The San Francisco call., 1905-08-20

than you are. reckon ne must nave
taken 1t up earlier in life. Whatever
a man undertakes he ought to perfect
himself in at the earliest possible mo-
ment. A man ought not to change his
profession after he gets as old as you
are. In honesty there are mighty few
chances to get rich quick, but there's
a devilish sight of satisfaction in
KNOWN that what you got really be-
longs to you Suppose you had
million dollars, Bril-, what would you
do with 1T? You'd go away to some
town and be laughed at. I guess. You'd
go in and order a meal and kill your
self. II you escaped dyin right then
all Of the diseases that have a con-
tempt for the average poor man would
crowd around and associate with you
1t would seem that everybody was try
in to rob you, and when you had dis
covered that all the brightness that
you supposed in the world wasn't
nothin' but the ordinary yaller that
covers a dog you'd hobble home to die
in disgust where you might have died
with the name of the Lord on your
lips
:.Wish 1 was dead this minute" Bril-
groaned.
"Well, 1 won't say 1t wouldn't be bet
ter for you for / am inclined to think It
would. Does your wife know about it?''
mo, and don't know how to tell her"
reckon QOI. II 0dTQ lOI man
TO acknowledge even to his wife that he's
not only dishonest but a blamed fool
Don't tell her till you have to-"
What, would you have me deceive
her?'
''Oh, you old hyppercrit. Bril- Let me
see. Three thousand dollars-just about
all your farms worth. Nobody but you
/ and your wife-had plenty to live on:
| but you wanted to be rich. Why, because
you are.tired of work? Idleness Is hun
dred per cent more tiresome than work.
I'd just like to get on the inside Of your
mind for a mint and look around. About
| two months ago i met old Dabney Branch
| We rode along horseback together. He
was complainin' because the rate of inter-
/ est was lower than 1t had been. / told
| him IT wasn't a bad sign for the neigh
borhood; that 1t wouldn't argue the cryin'
need OF money. / asked him about how
/ much money he could lend and he said
| he could spare twenty-five thousand
| on good security. / asked him how old
he was and he answered that he was
eighty-two. That old and with
SIS 900 he didn't need. / said to him, I
1 says. Mr.. Branch, I'll bet you ten dollars
| you won't live two months. What the
deuce do you mean?" he cried out. oh,
| don't want to offend you-just want the
| ten dollars. Take the bet? 'Jucklin' he
said, L am ashamed of you thus making
! game or providence. Oh, said /, you are
the one that is maxim game Of Providence.
Providence has tried to teach you a les
son and you have deafened your ears.
But Mr.. Branch. there's one thing I'd like
to know How can you be interested
in gettiu' more money when you have
more than you need? Good bye; I don't
expect ever to see you again And as
you know. Briz, he died last week. Good
thing. Oh. tell you old nature is a
great democrat
II wish l had another chance to be
honest" said Briz- IF could only keen
my home I'd thank the Lord the rest of
my days
Yes, guess so. What have they done
toward catchin' the thief?"
"Well. two deputy sheriffs have started
out from Purdy and-here comes one OF
them now"
An officer OF the law dismounted at the
fence. Briz FASTENED to meet him. 1--WE
caught the fellow and he had your money
on him" said the officer. Briz took hold
OF a tree TO keep from falling Linn .
he said, give me your hand
Well the old man drawled. don't let
US be in too big hurry about 1t. L want
to see you make your first real stagger
| toward servin' the Lord"
Copyrighted. 1905, by Opie Ready