The Bamberg herald. [volume] (Bamberg, S.C.) 1891-1972, 1903-05-14


the man I'm doing this for puts up.
and this VIII 60 IN: hcs:Ics,' he added.
consciously, Ill Lot take YOU 10 any
swell place.
We lunched at a 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
necdful-pitiful to me, knowing what
the mans home life was.
do YOU think 1 don't know wcll
enough what people say Of me? Yes,
they call NE Dlood-sucker. and-no,
don't shake your hcaG-that's not the
worst some will tell YOU I'm an out
&nd-out scoundrel who ought to be in
State prison. But, Mr.. -" he laid
his hand impulsiveiy upon my arm,
II give YOU ny word before my God
that never in my life have 7 done 4
dishonest act. Yes, I've been arres: ell
more times than that once you know
off,: but it was always IS scapegoat
for some other mans rascality. Hit
him; he's got on friendsv that's the
cry around Wall and Broad streets.
What a dreadful business lnine IS!
I know it; but 1 can't get out Of it;
I can't try some other more decent.
God knows would if saw my way,
but I don't. When mans past sixty
no one wants him. Besides. I know
this business Of shaving third and
fourth class paper clear down to the
ground; I know that and nothing else.
Now, this piece Of business; how much
do YOU suppose III net out OF it::''>
1.-TWO hundred" 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 carfare, this
lunch and odds ard ends; but before
got the job had to agree to take an
even ten. Oh! I'm not worrying; it's
the best days work I've Gone in SIX
months"
From time to time during the follow
ing summer I saw Howelis. always in
haste, always anxious, but his greeting
was always genial smile and 4
hearty Good day He never pre-
sumed upon my good offices. 1t was
late one afternoon the following No
vember that a messenger brought me
brief note from him. He was laid
up, he wrote, with bad cold, and
there was little matter of business
he wanted looked after. The papers
inclosed We're ell in good shape. 1t
was after business hours; but in his
calling they stay down town late.
I did what he asked willingly, col
lacted the amount, and sent it by the
messenger. A week passed, and the
same thing happened again. This time
he wrote at considerable length. He
was very Ill; too i'll to be out such a
harsh day. He had no one he could
trust (the word "trust" underscored.
Would I mind obliging him just once
more? It was beseeching-almost
cringing-letter. He might have known
me better. I did the errand, collected
sc, added $40, and inclosed q line say
ing that I was glad to be of service.
and that the ten was "at his entire
convenience" The next day a postal
came, undated, and the handwriting
trcmulous, hardly legible. 1t said
simply: 80. *. Many thanks. You'll
get it later"
About a week after that, while I
wcs sitting at my desk in the office,
the door opened hastily and Howells
staggered in. Ny first thought was
that he had been drinking, for his
manner was wild, his eyes sunken
and bloolshot, and his usual p:nched
and haggard expression intensified
tenfold.
Excuse me for one moment, Mr..
-" he said, painting like a windel
dog. "l'll get my breath shortly"
When he had recovered himself he
began at once, talking very fast-there
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 it. My family would get
over nine thousand If should die to-
morrow if that premium is paid. If 1
should die tomorrow" he repeated,
choking. "I've got fifteen Of it. Can't
you help me out with the balance?
For Gods sake try and help me
out"
1 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 un-
speakable. He did, however, manage
to stammer out in the intervals Of fit
Of painful coughing what he called bis
deep gratitude"
You'll get this back, good FRIEND
he said huskily at the door. Never
fear. If I pull through-all right; If
not-well," and he laughed hoarsely,
"all right, any way. The fact is.
slipped out. No one knew I'd left the
tlat-or. for that matter, my bed. The
doctor said if I came out this raw day
it would be the last Of Jake Howells
But if you knew, Mr.. -, how I've
worked and scrimped and gone with
out to save that policy for Polly and
the girls, you'd say was right-dead
right. They call me hoary old repro.
bate, but I say that was right-dead
right"
About dawn the next morning How
ellis died. The grief of the three
women who loved him was agonizing
If he had been the Isst respectable
citizen it could lards! Ave been more
so. In due time the paidy was paid
Mrs. Howells sent sor ME, and gave
me the thirty dollars.
"NIr. Howells told me to be sure