Year: 1877




youth had been led into betting a good
deal on races, and losing, one Liverpool
meeting, good deal more than 1 could
pay, was recommended to money lend
er-one Bob Hargreaves, of Howbent-
who had relieved my pressing necessi-
ties at sufficiently exorbitant rate of
interest. Uncle Henry had subsequent
ly very generously paid off all my debts
without asking any questions, only ex-
acting from me promise to abstain
from such courses for the future Bob,
it was well known among the initiated,
could find money to any amount If he
could see his way to good profit, and I
had no doubt that he would jump at the
prospect of getting both high rate of
interest and unexceptionable security.
Hargreaves was an eccentric kind of
man, nominally tailor, living the life
of a recluse, and nervously apprehensive
of having it known that he had any
money at all of his own. There was no
fear Of any want of secrecy on his part.
He did not bear the best character in
the world, it is true, and it was said that
he had acquired his money in way that
would hardly bear investigation. But,
then, you don't ask the character of a
man who is going to lend you 100000.
L telegraphed to Hargreaves to come
over and see me, and next morning, at
the appointed hour, heard tremen-
dous humping on the stairs, as if o
heavy bedstead or something of the
kind was being dragged up Presently
the door was cautiously held ajar, and
wizened face appeared in the opening.


Seeing that was all alone, Bob-for
he it was-whisked dexterously into the
room, incumbered as he was by a crutch
handled stick in each hand, and brass
bound wooden clogs on his feet. The
amount of timber he carried account
ed for the noise up the stairs.


"Well, Pm here to oblige you, Master
Turner; but if it's brass you want, you
will bear in mind I'm poor man."


Then you are no good to me-" re-
piled brusquely, "and you'd better go
the way you came"


''Aye, but can get bit of money
sometimes, thou knows. There's many
thinks deal of Bob Hargreaves. But
at this minute, I'd take my Bible oath,
Pm worth nothing but what carry on
my back"


According to appearance that was very
little, for he was dressed in threadbare
clothes of dirty snuff brown color,
patched and mended, and that would
have advantageously borne still more
patching and mending. A greasy black
cloth cap was on his head, and the only
solid thing about him was heavy cow
skin waistcost, strangely out of keeping
with the sultry weather.


After chaffering q while-for Bob's
impecuniosity was only assumed to JUS
tify higher percentage-he consented
to find the money-at six per cent. for
three months-down upon the nail.
While he was away to get the money, I
sent for Uncle Henry to come and ratify
the bargain. A simple memorandum of
deposit of title deeds was all that was
necessary, and this was not long in
preparing; so that the affair was con-
cluded at once, and the parchments
handed over to Robert in exchange for
100000 in bank of England notes, all
soiled and limp, as if they had been
long while in circulation. 1t gave me
great deal of trouble to make list of
them, for they were of all denomina-
tions, and none of the same dates, or of
consecutive numbers. I finished the
task after while, and slipped the list
in my portfolio. The notes I placed
carefully within my safe, and locked
them up. Bob wrapped up his parch-
ments in an old blue cotton handker-
chief and hobbled off, casting many a
regretful look behind at my safe, as If it
had been sarcophagus where his heart
was enshrined. That safe, by the way,
was present from Uncle Henry, cap
ital one by first-rate maker, and / was
really pleased to have something valua-
bic to put in it. Hitherto simple cup
board would have answered my purpose
| just as well.


AS soon as Bob was gone, Uncle Hen
ry gave me instructions as to the dis
posal of the money. On no account was
1t to go through the bank. 1t must re-
main in my safe until the next morning
when was to take it up to London my
self, and retire certain acceptances then
coming due, and get back the bills. My