The daily Alaskan., 1914-04-08
'TheGrand Promoter He Was Almost Ca WheH Lick Tuned
 By M. QUAD Copyright, 1914, by Associated Lit
 erary Press.

down there the other morning.
 For half an hour he tried to build fire with sawdust and an old derby hat, but 1t was no go.
 If he went up to the dentists O6dcs to get warm he would be dunRed fOI .S3 borrowed money.
 That morning at the table the land. lndy had glured at him.
 He must come down with the cash or skip. .
 He was played out at every free lunch place within mile.
 Never before in bis career as a grand promoter and q grand deadbeac had he been 50 close to a desperate situ- ation, He felt that he had been wrong. ed. He felt that he was victim to be pitied.
 In drawer of his three legged desk was am old revolver. He had bought it or a junkmun for 15 cents, and he had made use of 1t to menace his clothes cleaner when that person came 1lp and stood in the door and shouted cut:
 You owe ne $4, und If you don't pay him oop I shall have you in prison in two mints"
 A sight of the deadly pistol had al ways sent the cleaner downstairs on thr jump and saved the majors dig Iity. but shouldn't It be used for diff tereut purpose now!
 The major placed the muzzle of the weapon to his ear and shuddered.
 He opcneI his mouth, thrust the piB. 1ol into the cavity and sighed.
 He held it against his heart and counted twenty and-didn't pull the trigger.
 No, no; ] will live onm he exclaimed us the pistol was replaced and he stood up.
 That's right, old roOster? exclalB. ed hearty voice at the door, and the major turned 10 behold a Jolly facea stranger.
 What can do for you, sIr?'
 Give sympathy and help to brother in trouble" ~r
 Were you about to commit suicide?"
 "I was"
 "In hard luck|
 The hardest kind"
 'Dom't do it. major 1 came in here two months ago with only SS left had determined to take q desperate ch#nce-that is, to invest my last shil ling with you You sold me some slI- yer stock a, cents on the dollar. You said it would soon be worth 9O"r
 But l was deceived" replied the major, who expected blowing up.
 "You mean you lied to me-lIed Ake 8 trooper. But don't get nervous oyer it. l have called to thank you
 "Nou-you have"
 "Yes, sir. have sold that stock at par"
 "Aud-aud as l put you on to a good thing you have come to dividef'
 "Nixy on the divide, major; just my thanks"
 "Hut you have made thOusaads% WAS walled.
 Had to or bust"
 You ought to give me SI,OOO."
 "I have to take a trip around tho world"
 Say $500, then" ...-
 "I go to see about a castle on the Rhine. major. Tn. tar'
 Major CrowfOot's legs gave under him. hut he wabbled to the desk and brought out that old revolver.
 It should be death this time.
 The grim gIimmest of deaths.
 He had had d fortune in his hsnds and let 1t go to another.
 Hang on? Of what use when the world had given him the boot? No, be would not hang on. He would be found dead in his chair, and hIs suicide should lay heavy on the conscience Of those who had picked on him and driven him to a rash act.
 The major had the muzzle to his ear again and was wondering If 1t made any difference which ear received the fatal bullet when a wOmEn'g EOiee cried out:
 Hold, rash man-hOldw
 II will nOtr s
 You mustr'-
 'I am ruined and can no longer face the world"
 Major CrowfoOt, don't you recognize my voice? Put down that immoral weapon and turn your face this way"
 My landlady~ he gasped RS he Obeyed her.
 Relieve mel ---
 But you gave me the cold glare tAi0 morning."
 'I did and was sorry for it five min utes later. You owe me about S90, but should a landlady worthy of a name glare about a trile like that7"
 But can't pay itr despaiTingly sH- uOunccd the major.
 ."No one asks you to. Room and board with me right along for the next two years and nothing will be said about the bill"
 Mrs. Clawhammer, you can't mean it."
 That's the sort of q woman l am. And there will be pOrterhOuse steak for you at every dinner"
 "Am l alive or dead?"