The Durham recorder. [volume] (Durham, N.C.) 1879-19??, 1907-05-28

4bHt ftftuttu HtHtbtH, Httttt1 HtJh up
the blade irih all his might
"And send me the ticket and never
poster me again! 1t won't be the first
time it's been in. I've had Gao for 1t
before today and never less than thirty.
You may get what you can. All l
want is the pawn ticket and your un-
dertaking to leave me alone from this
day on
leave you alone! I shall get
berth of some sort aboard an India
man that sails on Monday. Do you
mean it. Blaydes? Do you mean what
you say?"
MEAN it? OF course ! mean 1t! Put
the watch in your pocket and give me
a pencil"
"And the chain"
"And the chain"
1t was made of long gold links and
short silver ones. with a huge bunch
of seals at one end. Tom pocketed the
lot without conjunction and then pro-
duced his stump of lead pencil.
Here you are"
Got any paper"
''Not a scrap"
"Well. well. then we must make this
do" And Blaydes produced small
sheaf of blue paper tied with pink
tape. leaned upon the stiIe and. with
out untylng the tape. wrote for a little
on the outside sheet. moistening the
pencil with his tongue.
Sign that" said he and handed the
packet to Tom. who held it to the light
and read as follows:
Received from J. Montgomery Blaydes.
| late captain Coldstream guards. his watch
and chain. etc. In settlement Of all
claims. and In consideration OF which
undertake 10 return pawn ticket for same
| to said J. NJ. Blaydes, Ivy cottage. West
! End. within three days from this date.
/ Signed -. April q. 1881.
Tom read this terse deed twice
through. looked again at the watch
and chain. weighed them In his hand.
took n third look at the paper and sign.
/ cd bis name In the blank space with
out q word.
Good said Biaydes. pocketlng the
roll Now | think you'll have no OBJ
lection to giving me back that worth.
less check. Come. perhaps it wasn't
such a pure accident. after all. but I
was cursedly hard up at tie time.
And honestly regret i'll do. indeed!''
Still without a word. Tom handed
him the check. whereupon Blaydes
twisted II up. struck a lucfcr aud ig.
nited the paper ut one end and ms II
burned he picked OF and powdered the
charred bits between finger and
thumb. while the yellow flame made
bis smooth face yellower than ever
They parted. Tom going his way alone
Tom pushed on ~ith q light step and
swimming brain. The sulInu changa
in bis poor little fortunes seemed too
good 20 be true. Thirty five p0unds Is
not a mint 81 money. but to ErIchseu
II was something like one: IL least II
was his all. for he had no right b
another penny In the world The SUM
represented his full capital ~ well a
his last chance in life. And he had
safe In his pocket in the shape @
Blaydes' watch and chain.
The moon was hidden now. Tor
had difficulty In seeing and foIlOwIn
the beaten path and was unduly stat
tied By a fellow waif. who suddenI
stood before him In the darkness.
Got the time about yer, guv'norl
said a high, hoarse voice.
"No, ii don't possess watch,
1tammefed Tom, taken as much abac
sy the question as by the questioned
And he grasped the repeater In on
pocket and doubled the other Est.
lila, / see you don't" rpjoined III
! other as the moon sh0ne forth at thl
moment. No arm done, 'tpe. VI
can't oil De real swells. can weT'
Aud Tom was left shudd"rlng fFoi
single moonlight glimpse Of a no
riDie face horribly disGgurcd. Dissas
. had rnzed the nose ~ the level Of I'll
stubiy. shrunken cheeks: the yer
, eyes were more prominent. hut vol
: lsb. unsteady. mud little letter to see.
His plans for the night were ag ,,
unmade. Tom looked alnut him nm
esplpd a promising thieket not thIrt
pares from the path. And here, helm
tired out, he did actually Ilc dow
after first sneeIlng. as be- had n,
knclt for months. and thanking Il
- Maker ~ al good things for hayin
10 made tho world 70 kind and his love
- trt" and so fUFEIving.
! but he never quite fell asleep. II
i was near Il when u sound uf sllpshd
4. feet. running dUwBhiIl through ii
r, grass, passed close by i.p thtckat 90
c left hIm wide awake and wUnJcriuI
1t waa hnpcitss after that. Aud
JclrE r'rurk upon his ears with II
fro Do CosTfNuED.I