The Fulton County news. [volume] (McConnellsburg, Pa.) 1899-current, 1903-05-07

thc uTSt, anu tWOn he the last You
know your Aesop-thc pitcher that
goes often to the well is bound to get
broken some day"
After this | used to do a little more
than nod to Mr. Howells; in fact sew.
eral times | even threw a little busi.
ness in his way. Once he came to me
ON matter where I was really of
very considerable assistance. When II
was concluded he asked me to 90 out
and take lunch with him. Don't OBJ
ject' he said heartily, ION account of
its coming out of my pocket 1t won't;
the man I'm doing this for puts up,
and this Will SO in; besides" he added,
consciously. "I'll not take you TO any
swell place"
We lunched Mt little place-not
swell" but good in its way. and there
he let out much of his heart to me-
1t was pitiful to hear him tell of the
miserable shifts and devices by which
he gathered together the few dollars
needful-pitlful TO mo. knowing what
the mans home life was.
"Do YOU think I don't know well
enough what people say of me? Yes.
they call me blool-sucker. and-no
don't shake your head-thats not the
worst; some will tell you I'm an out
and-out scoundrel who ought to be in
State prison. But. Mr.. -" he laid
his hand impulsivcly upon my arm,
II give you my word before my God
that never in my life have l done a
dishonest act. Yes. I've been arrested
more times than that once you know
of; but it was always as a scapcgoat
for some other mans rascallty. Hit
him; he's got on frlendsr that's the
cry around Wall and Broad streets.
What dreadful business mine Is.
l know it; but l can't get out of it;
| can't try some other more decent.
God knows l would If saw my way,
but l don't. When a mans past sixty
no one wants him. Besides. I know
this business Of shaving third and
fourth class paper clear down to the
ground; know that and nothing else.
Now, this piece of business: how much
do you suppose I'll net out of it:'
1.-TWO hundred" l suggested, know.
ing what his commissions ought to
have been.
divide that by twenty" said How
ellis coolly. what! jackal like me
get his full commissions; Not much:
I'm allowed for expense carfarc. this
lunch and odds and ends; but before !
got the job l had to agree to take an
even ten. Oh! I'm not worrying; It's
the best days work I've done in six
months"
From time to time during TIE follow
ing summer / saw Howells. always in
haste, always anxious, but his greeting
was always a genial smile and
hearty Good day" He never pre-
sumed upon my good Offices 1t was
late one afternoon the following No
vember that messenge: brought me
brief note from him. He was laid
up. he wrote, with a bad cold. and
there was a little matter OF business
he wanted looked after. The papers
inclosed Were all in good shape. 1t
was after business hours; but in his
calling they stay down town late.
| did what he asked willingly, col.
lected the amount, and sent it by the
messenger. n week passed. and the
same thing happened again. THIS time
he wrote Mt considerable length. He
was very i'll; too i'll to be out such n
harsh day He had no one he could
trust 0he word trust" underscored
Would / mind obllging him just once
more? 1t was n beseeching-almost
crlnging-letter. He might have known
me better. / did the errand, collected
SO, added SO, and inclosed n line say.
ing that | was glad to be of service.
and that the ten was sat his entire
convenience" The next day a postal
came, undated. and the handwritln:
trcmulous, hardly legible. 1t said
simply: 80. X. Many thanks. You'll
get 1t later"
About week after that, while /
was sitting at my desk in the office,
the door opened hastily and Howells
staggered in. My first thought was
that he had been drinking. for his
manner was wild. his eyes sunken
and bloodshot, and his Usual p,nched
and haggard expression intensified
tenfold.
Excuse me for one moment. Mr.. |
-" he said, painting like winded
dog. ''I'll get my breath shortly"
When he had recovered himself he
began ut once, talking very fast-therc
was policy on his life, taken out more
than ten years before. Originally for
five thousand. it would now be worth |
to his heirs upward of nine thousand
"The premium is due to-day; this Is
the very last day or the policy will
lapse. 1t mustn't lapse: that's the long
and short OF 1t. My family would get
over nine thousand II should die to-
morrow II that premium Is paid. IL l
should die tomorrow" he repeated,
choking. ''Ive got fifteen Of It, Can't
you help me out with the balance?
For Gods sake try and help me
out"
! did not keep him in doubt. but
opened my pocketbook and counted out
the twenty that he said was needed.
Howells eyed the money as famished
man might food. As he clutched the
bills. the mans JOY seemed quite I'M
speakable. He did. however manage
TO stammer out In the intervals OF tit
OF painful coughing what he called his
deep gratitude
'You'll get this back. good friend"
ne said huskily at the door. "Neyer