The L'Anse sentinel., 1919-04-04

II have pain in my stomach, so
please give me something for 1t, and
can you change fifty-dollar bill?" he
said pleasantly.
"What Is this-a monologueY asked
the man, "or did you Come in here for
the customary reason?"
II have pain and fifty-dollar
bill, and want both Of them changed"
James replied.
IF had fifty-dollar bill, I'd have
a pain myself" said the man. "Whatll
you haveT
James told him Immediately and
spent several minutes explaining the
difficulty of getting bill changed.
keep on up Broadway" advised
his host. you're bound to hit it some
where"
Fourteenth street loomed up on the
Sidell horizon, and still the crisp bill
nestled In his waistcoat-pocket.
Religiously. he made every stop, or
dered drink out of sheer necessity
of ordering, and asked for change.
| At 8 o'clock. he was at Nlnety-sixth
street, and behind him trailed an un.
ending string of lighthouses, in every
one of which his request had been re-
| fused.
'This is hard and cruel world" he
moaned.
Then he sat down on the curbstone,
took out his handkerchief and began
to cry. A friendly policeman urged
him along.
"Not friend in the world" he told
the officer. "Nothin' but a fifty-dollar
bill, and can't get it changed, and
when I get home to my Olive I'll be
killed deader than a herring.
where's a good orphan asylum, of.
| ficer? I want to go to good orphan
asylum and lay my head on the little
white cot and forsake the world"
The policeman shooed James Joseph
away from him, and at five minutes
Of the long overdue husband of
Olive steamed into harbor at 146th
street and made a dying request.
~ think 1 got it." said the man
kindly. because he knew Mr.. Sidell.
Thanks" said Mr.. Sidell in a re
lieved tone. He dipped into his vest
pocket, pulled out O'Rourke's joke FIVE
spot and laid 1t reverently upon the
wood.
"What's that?" said the man.
That's the fifty" said Mr.. Sidell
with dignity.
"Look at It," said the man.
Mr.. Sidell picked it up. looked at
1t, and then the terrible truth rushed
over him.
Sorrowfully and wearily, James Jo-
seph trekked out through the swing
Ing doors and another thought hit him
violently.
Until that moment, he had an excuse
for Olive. Now he had none.
Could he tell her that he was six
hours late because he had been try
ing to change five-dollar bill?
Reply: He could not-and continde
on living terms with wife.
He looked up and encountered the
gaze of one who was studying him In
tently.
"Why, Bainbridgei" said James Jo-
seph in delight. "what brings you
up here?"
''You look all in," replied Balm
bridge. "What have you been doing?"
Mr.. Sidell took his friend by the
coat-lapel and told him all, conceal
ing nothing.
"Do you expect me to believe that?'
said Bainbridge dryly.
81 hope to die If it isn't so. And
hear me-if you won't believe 1t, what
chance is there when I tell it to
oliver
"No chance whatever"
"Then there is only one thing to
do. You must lend me 500. I'll pay
you Monday. But IL am to continue
having home and wife, I've simply
got to have hundred-dollar bill when
open the front door at 641."
For a long, long time, Bainbridge
hesitated. Then he said:
"All right, James Joseph, I'll save
your life. But you will pardon me,
IL follow you to your. door at a de-
cent distance and watch you make
your entrance"
"Sure," said James.
Bainbridge produced the bill and
handed 1t to Mr.. Sidell.
'Now let's start. What are you
going to tell your wife?"
Leave 1t to James Joseph" said
that gentleman. "With this bill, am
safe."
Bainbridge watched him enter his
own home. He stood on the corner
for an instant, then turned and slowly
walked away.
my dear Olive" James was saying,
"the boys at the office-you know the
boys-they arranged little testimo-
nial, tribute of affection and esteem;
didn't know thing about 1t till this
afternoon, not thing.
"And I've been trying oil afternoon
to get the blamed thing changed so
you could spend 1t. It's all for you;
not cent of 1t for me, because It's
a token OF regard and esteem couldn't
get 1t changed anywhere; even the
houka didn't have fha chanoa opd