The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1904-03-30

so< sang the sleigh bells in
fhe street.
AS Stephen Bane trod heavily along
The snowy pavement. his very foot
fall seemed to shout-"Good-hard-
cash; Good-h2rd-cashw
He gazed into the cold, night sky
hnd saw what seemed to him great
shining, silver dollar. sailing serenely
In the heavens.
AS he paused a moment before a
bakers shop, he saw the bakers boy
In cap and apron placing plate of
something that looked to him like i'm
mense copper pennies, brown and
tempting, in the window.
Turn whichever way he would.
Stephen could see nothing but money,
hear nothing bat money, think or talk
of nothing but money. His was q
money cursed life. And yet it was
not the possession of money that had
ruined him, for he was poor man.
Money had cursed him because he
loved it, longed for it. dreamed of it
by day and night. envied those who
possessed it in abundance and de-
Epised those who did not.
Money, money, money!" shouted a
stranger standing on the street cor
her. Money to sell, money to give
away, money to throw away for the
man who wants it. Money, money,
money!
Stephen stopped and gazed at the
man in sheer amazement and then
Bounded forward. his heart beating
WILDLY. In his fearful haste he knocked
1Own women and children, nor paused
10 see what hurt be had done. He
was not the only one in the hurrying
crowd who fastened to the side Of
the strange magician who shouted the
Btrange cry. But no sooner had Ste
phen reached him than the magician
smiled as though he recognized him,
and gazed into his eyes as if to read
bis inmost soul.
Stephen bore this scrutiny with the
sreatest impatience. Presently. a
sleigh dashed by and the bells rang
put "a perfect avalanche of silver!
At this Stephen could restrain him
self no longer and timidly reminded
the magician Of his lavish offers.
"Ohor' laughed he. "you want
money. do you: How much do you
want?' Stephen hesitated. Visions
bf great wealth danced before his
= eyes. A sudden ambition for un'
limited possessions mounted large In
bis brain.
|'I want all I can get" he finally
gasped out. II want hundreds of thou
bands-millions"
"How earnestly do you desire it,?
= Asked the magician.
i'More than anything else in the
worId," replied Stephen, eagerly, his
Roice trembling with excitement.
The magician smiled and his voice
WAS sweet as music when he spoke
kgain:
."You can have your wish. You will
ind money everywhers. 1t will lie
IN your path as you walk along. yours
For the taking. You can begin gather
ng it tonight and before you reacf
home you may have every pocke
oflled-all this on one condition"
"What is the condition." demanded
Stephen impatiently.
81 will only ask you for little o
your time. You must give me on
: gear-a mere nothing to one so younl
and strong"
"a year Of my life?" cried Stephen
shuddering.
,~You may call it that if you like,
replied the magician. but others hav
willingly given much more and hav
Eeceived less than I have promises
you." As he spoke he produced al
hecount book which he opened, show
Ing Stephen page after page. o.
each was the form of an asreemen
duly signed and sealed. Some OF tn
names were familiar to him.
''Here's Judge Bribes,' said the me-
kiciap. 'He has signed fTe year
away and receives afty thousand"