Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1908-11-05
HIS CONFIDENCE
CAME LATE.
[Original.J

had won the night before of young
Lester Sheldon and that he would use
1t to run across the 'tbig pond" and
see Paris in June As he was rinsing
his fingers in q cut glass bowl. prepar-
atory to leaving the table, a waiter
stepped up to him and announced that
lady wished to see him in the recep-
ton room"
"a lady! To see me! In the recep-
ton room! Great Scott! Isn't man
safe even in his club?"
ct isn't usual, sir, but it's an hour
when few members are present, and
she begged so hard that the steward
told the doorkeeper to admit her"
The admiral had just enough curios-
fty to go to the reception room and
learn the reason for the call. He found
very pretty young woman in widows
cap, whose eyes were dimmed with
tears.
ooh, admiral" she gasped, tell me,
have you parted with the notes?"
''What nOtes?"
night"
Your brotherr
Eyes; Lester - my brother - Lester
Sheldon"
whats that to you, madam"
ooh, admiral, I've heard of your
honorable nature and kind heart"
"Bosh. Speak out"
MY brother is in great distress. 1
have just prevented him taking his
10, Chi = l.; ,o1o
ness. Lately he has been gambling.
The notes you won he took from his
cash at the office. After leaving you
| he had one note left and this morning
noticed that it was Marked
For heavens sake, this is a pretty
mess for me to be mixed up I'M"
ooh, it's all right if you still have
the notes."
81 have them"
"How fortunatew And a relieved
smile came over the sad face like a
food of sunlight from behind a cloud.
81 will take them and give you my
check for them"
But, my dear lady, 1 didn't win the
| money from you. I can't take your
! check. But l will give you the notes."
"Now, don't spoil everything. 1 can
only handle Lester by assuring him
that the notes have been taken up
with my check and only you and L
and he know Of the transaction. It's
nothing to me, [ assure you. l have an
| income of $4,000 a year. I've helped
Lester out Of many scrape, | only
| hope I'll live to keep something dread
full from happening to him."
Meanwhile she had gone to a table
| covered with writing materials, filed
blank check she took from her card
case and at the last words handed it
to the admiral.
but, my dear madam, consider my
| position l, an admiral in the United
States navy, to take money from a
woman, Suppose it should get out!'
My dear admiral, how is it to get
out? Will Lester tell? Will I tell?
| Only you remain"
and you think it best for me to-
"Of course. Now, do let me have
| the bills Lester is suspected and may
have to turn over his accounts as soon
I as he appears at the office. He is wait
| ing for me. Do let me go!'
This was too much for the admiral.
! He took the notes from his pocketbook
| and handed them to the lady. She
| dropped the check into the same re-
ceptacIe, rubbing her soft hand against
| his as she did so and looking up with
an eXuberance Of gratitude out of her
| soft eyes. Then she ran away hur-
! riedIy.
"WeI, now" remarked the admiral
| to himself, eff I could find a woman
| like that l wouldn't be a woman hater
| To think what she's doing for that
/ Bcapegrace brother! Most women alb
| sorb money instead of spending it in
| that way"
He was in no hurry to deposit the
| check Indeed he was thinking of a
! bit Of self sacrifice he might make
that possibly would effect Il romance
/ in his OLD age-a romance that would
/ free him from depending on a club for
| q home. He fancied himself tearing
! up the check or burning it, as the lead
ing gentleman in a play would do, and
! certain lady falling into his own
! arms
The same evening he was sitting in
his club looking over a paper when
who should saunter in but Lester
/ Sheldon.
Hello, admiral" he said cheeri1y.
I'm going for you tonight. I'll take
all you won from me last night and
more too"
The admiral looked at him, aston
/ ished.
"Whats the matter?" asked Sheldon,
not understanding the surprise. Don't
/ you want to give me my revengeY
"What's the matter? Didn't your
sister this morning take up the notes
I won from you with her check"
My sister,
Yes, your sister"
4 haven't any sister"
The admiral glared for a moment,
/ then made dive for his pocketbook,
took out the check, unfolded it and
handed it to Sheldon.
Admiral" said the latter, you've
been bunkOed."
"Bunkoed! I bunkoed by a woman!
I never trusted a woman in my life
that is, before
You mean you never trusted a good
one. Your only case of confidence was
in bad one"