The Opelousas courier., 1905-12-16

| OEuCl SudI $50
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 $3.50 p. m. 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 a letter from
a well-known firm of solicitors and
in the other a draft for SIS 5000. His
Uncle Alick had at last fulfilled an
oft-repeated threat, and left this world
for a better and his nephew with a
check.
He executed a lew short steps OF a
danse eccentrique; fiuttering the
oblong piece of pink paper wildly over
his head; and then, when he had
mopped his brow and Gained his soul,
be placed the check in his pocket
book, buttoned up his jacket, took a
seat on the corner of the bed, and pro-
ceeded to s%oliloquize.
Five thousand dollars. Very Ne-
Jul indeed. Now what shall l do?
Tomorrow is Christmas day. Where
shall l dine-Carlton or the Princes?
Or-better still-shall I take the mid
night train to Brighton and spend the
holiday there? Hang it, l can't do
that! My dress suit is a rag. l know
what I'll do. I'll just toddle down.
stairs and tell Mrs. S%teinhauser 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 tro:
around to the bank and open an &C
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 l can
not tell you how much l. have felt it.
l am afraid | have been a bit of a
care; but everything is O all right.
No more trouble! No more honorable
Intentions All that sort of thing is
at an end. l am a rich n billion
ist-a p~lutocrat-a bloated Croesus!"
And his eyes danced with delight.
Il am very gratifed to hear it, Mr.
D%rayton," said the large lady, taking
a neatly-felded 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
trife! You shall have it on
morning. The banks are
tomorrow and Thursday, but
Friday, dear Mrs. Steinhauser, you
shall have the amount in solid gold
and silver of the brightest. Mean
/ am going to ask you a small
favor, if I may"
Mrs. Steinhauser looked uneasy.
Il want you to be good enough to
lend me s25, just to see me through
and the next day."
"Sir!!" exclaimed Mrs. Steinhauser.
her spacious bosom heaving beneath
it's professional black satin and passe-
menterie. "Sir! Are you pleased to
be humorous?"
Humorous? Of course not. I have
81, 1000 in M pocket"
Indeed! Perhaps you wouldn't
mind showing me a hundred or SOP
observed Mrs. ,Steinhauser, with pom
ferrous sarcasm.
&s1511 chouy Won tho Lot !, ca;J Tn1J~
and he produced the check and held
t proudly forth.
Thank you," said Mrs. Steinhauser,
you'll excuse me, but I've seer those
Kings before" And her black eye
rows lowered ominously. When she
recovered herself, she continued:
I sincerely hope, Mr.. Drayton, that
,ou will settle that account of mine on
for my expenses at this time
# the year are very heavy. / am
orry l cannot let you have the $25."
And she turned to her ledger, and
lack turned to the door.
'In trot around to the chop house."
said to himself. "Old Jorkins is a
ough diamond, but he'll do it," And
lie hurried on a rather dingy hat,
lelped himself into a frayed ~overcoat
nd sailed forth. - +;
Mr.. Jorkins was turning out the
lights for the night. The premises t
melt unpleasingly. of vinegar and
tale coffee. $
Good evening, sir. It's too late to +,
erve you with anything now. We're
up" said Mr.. Jorkins, not
yer amiably.
That's all right" said Jack. ST
aerely dropped in as I was passing
. say that | shall be settling that lit
lie bill of yours on Friday. I'd do it
you tomorrow, only the banks
ill be closed"
Mr.. Jorkins beamed. Thank vo,,
ir. / won't go for to say as 'ow If
ont be welcome. If you was to see
bills I ave to pay at this time Of
year-Well, you wouldn't want to
Q for to keep a bloonin' chop 'ouse," !,
nd Mr.. Jorkins held up both hands !,
! awe as he thought of the immensity !,
{ his liabilities.
"M'yes,' murmured Jack, who was :
'rry the conversation had taken this :
i'm. "M'yes. Well, I've got rather !
hSOE h~~T