Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1913-12-06

ing you n little gift
The gentleman looked at the coin as
though he did not quite understand
what it meant. then at the donor. and
muttering the only word that had ever
come from him. except TO order his
brandy, Thanks" he put the piece in
his pocket and left the house
That was the last time the stingy
gentleman. as the servants continued
TO call him. appeared at Fraunces' tav-
ern. The landlord was puzzled at his
not coming again. ignorant whether he
had taken his Christmas gift as re-
proof for his psrsimouy or whether
something had happened to him. He
always expected that his former guest
would turn up some evening. call for
his glass OF brandy and read the news.
paper as before. But the next Christ
mas came and went without his ap-
pearance. and the next and many 9th
ers, and still the stingy gentleman did
not come to Frances tavern.
Meanwhile the city of New York had
taken start and was pushing north.
ward. The AStor house was built.
far more imposing building than the
little tavern downtown. and the land
lord of the latter found himself out OF
the fashionable district He turned
over the management to another and
opened house farther uptown. But
he was now getting old, and his former
patrons We're passing OFF the stage.
The travellers who were focking into
the city did not know what genial
host he was. and, even had they known
II, they had not the same use for a
genial host as when the city was con
fined to that region bordering on the
Bowling Green. Men were getting in
too much OF a hurry to require much
attention from Il landlord Besides, the
former keeper of Fraunces' tavern had
not the wherewithal to put up a struc-
ture suitable for the hotel OF the later
period. He threw up the sponge and
advertised his furniture and fixtures
for sale. From this time he sank into
poverty.
One Christmas eve he received a note
through the post that If he would call
at a certain house near st. Marks
church he would receive a gift. There
was no name signed to the missive; in
deed, IL was a scrawl in n very few
words. He could not think OF anything
he wished for Christmas, though his
needs were many and there were per
sons on whom he would have liked to
bestow gifts. 1t is quite possible he
might not have paid any attention to
the note had it not been from curiosity.
He desired to know who his would be
donor was.
Christmas morning being bright and
- L
a walk and go past the address given
in the note. He told his wife that he
would not go inside to claim the prof
fered gift, but n woman takes n differ
ent view of such matters from n man.
and she urged him to take measures TO
crafty her curiosity. Indeed. they
were I'm such financial straits that even
a small gift Of money was needed to
buy n Christmas dinner.
The ex-landlord half promised whab
his wife asked and started out on his
walk. When he came to the house I'm
question it's size and elegance sur
prised him and still further stimulated
his curiosity. He rang the bell. was
admitted by a servant and sent in his
name The servant led him into
library, and a man advanced to meet
him. r-zgt~7Ssl>4r
Great heavens. he was the stingy
stranger!
You are surprised, suppose" said
he gentleman. ito see me here. / did
lot return TO your tavern after partak-
ng OF the Christmas dinner you so
indy gave me because the next day
departed for the northwest. / was
hen and am now a fur trader, and
much Of my time for the past twenty
ears has been spent in the wilds OF
'anada. You remember your Christ
mas gift to me just before we parted?
Veil. I invested it In my business at
Ime when / was in great straits for
eady money and every dollar was
FORTH thousands TO me. I have sent
or you not exactly as I expressed It
D make you a gift. but to hand you
he proceeds OF your investment. And
ct what I have to offer I intend for
eturn for your many acts of kindness
} me when I could not afford to sub
,ribe for n journal the news in which
i refer more especially to the bust
ess news-I greatly needed"
Going to a desk. he took ont n paper.
.hich he handed to the ex landlord.
no. with his usual delicacy. put II In
Is pocket without looking at 1t. Then
lie donor asked If he would partake Of
,me refreshment, and they sat down
glass OF brandy. the gentleman
marking that It was time he return
! favors received in that respect also.
Then the ex-landlord returned to his
1me and gave his wife an account OF
s visit
THE paperr' exclaimed the wife.
-et me see the paper he gave you"
"Oh. forgot the paper" said her
Isband and he produced IL.
II contained n settlement upon him
A sufficient income to keep him com
rtable for life.