Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1907-06-08

here in half an hour"
$50 you are Mr.. Carney's servant.
eh?" queried.
He nodded respectfully and touched
his forelock again.
We'll" / continued. mfr. Carney
has gone and you won't be able TO
overtake him. so there is no use in
your trying Moreover. want 70 see
you myself In the Office for a few
minutes"
He followed me upstairs and sat
down gingerIy on the edge OF a chair.
twirling his cap between HIS hands
and twiddling his thumbs nervously.
watched him for q moment in silence
and then, an idea striking me. I'M
locked the small cupboard in my desk.
took out a bottle and glass and. plac-
ing them before him, said solicitously:
You are completely exhausted. Bobbs:
better take little OF this"
His face was perfectly frank and
honest as he said. politely, Thank
We kindly, sir, but I never touch It. III
be all right in a minute. sir"
l returned the bottle and glass to
their places. fully satisfied with the re-
suit Of my little experiment and con-
WINGED that the fellow had spoken the
truth and could be relied upon in
every way.
How long have you been in Mr..
Carney's employ?" I asked, as turned
the key in the lock.
Three years, come next autumn"
he replied promptly.
And did you never drink anything
in your life. Bobbs?" I continued. for
] was working out a definite line OF
questions.
We'll. sir" he rejoined. rather I'M
comfortably ! thought, Il can't say as
I've always been teetotal. sir. an 1
used to take a drop now and then and
again. sir. But since Mr.. Carney got
this way, sir. l gave It up entirely. It
wouldn't do for me 10 be drinkin' now,
you know. sir"
no. IL wouldn't" I said emphatical-
ly. You are quite right. Bobbs. and
you are a faithful fellow to give IL up
as you have"
Thank We. sir" said Bobbs.
How long has MIR. Carney been in
this condition." I asked
Bobbs looked at me in an unde-
cided fashion for a moment and then
blurtod out. why. I don't know. sir.
as I ought TO be tall<in' OF his affairs
so much, sir. II don't seem to me as
it's quite right. sir"
appreciated the fellows devotion
and loyalty TO his masters interests
and fastened 20 reassure him.
ITS ali right. Bobbs." I said you
may talk 10 me perfectly freely for I
understand everything You know.
Mr.. Carney himself was here for some
time this morning"
BObbs looked relieved and proceed
ed without further dlnidenee.
why. should say. sir. it's goln' on
about two years now. We know. he
had some trouble or other on his mind
when he went away. sir. an II seemed
10 prey on him more an more all the
time. After while he began gettin'
In with those people. which / suppose
was n relief 20 him and kept his
thoughts on the other thing. AZ hrst
IL was only occasionally when he got
20 fcelin' specially downhearted. but
IL wasn't long before he was with EN-
all the time. sir. I begged and begged
him 70 keep away from EN-. for you
know as well rs / do. sir. that only
one thing could come Of Il. but he
wouldn't listen 90 me and things kept
goin' from bad TO worse.
AT the beginning he kept up his In
terest in the business pretty well. but
finally he lost all track Of that. and
vracvff l.
couldn't attend 20 IL whether he want
ed 70 or not. That was the time I quit
drinkin'. sir. for 1 saw that he needed
every minute OF my time. day and
night. or at least that he might need It.
His neglectin' the business as he
did wasn't any harm. you know. sir.
for it's so well managed that Il could
almost run itself but l did wish that
he had worked OF his bad feelin's in
the Office. stead OF the way he did.
My heart aches for him all the time.
sir" continued the faithful fellow.
brushing away a tear with his
knuckle. but he got so obstinate that
nobody could do thing with him an
anyway, I could have managed him
myself II anyone living could"
You think there is no chance for
him now, Bobbs?" / inquired anx-
iously
mot one in a million. sir" answered
Bobbs. sadly. '.He's too far gone now.
sir. He was takin' the cure for time
an We began to have some hopes OF
him, but 1t wasn't any use, an the
first thing we knew he was as bad as
/ ever"
Il wonder he came back at all"
remarked. Il shouldn't have thought
he would have felt inclined to-"
II didn't think he'd come. myself. "
said Bobbs, but he insisted upon IL.
and. as told you a minute ago. there's
no changing him now when he once
gets an idea IN his head. so we packed
up and came. He said he had some
matters TO attend to with you that he
must see about at once. sir"
YES" ! replied. he arranged GER
tain affairs with me this morning"
We'll" said Bobbs, I'm glad that's
1