The star. (Reynoldsville, Pa.) 1892-1946, 1905-06-14

The clerks in our Office decided today
that the story of Shylock II. must be
given to the world. 1t was also agreed
that the literary part of the work must
be done by me, Jack Slade, because
last year | won silver watch in a
competition by guessing almost exact
ly the number of peas in bottle.
Well, to begin with, four years ago.
Harry Haywood was the best-liked
fellow in our Office. Four months ago
he was the best-hated man in the
place.
This loss of popularity was entirely
due to himself. From bright, cheer
ful kind of chap, up to no end OF
larks and always impecunious between
pay days, he became a quiet miserable
looking beggar and regular miser.
Young Baines-awfully clever young
ster, by-the-by-says that a miser is
the most unselfish of all men, because
he denies himself all his life for the
sake Of his heirs.
But, anyhow, you can understand
that Haywood gradually ceased to be
favorite with us. Some one christened
him Shylock H., and the name stuck
to him like leech.
We knew for fact that he lived in
lodgings and had not a relation in the
world, so that the venerable yarn about
supporting poor old mother and
bundle of sisters wouldn't answer in
this case. 1t was also known that he
had been engaged to be married, but no
one had seen him with the girl for a
long time-several years. The most
plausible explanation was that a
broken engagement had soured his
heart and turned him into misan-
thrope.
His clothes we're worn to the very
last stage Of shabbiness. 1t was five
years since he had had a new over
coat, and as for his gloves, they were
extinct altogether.
And yet, somehow, most of us liked
him, although we were ashamed to ad.
NIT It There was something so sad
about his face Not that l or anyone
else ever heard him complain; he'd
too much grit for that.
And as for his miserly habits, we
couldn't think they were adopted for
his own benefit, otherwise what be-
came of the money he saved, and why
did he spend so little on his clothes
and food?
OF course, I'm arguing these matters
now in his favor, but at that time the
opinion Of the fellows was entirely
hostile. think we were all inclined
to imagine the poor chap could have
justified himself, but he never tried
to do so, and perhaps that turned us
against him; and after while we had
drifted so far apart that no one in the
Office spoke to him except about busi-
ness. How he stood it | don't know.
expect he felt bad sometimes, but he
gave no sign, except that he seemed to
grow thinner and shabbier every day
But all this time he must have been
saving nearly hundred pounds year
out of his princely income of one hun
dred and fifty.
One evening l had to meet train
at Blucher street station. You know
what an old rabbit-warren of a place
1t is, so you will understand how |
only found the platform at the last
minute. The porter told me it was
No. z, and SO fixed myself there with
a cigar so as to impress the girl favor
ably when she looked for me as the
train came in.
| struck grand attitude and hung
on to it until the train stopped. The
guard skipped out Of his van, and Just
to make certain I asked him If he had
come from Clapham.
Not exactly" he answered; "this
- the south coast express"
"Oh," l said, and looked round for
the porter who had accepted my two
pence on false pretences.
The next moment / forgot all about
everything else in the shock of seeing
6hylock II. He was shaking hands
with fellow who had just come in by
the train. They walked down the
platform together as friendly as could
be, and when saw the other mans
face you could have knocked me down
with a feather. He had formerly been
employed by our firm as lift man, but
Was discharged for making bets with
the clerks in the Office. He used to
make book" on every race in the
year, except the human race. and that,
he said, was too uncertain to bet about.
I felt downright sorry at seeing
tnese two together. The instinct that
had told me Haywood was saving for
some straightforward purpose oozed
out of me at once on receiving such
a squeeze as this.
1t seemed such a pity to think that
q fellow of his age should be so IRE.
trievably entangled A slave to gam.
bling, mere low-class plunger But
It couldn't be so; thsre must be a
better explanation. was trying to
think out some excuse for him all the
way out Of the station. AS for the
girl, forgqb all about her, and that's
che truth. -