Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1906-01-13

49, follows: lie had Ia
cents and stamp In
- M N bis pocket, and the
Mes<# MSS OF six returned
novels on his table, he
owed his landlady ii weeks rent for
his bed-sitting-room, to say nothing OF
other charges for Incidental meal2,
etc, and at the so-talIed Chop
House at which he generally brAak-
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 1851 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 wild look in his
eye, holding in one hand letter from
a 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 a better and his nephew with a
check
He executed a 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.
Five thousand dollars. tery use
full indeed Now what shall do?
Tomorrow is Christmas day. Where
shall | dine---Cariton or the Princes?
Or-better stiu-shall take the mid
night train to Brighton and spend the
holiday there? Hang 1t, ! cant do
hiatt My dress suit is 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 a flyer
from her and spend tomorrow in,
town; and the day after I'll trot
around to the bank and open an ac.
a yell that shook the frozen window.
panes. Then he scampered downstairs
Mrs. Steinhauser, yau have always
been the best of landladies. and can.
not tell you how much have felt it.
| am afraid have been bit of a.
care: but everything is now all right
No more troubled No more honorable
intentions!' All that sort of thing Is
at an end. am a rich mana Dillon
ist--a piutocrat--a bloated Croesus."
And his eyes danced with delight.
Il am very gratiied to hear it, Mr..
Drayton," said the large lady, taking
neatdy-folded paper from a rack at
the side of the mantelpiece and hand
ing 1t to him with smile. 1t was his
bill-total amount $4225.
"A bagatelle!" said Jack, airily. "A
foolish trifle! 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 | may.
Mrs Steinhauser looked uneasy.
Il want you TO be good enough to
lend me s25, 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 tc
be humorous?'
Humorous? OF course not. | have
$4,000 in my pocket"
Indeed Perhaps you wouldn't
mind showing me a hundred or so?"
observed Mrs. Steinhauser, with pom.
derous sarcasm.
I'm 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
Il 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. ! am
sorry I cannot let you have the S25. "
And she turned to her ledger, and
Jack turned TO the door.
"J'H 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 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 tc
serve you with anything now. We're
shuttin' up" said Mr.. Jorkins. not
over amiably.
That's all right said Jack. Il
merely dropped in as / was passing
to say that | shall be settling that lit,
tlo XII ,f ,rp,1p- IN Friday ia 10 "A