The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1902-12-11


about. though you may say there was
no actual sin committed by my friend,
which may be true. but he gave way
under strong temptation, and that Is
the next thing to It. Anyway, VIII
Lawson, the eldest son OF her who was
Samantha Fisher, would never nave
been arrested for murder and put In
peril of his life II he hadn't yielded to
temptation and had to do with lot
terry ticket.
Widow Lawson, Wits mother, lived
next door to me in little white cot
tage with green blinds and neat flow
or garden In front when these things
happened, and we were the best OF
friends. So | remember as II 1t was
only yesterday the day VIII came home
from the city with his new clothes. 1t
was the 9th Of December, and Wits
mother had been saving up all sum-
mer to buy that suit for Christmas
present for her boy. so 1t was quite an
event when he brought 1t home. | ran
right over when / saw him, and he
put the clothes on and paraded around
the house so we could see how he
looked I'm them. VIII was handsome
boy. with n straight. slender figure
After the boy had shown off his
clothes and told US all about his visit
TO the city went home, for ! had left
some things stewing on the stove, and
was afraid they'd burn, but | hadn't
been home very long before Mrs. Law
son marched In, with a worried look
Oh her face and that wretched lottery
ticket in her hand. Mrs. Lawson was
q God fearing woman. and she almost
cried as she told ne about finding
ticket in the watch pocket OF WHY'S
new pantaloons.
'The worst OF It," she said, SIS that
VIII denies all knowledge Of the ticket
He spoke up real disrespectfnl when ]
told him he'd better burn It. He said
1t might bring luck"
Luck is hard work and saving
ways" said /, land I'm sorry 10 see
such notions getting Into your head.
Nothing good can come Of 1t, you may
be sure. II were In your place, Ia
burn that lottery ticket right now In
my kitchen stove"
But promised VIII ! wouldn't de
stroy IL" she said.
All | could say didn't persuade her
into my way OF thinking. though she'd
come over 10 consult me, and she went
home with the ticket claspcd tightly In
her hand. as II 1t could bring anything
but sorrow,
IT was exactly two weeks after-on
Dec. 80 to be exact-that Mrs. Lawson
came over to my house looking more
cheerful than I'd seen her look for
many long day.
what do you Think" she asked, al
most dancing across 10 the sink, where
was cleaning small turkey for
Christmas dnner-"what do you Think
Wits ticket has drawn the prize"
Her words aud her manner struck
me all of heap. but ! managed to
ask her what kind Of prize, for
thought perhaps he'd drawn necktie
or Il clock.
Its money prize" she said Eff
teen thousand dollars"
! had turned around, with my dish
pan, almost full OF bloody r'ater, in my
hands, aud | Just Sat down Ia chair,
feeling weak all IN Il minute. and the
dshpan tipped over, and all that water
went sailing over my clean floor
For land saEcs"' said when | got
my breath again. "iou don't say 30"
Yes" she said. Its all here In this
list-No. 0s,5G7."
when | asked her II he'd got the
money and she said he was going to
the city the next day to get II. didn't
encourage her In any hops that might
not be fulfilled.
We'll" said Mrs Lawson, Wits
asked Lawyer Clapp about Il. aud he
says it's all right He's going down to
the city tomorrow with VIII after the
money. They'll be- back in the evening
In time for VIII to play Santa Claus In
District school No. g."
Then she hestated little pulling at
the strings Of her winter hood, which
was all crinkled up under her arm, but
finally asked me not TO say anything
about VIII drawing the money
"He doesn't want 1t known" she
said, though can't see why, and
we're going on living rs II we hadn't q
cent In the world for time ut least.
and then perhaps well move away"
Mrs. Lawson went away looking just
as cheerful as II WIN had earned the
money Gown at the mill aud bad II all
In his hand and I had TO 20 10 work
and CLEAN up the lnuss on the floor
caused by that pan OF bloody water
But somehow | couldn't seem 20 be
thankful for what Mrs. Lawson consld
cred such n blessing | couldn't get tbs
notion out OF my mind that somethin!
dreadful would come OF IL
The next morning. the day before
Christmas VIII Lawson aud Lawye
Clapp were up bright and early an,
took the . % train for New York The,
got the money. though they had to pa.
something out Of the prize so as not {,
walt until the ticket had been sent fl
TO the main office They got home lat
In the afternoon. and Mrs. Lawson
pale and nervous as a kitten. was "a