Wauwatosa news. [volume] (Wauwatosa, Wis.) 1900-1948, 1909-11-26
HIS ILL-GoTTEN GOLD.


tightly drawn, and no sign of life came
from the still interior. Bronson wanted
to enter that house-had good and spe-
cial reasons for desiring to go in-but
when he arrived at the stately palace,
and was almost up the steps, he hest
tated He had the queerest, maddest,
oldest mission in the world, and his
courage was oozing out of him.
That morning, glancing over the pa
pers, Jimmy had learned that Col. Law
| ton had stricken even unto death, and
| that he could last but q few days longer
also that his attorneys would come
! that afternoon to draw up his will. Then
it was that the widest of ideas struck
upon the alleged brain of Jimmy Bronson
and sent him hurrying forth to the resi-
dence of the dying colonel. When he
reached the house the absurdity of the
idea began to soak in upon the same
alleged convolutions, and he stopped
| iidgeting and was almost ready 10 flee
| Just at this moment the big door
opened and black servitOr looked forth
Abe yo' Misteh Griffith, the lawyeh,"
queried the black man.
| No. answered young Bronson. Il
| just came up-ah-ah--I mean / just
called in l wanted to see if l could
| talk a moment to the colonel, if he isn't
| too feeble
| The negro nodded DE kunnel am
pretty neah gone,' said he, "but he done
glib ohdehs to bring up any oh his ole
! friends cause he'd like to bid dem all
good bye. Come right along, sub" And
Bronson, unable to get any further ex-
| plantations through his stammering lips,
was led through the magnificent Railways
and into the sick room where the colonel
| lay.
| Bronson gazed into a grim old face
with fierce eyes, great white mustache
and a determined jaw. He tried to say
something, to stammer out any kind Of
an excuse, but he couldn't even gurgle
The fierce eyes looked upon him cynical
! y.
Lawyers clerk. huh?" said the sick
man. We'll sit down. Don't stand there
| like sick chimpanzee. What is it -
Ill haven't any business here at
ALL, gasped Jimmy. "I-I-had a fool
idea-I wanted to see you got to the
door and the colored man brought me
up-Im very soTy-I'll go'
The vestige of grin played round the
fierce face. Tell us what it's all about.
young fellow" commanded the colonel.
Maybe | can laugh. Good laugh won't
hurt me now. Haven't had one in year.
Spout, young man, spout!'
Bronson neryed himself heroically and
speech came back to him.
Colonel" he exclaimed. ''if it won't
tire you, I'll tell you all about it,
know you'll think I'm a champion fool,
but l can't help it.
MY name is Jimmy Bronson Nv
folks are the best. most religious people
you ever saw. Pm engaged to the best
girl in the world and one of the most
religious. too"
I'VE will now sing the Tooth hymn"
said the colonel, with a positive smile
ripping round his iron jaws. 81 think
| see. You want me to boost some re-
ligious scheme, to soothe my passage to
the hot place. and to make you stand
good with the old folks and the young
lady"
NO, no, colonel protested Bronson.
Hear me through, please. The girl and
would have been married year ago
only | didn't feel as if l had the money
to support her as I'd like to. Well, I've
got it now
Then where do | come ln?" grinned
the colonel. Bronson lifted deprecating
hand.
It's the way | got the money, colonel.
In all my life [ never gambled. Never
did anything wrong Last Saturday.
icolonel, | went to the racetrack with
a friend of mine-a fine boy, even if he
is little sporty He said he had a tin
on horse. [ don't know why let him
influence me- know it was wrong-but
| let him put up 500 for me. Pretty
soon he came and told me that nv horse
won, but that he had something better
in the next race and wanted to put the
money back on it. | didn't want that
, money, colonel. | knew it was WRONG
to take it. | told him to do what he
, wanted with it. Colonel the rest of that
day was like an awful dream. | don't
know how it all happened; all l know
is this: That at the end of the races my
friend came TO me and told me | was
, wonder and gave me a big package of
money. He said had copied five in
/ row. whatever that may be. and that he
; had doubled each time and got swell
, odds. Then he made me count the MON
ey. and there was $4,000 in the roll.
e Colonel | have the money to set nm
housekeeping and to enjoy life little.
But how am | to explain? If my pa
rents knew | won this money gambling
they would never speak to me again If
the young lady knew it she would re.
fuse to even see me in the future. How
can | enjoy my money and make it do
the good it should aud yet avoid such
fearful trouble?'
The colonel howled. His shrieks and
, squalls of merriment were like the rend
ing of ships timber in a gale
! My boy" said he, finally. you are
indeed a bird You are the wonder of
the age. can fully appreciate your pre-.
dieament, my son. but where do I come
ms" N'''''
Bronson had fully regained his nerve
and self-control.
1t was this way, colonel" he ex-
planned Il saw in the morning papers
that you We're very i'll, and that the law.
yers were coming to make vour will