The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-03-14

so often when he thought himself about to grasp fortune now laughed at him again. but in a more kindly humor, just as he was resigning himself to disgrace and wretehedness.
 "Ayast, brother" cried a great, hearty voice one day, and Roderick Random, unshaven, unwashed, hope less, turned to see his uncle Tom Bow ling The sailors story soon was told. He had obtained command of a priva- teer and had been lucky enough to take 8 merchant ship laden with an enormously valuable cargo of indigo and silver. He had waited only to make sure of his prize money before he hastened to Roderick's assistance.
 So soon as he had paid the debts and freed his nephew the open-handed sailor told him that he had obtained an armed vessel with which he was going to the slave coast. He arranged to let Roderrok have two thousand pounds to invest m trade stuff, while he lent two hundred pounds to Strap for the same purpose
 Roderick had time enough to ride ynto Sussex and bid a secret farewell to Mar cissa before he ventured to see again bound on another bout with fortune.
 It seemed as if she had become tired of tantalizing him for where In his previous attempts in the world he had been surfeited with adventures instead of gold, rfow he never had an adventure. while everything that he and Tow Bowl ing touched turned itself into wealth.
 In less than six months they had dis posed of their entire cargo of trade stuff in exchange for gold dust-an exchange that more than quadrupled their Invest ment. The gold dust was exchanged For 400 slaves, whom they took to South America without trouble and sold for a sum five times over the cost.
 This one voyage thus enriched all con- oerned and Roderick Random looked tor- ward with eagerness to his return 70 England where now there would be no obstacle to his marriage with Narcsssa. But fortune had not yet done with him. While he and his uncle were being en- l tertained at Buenos Ayres they werp in- | troduced to a tall man of remarkably l fine mein whose face was saddened with a reserve and gravity that attracted their l notice at once So soon as he heard Rod l erick Random's name he started and | asked if his mothers name was Char | lottle Bowling. Tim Bowling rushed at him, seized him by the hand and cried; Brother Randoml''
 It was, indeed, Roderick's father. After the first joy of the discovery had sub sided he explained that when he fled from England. heartbroken, he had deemed the child dead as well as the mother. Having no reason to communicate again with his heartless father. he travelled about the world aimlessiy till at last he reached South America, where he gained fortune. 8 Don Rodrigo, as he was known in Buenos Ayres, hastened to convert all his estate into cash. realizing e40,0oo. To- gether they started for England. where they arrived after so fair @ passage that it seemed as if fortune intended never to desert Roderick Random again.
 And she never did. He married his Narcissa and retired with her and his father to his native place, his father having bought the whole great estate for them. Strap, with the proper hu- mility and respect that was so agreeable mark of his character, married the servant maid of Narcissa and waxed fat and oontented in farm near by which they bought and stocked for him.
 Thus ended the fashionable and unfash- ionable adventures of Roderick Random, gentleman, and of Hugh Strap, barber.
 Next Sundays one-page classic will be La Belle Nieurnaise." by Alphonse Dau- det.