The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1903-12-30
".Ah! what is this! he cried. What

"'Ah! what is this! he cried. What
do you mean by "fortune"-"unexpect.
ed fortune''-" fortune poured into ones
1ap| Is there money for me? Real
money? Not charitable bounty, but
money that is mine through law and
justice? Has the case been decided?
I'VE did not answer; we did not dare
to, lest he should fall dead before our
eyes. We only smiled, but with great
encouragement, and, as I hope, with
great sympathy.
"'Ahp he murmured, after moment
of silent survey, you look as If had
not guessed amiss. 1t has come, then;
come, after years Of hopeless ;Waitings
come to pay. for my burial, after haV-
ing failed. to provide me with medi-
cines and care
"'But we will have no burial now,'
exclaimed my friend. Such an event
should inspire you with new life
"'Too late! too latep sighed the
other, and his arms, which had been
lifted in thankfulness to heaven, slow
ly dropped, while his head settled back,
and only his eyes showed the triumph
which this. sudden knowledge of riches
had awakened within him. You are
not deceiVing me" he now said. i
have really won the case|
"Mr. Cutting bowed, and showed him
some documents which he drew out OF
his pocket. The sick man looked at
them, smiled proudly, and seemed for
q minute to regain certain strength.
"T knew the money ought to be
mine said he, but I never expected a
jury would agree with me. Ah, If l
had only two days before me, or one
day, would
1.-The lawyer interrupted him.
"'Have you any relatives" he asked.
"The sick man shook his head.
al have neither kith nor kim he
answered. I have not even so much
as cousin in this world
"'Is it possible3 exclaimed the
lawyer; whom is this money going
to?'
"'How much is itT asked Mr.. De-
lancy.
"Oh, large sum, hundreds of thou
sands
"The sick man uttered an exelama-
tion. then looked slowly and with an
expressive comment round the room
that would not have been considered
a decent home for an ordinary hod-
carrier.
"'And I owe for thisr he exclaimed.
May 1 ask here he turned with
strange persistency to me, that one
Of you gentlemen will be good enough
to pay the woman who rents me this
room all that I owe her? I should
like to see it done with my own eyes.
Perhaps she will swear at me less and
let me have a cup OF tea that is not
stone cold.' j.
1.-THE lawyer sprang to the door with
alacrity. 3 AS he did so we heard a
bustling sound without, but when he
had reached the hall, he found no one
and had to call again and again before
the horrid old woman, who seemed to
be the sole owner and inhabitant OF
this establishment, appeared.
"'What does this gentleman owe
you? was the lawyers brusque in
terrogatory as her wicked face showed
itself inside the door.
"She stammered, seemed at a loss to
mention the sum, and finally said:
IA hundred dollars
"'No, no. came from the bed. But
the lawyer, with wave Of his hand,
Gained the man behind and intimidat-
ed the woman before him.
IA hundred dollars" he repeated,
for room without a carpet, bed
without sheets, a plate without food!
If you get ten,. you will do well. am
a lawyer, woman, and l have seen the
like Of you before. Where are this
gentleman's clothes? And Gle watch
that used to hang in that case, and the
books that used to lie on that shelf?'
"'Gone,' she cried; he pawned them,
"'And gave you the money! 1t Is
not ten dollars you want, but a month
in the penitentiary. You have been
paid for all he has had from you, over
and over, and now you owe him. Give
US the hundred dollars you ask. 1t
would not buy the books you have
stolen from him. r.r.
"Her face, which was as brown as
old parchment, took on a livid hue.
She skunk back and disappeared from
sight, and the lawyer, with a quiet
chuckle, flung a silver piece after her
and shut the door. -
"'Excuse me- said he, but cannot
see even O rich man robbed
Then, observing how pale the sick
man was becoming, he grew suddenly
alarmed, and whispered for me to 60
for the nearest. DOCTOR, as he really
feared that Mr.. Delaney would not
live long enough to make his will.
But when started to 60, the sick
man showed so much distress, that
paused astonished.
l-- To be continued.
The American Mule.