of
your failure. 1t will be we'll for you to re-
serve these imaginary allegations for the
tavern company. The amount for which
you failed was under $500. Your stock was
practically worthless. You had no silver
plate, but took your meals off pewter. You
books consisted Of Fox Book of Martyrs,
Molls' geography, a ready reekoner, a bool
of common prayer and Bakers history. Al
for your pictures and furniture, the lest
said the better. Indeed, Mr.. Fulton. you
bankruptcy was remarkable for nothing els'
than the fact that few citizens in business
supposed to be substantial, have ever failed
for so trihing a sum-"
The tankard was brought. Mr.. Fulton
took a long pull and sat upright with a sigl
Of relief.
al suppose you know better than myself.
he said. pray, sir, have you come her
to set me right on my own private affairs p
"Presently-presently. After you hat
taken the first steps of bankruptcy, beint
forced thereto by your creditors. you be
thought yourself Of a certain lady who wa
indebted to you in the sum of something
like e100, be the amount more or less"
"She was. 1t was this woman who drov
me into bankruptcy. 1t was not s1O0. blu
$780,"
'Ta-ta-ta-Mr. Fulton-I am a lawye
and I know the facts. It was less thai
a1O0. The debt was not due for two month
to come. You concealed the debt from you
creditors; you removed the entry from you
books. It was a fraudulent act, Mr.. Full
ton, a fraudulent act" oliver shook hi
~forehnger in the others face. Mr.. Fulton
buried hts nose again in the ankard. "Yov
resolved on getting this money for yoursel
and thereby defrauding your creditors"
Mr.. Fulton felt encouraged by the beer
"Sir," he said. II don't know who you are
but let me tell you. sir. that you lie. Al
lawyers are liars. That is all a to say
You lie."
"Mr. FIAton. II you give me the II
you will IhoVoke me to take steps whic.
will give you great pain. Do not be afrai
for the man held the tankard before hi
face as II for protection. 1 am not goin
to pull your nose. My proceedings viii b
of a more legal chamberlain much NOR
lasting in their effects" =
What do you come here for. then?'
IL come to demonstrate with you an
to protect q lady-none other than tn
| lady whom you drove by your pretence
; and threats to take certain decisive step
otherwise not to be recommended. for he
own safety
> 'Why. she defrauded me-" the ma
Z shrieked. ''She defrauded me, I ga!
y What do you mean by your cock and
> bull? What do you know about itG 81
defrauded me-"
r you have been placed in this house
3 order to keep you quiet. You have oil
= served the silence for which you were PAL
{ Your wages are your board and lodgini
Q with as much drink as you please to ca
. for"
That may be SOL shall not deny /
d ! have been paid for silence, Tina shoy
: how much the lady is afraid OF me. 81
z / say again, she defrauded me. As for n
defraudtng my creditors. I would have "
to know that / am an honest mans
. honest m q SIR"
d You have been paid by persons aetiI
{ without the knowledge Of this lady. 81
is not In the least afraid of you"
The man laughed. mot afraid Of m
s A nns story. trulyl Well. sir. you mi
/ tell the lady that unless she continues
{ buy my silenee-at a much higher hgu
i than she has yet paid| will make Il
4