Saint Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1867-1983, 1915-02-18
wen pick yoa up as a vag. Do

WI At0& nio". kxc W21 GoAME no Wru4B.
And he had no other place TO 60 %.
nor money to 60 with.
But. inspector. I've found work,
and you needn't expect any more
trouble from me. b."
The inspector wheeled round from
the desk to which he had turned.
@Now, don't sit there arguing with
me. You heard what I said. and you
know what mean. You don't belong
here. You're an undesirable. Now,
get out. and remember what said"
In the street again everyone seemed
70 be watching him. His step lost Its
spring.
A man brushed against him, and
said:
Il beg your pardon"
Il sounded like q mockery.
He was an undesirable-ordered %
leave town or go to iail. The old fear
OF the prison came on him, and he
shuddered.
i win never sleep In a prison cell
again"
II droned through his mind persist
emily.
Must Il be retractedf Yes. unless he
could leave town. How could he leave
town. and where could he 60 TOT
He found himself at the upholster.
Ing shop. and q sudden hope burned
within him.
His employer had trusted him, and
he would appeal to him-his word
might have some weight with the In.
spector. But the girl behind the cash.
ier's window said his employer would
not be back again that afternoon.
OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES wandered
out into the shop.
A comfortable looking man was ex.
amining the couch he had fixed a few
hours before. His hands, inspired
then by the vision of q new purpose.
had worked as.never before, and the
handsome piece stood there now, q
monument TO his skill.
Els that for sale?" the man asked.
Cummings hesitated q moment
only q moment-just long enough 10
remember he was an undesirable and
must leave town.
yes" he answered. "It's q beauty.
too"
Whats the price?'
Cummings thought again-thoueht
as he had one night six months before.
when the inspector told him he He'd.
We'll. party left IL here with us TO
sell. and told us TO get what we could
Cash. Wen let you have Il for City
dollars. That's a bargain. too. be-
cause It's solid mahogany and
trimmed with real Spanish leather"
A moment later he excused himself
to make out the bin. and he stepped
out OF the front door with enough
money I'm lsls pocket 20 take him very
far away from town
He was thief now. and he started
when the cashier called after him:
win you be back again-Mr. Cum.
mIngs?'
He mumbled assent, and hurried
down the street. He felt OF the money
$50 In bills-and thought where he
should 60.
Chicago was nearest. but they'd look
for him there first. No. Northwest
Canada was better than that.
Yes. I'll be back-Mr. Cummings"
he muttered. and his lips curled In q
sinister smile.
Then they closed.
Mr.. Cummings!
Some day people win call me Mr..
Cummings. and there will be Difference
In the address"
He turned the sentence over I'm his
mind. Il had been q discrimination
not a threat. II was 10 have been his
slogan. Some day he would command
the worlds respect. and would be
known as Mr.. Cummings.
That's what he had meant.
Someone had called him Mr.. Cum.
mings-but why? In ignorance of his
past. for conventionality. or out OF re.
spect?
The cashier had heard him tell of
his past. II was not In ignorance OF
that.
There had been no one else present
when she spoke to him. She need not
have used his name even for conyen.
| tionality.
Two Of three reasons failed TO hold,
The third remained.
He entered drug store and bought
paper and envelopes. A few doors
farther on his last three dollars went
for cheap pistol and some cartridges.
For the next hour he wrote steadily
In the writing room Of n big hotel.
When he finished, two letters hay be.
fore him, and he read them over.
Crude. unscholariy they were, but
they proved satisfactory TO him.
To the longer Of the two. pregnant
with the scorn Of Q brave man for
cowardice. despairing as the last
growls Of q bayed wolf. he signed I'm
desirable" The other was tender and
grateful. and he signed II Mr.. Cum.
mings."
Then he took the pistol from his
pocket and pressed IL over his heart.
The next morning a queer. sickiy
smile spread over the inspectors face
as he read q letter signed "Undesir.
able" but there was nothing OF humor
I'm the smile. and he tore the letter
into fine pieces.
Then he called his subordinates.
Needn't mind looking for that Cum.
mings today. He shot himself yester.
day"
Fifty dollars In bills dropped from q
letter that the cashier opened that
same morning.
A tear splashed on Il when she I'm.
ished.
Then she took IL to man sitting ai
O big roll-top desk
tits from Mr.. Cummings" she said