West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1908-11-26
Assl55S&::sGbss
BY o. HENRY.


LEY sauntered across Union
; square with n plying look at
the hundreds that lolled upon
the park benches. They were a motley
lot. he thought; the men with stolid.
animal. unshayen faces; the women
wriggling aud self conscious, twining
and untwining their feet that hung
four inches above the graveled walks.
Were i Mr. Carnegie or Mr.. Rocke-
Teller ! would put few millions in my
inside pocket and make al appoint.
ment with all the park commissioners
taround the corner. II necessary and
arrange for benches In all the parks OF
the world low enough for women to
sit upon and rest their feet upon the
ground. After that I might furnish
Libraries to towns that would pay for
'em or build sanitariums for crank
professors and call 'em colleges II I
wanted to-
women's rights societies have been
iaboring for many years after equality
with man. with what result? When
they sit on a bench they must twist
their ankles together and uncomforta-
bly, swing their highest French heels
clear Of earthly support. Begin Mt the
bottom. ladies'. Get your feet on the
ground and then rise to theories OF
mental equality.
Hastings Beauchamp Morley was
carefully and neatly dressed. That was
the result OF an instinct due to his
birth and breeding. Ii Is denied us to
look further into a mans bosom than
the starch on his shirt front. so II is
left to us only to recount his walks and
conversation.
Morley had not cent In his pockets.
bat be smiled pityingly Mt a hundred
grimy. unfortunate ones who had no
more and who would have no more
when the suns frst rays yeilowed the
tall paper cutter building on the west
side Of the square. But Morley would
have enough by then. Sundown had
seen his pockets empty before. but sun.
rise had always seen them lined.
First he went to the house OF n
clergyman or Madison avenue and pre-
sented a forged letter OF introduction
that holly purported to issue from a
pastorate In Indiana. This netted him
80 when backed up by a realistic ro-
nance Of delayed remittance.
On the sidewalk twenty steps from
the clergyman's door a pale faced fat
man huskilY enveloped him with q
raised red fist and the voice Of a bell
buoy. demanding payment of an old
score.
why. Bergman. man." sang Morley
dulcetly. ''is this you? was Just
on my way up to your place to settle
up. That remittance from my aunt
arrived only this morning. Wrong ad-
dress was the trouble. Come up to
the corner and III square up. Glad to
see you. Saves me a walk"
-Four drinks placated the emotional
Bergman. There was an air about
Morley when he was backed by money
In hand that would have stayed of a
call loan at Rothschilds'. When he
was penniless his biuff was pitched
half tone lower. but few are compe-
tent to detect the difference in the
notes.
you gum to mine blace und bay
me tomorrow. Mr.. Morley" said Berg
man. "Oxcuse me dat I dun you on
der -street. But haf not seen you I'm
dree mont. Pros'tl''
Morley walked away with a crooked
smile on his pale. smooth face The
credulous. drink so:teneI German
amused him. He would haze To avoid
Twenty.ninth stree; In IN uture. He
had not been aware that u" man ever
went home by that route
At the door Of darkeLed house two
squares to the north Morley knocked
with peculiar sequence %: rSpy. The
door opened TO the length OF six
inch chain. and the pompous. impor-
thnt black face OF an African guardian
imposed itself In the opening Morley
was admitted.
In third story room I'm an atmos-
phere opaque with smoke he hung for
ten minutes above n roulette wheel
Then downstairs he crept. and was ou' .
sped by the important negro. Jingiing
IN his pocket the 30 cents In silver that
remained to him OF his Eve dollar cap.
ital. At the corner he fingered I'M
decided
Across the street was n drug store.
well lighted. sending forth CLEANS
from the German silver and crystal OF
fits soda fountain and glasses. Along
came youngster OF five. headed for
the dlspensary. stepping high with the
consequence Of n big errand. possibly
one to which his advancing age had
earned him promotion In his hand
he ciutched something tightly, public
~. proudly, consplcuously.
Moreley stopped him with his win
ming smile and soft speech.
"Me7' said the youngster I'm doin'
to the drug tore for mamma She
dave me a dollar 10 buy bottle Of
med'cin."
Now, now, nowp said Morley. Such
big man you are to be doing errands
for mamma. I must go along with my
little man TO see that the cars don't
run over him. And on the way wen
have some chocolates. or would be
rather have lemon dropsT'
Morley entered the drug store lead.
Ing the child by the hand. lie present
sd the prescription that had been wrap
ped around the money.
On his face was a smile, predatory,
parental. polite, profound.
Aqua pura, one pint" said he TO
the druggist sodium chloride, ten
grains. Flat solution. Aud don't try
20 skin me. because know all about
toe NUMBER OF gallons Of H2o in the
Croton reservoir, and always use the
other ingredient on my potatoes"
"Fifteen cents" said the druggist,
with a wink. after he had compounded
the order. Il see you understand phar-
macy. dollar Is the regular price"
TO gulls," said Morley smningiy.
Tie settled the wrapped bottle care
fully IN the chIld'a arms and escorted
him 10 the corner. In Ne own pocket
be dropped the 81 cents accruing q