The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1907-02-08

HAhoAD AN
there came i knock on his door. 1t
wasn't the knock of a woman suffering
with the tOOthache and who wanted to
inquire for the dentist upstairs, nor yet
the knock OF a creditor who was COM
ing in to say that if his bill was not
paid that day he would begin a lawsuit.
It was a knock that bothered the major
for a minute, and before he could make
up his mind exactly what to do the
door opened and the kuockeress walked
in and bowed coldly and sat down. The
major recognized her at u glance as his
old landlady-One Of his Old landladies,
one of the ones to whom he was in
debted in the sum of about $50. His
mind was instantly made up. He gave
her no chance to refer to his perfdy in
walking off as q debtor, but said:
81 see, my dear Mrs. Russell, that
you got my little note of yesterday and
are here on time. l am glad to see such
prOmptnesS on your part. 1t shows me
that | have made no mistake in APP
pointing you secretary Of the Great
American Economic company, capital
$3,O0O,OOO."
Wants Money Due Her.
Il got no note from you yesterday"
she replied. II haven't heard from you
since the day you walked out of my
house, and that's two years ago. l saw
you on the street half an hOur ago and
followed you. You W me over $50,
and 1 want it,"
mo note from me. Dear, dear me!
The messenger must AVE gone to the
wrong house. | wrote to ask you to
call at this hour, and all night long |
was thinking of what a pleasant sur
prise l had in store for you. 1t surely
must be the hand of Providence that
guided you here"
You may as we'll leave out the blair
hey and fork over my money. | have
got y lawyer who will put you in jail if
you don't pay"
MY dear. dear WOnau,'' said the
major IS he fixed himself anew in his
chair. There was Il time when | was III
financial straits. Such periods are some
times referred to as Il person being
stone broke OF on his Uppers. had the
ambition, but not the opportunity.
While waiting for the opportunity |
wandered mo your we'll kept carayan
S0rT. You east your bread on the wa
terS-that is. Won took me in without
money aud without price. trusting to
my honor to pay you in the future"
II never did anything Of the kind,
SIR exclaimed Mrs. Russell. Il told
you the front room upstairs and board
would be IS per week, and you said it
was cheap enough. | couldn't get a
cent out of you, and after four weeks
you skipped out. You are a blk and =
deadbeat, sir, but III have my money
or know the reason why"
You had confidence in me. my dear
woman. when others had not. and
determined that when the time came I
would repay you a hundredfold. That
time has arrived. | could draw you 4
check for $4,000. but I propose 10 Do
ever better than that. AS l said. I
have just organized the Great Ameri
can Economic company. ] want Il sec
rotary at $4,000 per year, and the
place is yours. AS you leave this Of
nee for home | will accompany YOU as
rar as the Twenty-eighth National
bank and there open an account for
you TO the amount of half your first
years salary. Tomorrow we will see
about yo~- 'n?ses and diamonds. !
snaIl wa to drive to and from
the Office. he larger diamonds you
get the better / shall be pleased. Do
you write a sloping or back hand?'
Won't Stand For 5larney.
That's nothing to do with the case"
she retorted. You owe me q bill, and |
I want it. and all your blarney will go |