Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1906-01-06

L III >
I@.zE MSS. 1t six returned
no els o. his table; 0s
owed HIS landlady ii weeks rent FOR
hIs bed-sitting- % say nothing Of
other charges fer incidental meals,
ETC. aud al the so-eaiied chop
aouse at which he generally break
tasted. lunched, dlBed and supped, he
mad an account which had already
gone as far as It could Such, we re-
peat, was his position a $50 y. IN. on
thar eyentful night AT 9.51 p. IN. a
sharp rat-tat al the hall door far be-
low betokened the passins Of the laal
post: and two minutes later Jack
stood in the center Of his room with
his hair on end and a wild look in his
aye, holding 10 one hand a letter from
q well-known firm Of solicitors and
In the other draft for 5000 His
Uncle Alick had al last fGlhllad an
oft-repeated threat, and lefi bis world
for better and his neFaew with a
check
lie executed few short steps Of q
danse eccentrique; 6nterins the
oblong piece Of pink paper wildly over
his head; ana then when he had
mopped his brow ana Gained mis- SOUL,
he placed the check in his pocket
book, buttoned up his iaa5et took a
seat on the corner q ID sed, ana pro-
ceeded TO solilogaize.
Five thousand dollars Very use
ful indeed New wha. shall ! do?
Tomorrow Is Christmas day Where
shall | dine Carlton or the Princes?
Or better still shah / take the mid
night train to Brighton and spend the
holiday there? Hang IT, can't do
hat! My dress suit is rag | know
what I'll do III just toddle down
stairs and tell Mrs. Steinaauser my
luck. Bless her, won't she BE delight
ed, Then III just borrow a fyer
from her and spend tomorrow in
town; and the day after III trot
around to the bank and open an ae-
count. Whirrool' And he sent forth
yell that shook the frozen window
panes. Then he seampered downstairs.
Mrs. Steinhauser, you have always
been the best of landlades. 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 trouble No more honorable
intentions. All that sort OF thing is
at an end. | am a rich mana billion
ist--a plutocrat-a bloated Croesus,"
And his eyes danced with delight.
Il am very gratified TO hear if, Mr.
Drayton, said the large lady, taking
neatly-folded paper from rack at
the side of the mantelpiece and hand
ing it TO him with smile. 1t was his
bill-total amount $4225
"a bagatele" said Jack, airily "A
foolish trihe! 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. am going to ask you a small
favor if | may"
Mrs Stenhauser looked uneasy.
Il want you 10 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
It's professional black satin and passe-
menterie Sir! Are you pleased to
be humorous?"
Humorous? OF course not ! have
$1,000 in my pocket
indeed Perhaps you wouldn't
mind showing me a hundred or SOP
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 | cannot let you have the S25.
And she turned to her ledger, and
Jack turned TO the door.
I'm 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.
MIR. 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 l 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 90 for to saw as 'ow If