The Fulton County news. [volume] (McConnellsburg, Pa.) 1899-current, 1903-05-07
UNTO Till LAJT."
By w. J. Roe.


never anything else but thinly clad
even in the depth of winter, and car
ried constantly-wlth loud laugh and
painfully forced iollity that had wor
him his epithet, "Howls"-a haggard
hunted expression. Jacob Howells's
reputation, even when l first knew hin
on the Street, was quite "off color
and the color had worn off more and
more as years went on.
He and l never had any business
transactions for two reasons. botii
valid-I had no spare cash to loan. ard
when l borrowed-which was seldom
1t was not on cola teral of the sort re.
qulring the big SHAVE" ont of which
this man and his kind made their
sparse and precarious profits.
1t was growing dark on a raw day
last February that crossing Nassau
street on my way toward the elevated
saw Howells in charge of an officer
Having heard that he had been con-
cerned of late in several pieces of
sharp practice" the fact that he was
now in custody did not seem surpris.
ing. I was going by with no more at
tention than may be implied by a brief
thought of commseration C'Poor chap,
l hope he'll get out of the scrape'),
when l heard him say pleadingly:
"For Gods sake, wait just Eve min
utes more"
His tone was so imploring. So pitiful,
and it seemed so sincere as to some
hope in little delay, that I overcame
the dastardly cowardice of prudence,
turned right about, and went up to
him.
"Is there anything can do for you,
Mr.. Howells?" / asked not, fear. cor
daily, but coldly, my manner instinct
lively modulated as to imply that pre-
sumption on his part would scarcely
be tolerated.
Yes" he answered eagerly. "there
is. IL you are willing to take little
just little-trouble. AS you see, /
have got into little scrapc (he
laughed grimly), and l have sent a
boy for my lawyer. I'm afraid it's so
late he's gone home. Now, would you
mind going to my fiat The named the
''ANN' '''iA hphcSAj., anu Wi iAiy wiz
that / have been called away sudden
ly, but will be back to-morrow-and
Che handed me q five-dollsr bilD give
her that"
or course l agreed to do what he
wished, though his fiat was far over on
the upper east side, while my home
was on the west. Howells clutched
my hand hard, "Thank you; my God,
but I do thank you" and we parted.
l turned back down Wall Street. and
took the east side elevated at Hanover
Square. While l waited for the train
1t began to snow, and by the time we
reached Fourteenth street heavy
snOwstOrm had set in. At Fourteenth
street there was long stop, and at
the end of perhaps fifteen minutes the
guard opened the door. "All out" he
shouted, ''this car goes no further!'
l soon discovered that there was a
fire on the block above. The surface
line was blocked also, so | made my
way across to the Second Avenue line.
There were delays here also, so that
it was quite late before / reached the
street where HoweHs lived. In the
meantime the storm had gathered
strength; the wind blew ierceiy. and
the mingled snow and slcct beat full
into my face as / made NY way tow
ard the tall tenement tO which l had
been directed. ! found the number at
last one Of these immense. semi-gen-
teel apartment houses. horror to look
upon, much more to be all one could
call home" Pushing the button of
the very topmost fiat, the door opened
instantly, and, covered with snow, |
toiled up the stairs. On the upper
landing stood woman, who eX-
claimed before she recognized ne;
'oh, Jake. dear Jake, | am so re-
lieved-"
suddenly she stopped, seeing
stranger. and, clasplng her hands, her
race as could see even in the obscur-
ity. turned ghastly white.
rs this Mrs. Howells?" / asked.
Yes" she gasped evidently over
come with apprehension, ''yes; please
tell me, have You word from my hus-
pand: Has-has-anything hap
pened?"
AS quickly rs possible relieved her
anxiety by delivering my message and
'hc Dill. would have gone then at
once; but Mrs. Howells urged me to
come In. 1T was so kind of you to
come, and such dreadful night. Mr..
novels Is not strong. Girls (she con-
uhued Joyously. your father Is all
risht; he was obliged to go out of
town."
had not said this, but let II pass.
Inc little room was n charming pic
lure OF modest refinement and home
likeness. Two young women. who had
peen sitting by lamp, one engaged In
heediework, the other. having laid
down a book, rose and greeted me.
Ladies. all OF them, that was evident,
as well as was the deep afrectlon-al-
most adoratlon-for the man whom.
tiil that hour, had known as one who
could not have been classed as respect
apie' much less as a gentleman. 1t
was now, however, quite apparent
mat desperate gap between the man
OF the outside world and of the home.
ana the hideous struggle he was en-
gagged In with the wolf of poveptv ana
70 keep the little family together.
Ihe next day Howells came to INV
once. He looked even more disrcpu-
aDie than ever after a night In Jan.