Clinch Valley news. [volume] (Jeffersonville, Va.) 18??-2019, 1905-12-15

I 49,
other charges for incidental meals
etc; and al the so-called Chop
House" at which he generally break.
tasted, lunched. dined and supped he
had an account which had already
gone as far as it could. Such. we re-
peat, was his position at $3.50 D. m. ON
that eventful night. At 1851 p. IN. a
sharp rat-tat at the hall door far be-
low betokened the passing of the last
/ post; and two minutes later Jack
stood in the center of his room with
his hair on end and a wild look i'm his
eye. holding i'm one hand letter from
1 well-known firm of solicitors and
IN the other a draft for 5000. His
uncle Alick had at last fulfilled an
oft-repeated threat. and left this world
or better and his nephew with a
| check
He executed few short steps OF a
danse eccentrique; luttering the
oblong piece of pink paper wildly over
ais head; and then, when he had
mopped his brow and Gained his soul.
he placed the check in his pocket
book. buttoned up his jacket. took a
ceeded to soliloquize.
Five thousand dollars. Very use
full indeed. Now what shall do?
Tomorrow is Christmas day. Where
shall dine-Carlton or the Princes?
Or-better still-shall take the mid
night train TO Brighton and spend the
holiday there? Hang It. can't do
that My dress suit is a rag. / know
what I'll do. I'll just toddle down
stairs and tell Mrs. Steinhauser my
luck. Bless her, won't she be delight
ed. Then I'll just borrow flyer
from her and spend tomorrow in
town; and the day after I'll trot
around 20 the bank and open an ac-
count. Whirroo!" And he sent forth
yell that shook the frozen window
Danes. Then he scampered downstairs
Mrs. Steinhauser. you have always
been the best OF landladies. and can
1ot tell you how much l have felt Il
| am afraid | have been a bit OF
are; but everything is now all RICH
No more troubled No more 'honorabl,
intentiOnsl' All that sort of thing l.
at an end. am rich mana billion
ist-a plutocrat-a bloated Croesus!'
And his eyes danced with delight.
Il am very gratified to hear It. Mr.
Drayton." said the large lady. taking
neatly-folded paper from a rack at
the side of the mantelpiece and hand
ins IL TO him with "A smile. Ii was his
bill-total amount $42.25.
"A bagatelle!" said Jack, airily. "a
foolish trinel You shall have II on
Friday morning. The banks are
closed tomorrow and Thursday. but
on Friday, dear Mrs. Steinhauser. you
shall have the amount in solid gold
and silver of the brightest. Mean
while. l am going TO ask you n small
avor. IL / may"
Mrs. Steinhauser looked uneasy.
II want you to he good enough to
end me $25. just 10 see me through
-o-morrow and the next day"
Sir" exclaimed Mrs. Steinhauser.
Ter spacious bosom heaving beneath
IS professional black satin and passe-
lenterie. Sir! Are you pleased to
Ie humorous?"
Humorous? or course not. / have
$1,000 in my pocket"
Indeed Perhaps you wouldn't
mind showing me a hundred or SOP"
observed Mrs. Steinhauser, with pom
1erous sarcasm.
III show you the lot" said Jack,
and he produced the check and held
il proudly forth.
Thank YOU" said Mrs. Steinhauser.
you'll excuse me, but I've seen those
hings before" And her black eve
rows lowered ominously When she
lad recovered herself. she continued:
1 sincerely hope. Mr.. Drayton, that
on will settle that account OF mine on
'riday; for my expenses at this time
+ the year are very heavy. | am
orTy / cannot let you have the $25."
And she turned TO her ledger, and
Jack turned to the door.
''Pn trot around to the chop house. q"
re said to himself "Old Jorkins is a
ough diamond, but he'll do It," And
ne hurried on a rather dingy hat.
helped himself into a frayed overcoat
and sailed forth.
Mr. Jorkins was turning out the
lights for the night. The premises
smelt unpleasingly Of vinegar and
stale coffee.
Good evening, sir. It's too late TO
serve you with anything now. We're
shuttin' up" said Mr. Jorkins, not
over amiably.
That's all right" said Jack. 81
merely dropped in as / was passing.
to say that shall be settling that lit
tie bill of yours on Friday. I'd do IL
for you tomorrow, only the banks
will be closed"
Mr.. Jorkins beamed Thank you.
sir. l won't go for to say as 'ow IL
won't be welcome. If you was TO see
he bills | ave TO pay at this time of
he year-well you wouldn't want TO
o for TO keep a bIoomin' chop 'ousei"
md VMr. Jorkins held up both hands
I awe as he thought of the immensjtv
If his liabilities.
'Myes," murmured Jack, who was
orry the conversation had taken this
turn. 'M'yes. Well, I've got rather
big check here. And the fact il
just popped in to see If you could lend
me Sis or 800 till Friday"