River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1905-12-21

HRnLIzH8Xp Md. VI 61A AcIuA Lieu
novels on his table; he
owed his landlady IL weeks rent for
his bed-sitting-room, to say nothing Of
other charges for incidental meals,
etc.; and at 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 $50 p. N. on
that eventful night. At 9:51 p. m. 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 in his
eye, holding in one hand letter from
well-knoWn firm of solicitors and
in the other draft for $4,000. His
Uncle Alick had at last fulfilled an
oft-repeated threat, and left this world
for better and his nephew with a
check.
He executed few short steps Of a
danse eccentrique; futtering the
oblong piece of pink paper wildly over
his 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
seat on the corner of the bed, and pro-
ceeded to soliloquize.
Give thousand dollars. Very use
full indeed. Now what shall l do?
Tomorrow is Christmas day. Where
shall l dine-Carlton or the Princes?
Or--better still-shall l take the mid
night train to Brighton and spend the
holiday there? Hang it, l can't do
thatI My dress suit is a rag. 1 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 a flyer
from her and spend tomorrow in
town; and the day after I'll trot
around to the bank and open an ac-
count. Whirroo!" And he sent forth
a yell that shook the frozen window
panes. Then he scampered downstairs.
Mrs. Steinhauser, you have always
been the best of landladies, and I can
not tell you how much I have felt it.
l am afraid l have been a. bit of a
care; but everything is now all right.
No more trouble! No more honorable
intentions' All that sort of thing is
at an end. l am a rich mana billion
ist-a pIutocrat-a bloated Croesus!"
And his eyes danced with delight.
81 am very gratified to hear it, Mr..
Drayton," said the large lady, taking
a neatly folded paper from a rack at
the side of the mantelpiece and hand
ing it to him with a smile. 1t was his
bill-total amount $42.25.
"A bagatelle!" said Jack, airily. "A
foolish trife! You shall have it 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 small
favor, if l may"
Mrs. Steinhauser looked uneasy.
81 want you to be good enough to
lend me SIS, just to see me through
tomorrow and the next day."
"Sir!" exclaimed Mrs. Steinhauser,
her spacious bosom heaving beneath
its professional black satin and passe-
menterie. "Sir! Are you pleased to
be humorous?"
Humorous? OF course not, l have
$4,000 in my pocket"
Indeed! Perhaps you wouldn't
mind showing me a hundred or SOP"
observed Mrs. Steinhauser, with pom
derous sarcasm.
"I'll show you the lot" said Jack,
and he produced the check and held
it proudly forth.
Thank you," said Mrs. Steinhauser,
you'll excuse me, but I've seen those
things before" And her black eye
brows lowered ominously. When she
had recovered herself, she continued:
"I sincerely hope, Mr.. Drayton, that
you will settle that account of mine on
Friday; for my expenses at this time
Of the year are very heavy. l am
sorry l cannot let you have the $25."
And she turned to her ledger, and
Jack turned to the door.
'I'll trot around to the chop house,"
he said to himself. "Old Jorkins is a
rough diamond, but he'll do it." And
he 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. st
merely dropped in as was passing,
to say that shall be settling that lit
tie bill of yours on Friday. I'd do it
for you tomorrow, only the banks
will be closed
Mr.. Jorkins beamed. Thank you,
sir won't go for to say as 'ow it
won't be welcome. If you was to see
the bills ave to pay at this time OF
the year-well, you wouldn't want to
go for to keep bloomin' chop 'ouse!"
and Mr.. Jorkins held up both hands
in awe as he thought of the immensely
of his liabilities.
'M'yes," murmured Jack, who was
sorry the conversation had taken this
turn. 'M'yes. Well, I've got rather
q big check here. And the fact is l
just popped in to see if you could lend
me sis or $40 till Friday"