["\\\"But--I'm\tnot\tjoking--isn't\tit\tso?\\\" \\\"Why,\t of\tcourse\tit's\t so--and\t we\tare\t not\tjoking.\tBut\twhat\tof\tit?\tWhat\tof\t it? How\tdoes\tthat\tconcern\tus?\\\" \\\"In\tthis\tway,\tcomrades--we'll\tattach\tan\tillustrious\tname\tto\tthem!\\\" The\t lively\t conversation\t stopped.\t The\t faces\t were\t turned\t inquiringly\t upon Carl.\t What\t sort\t of\t riddle\t might\t this\t be?\t Where\t was\t an\t illustrious\t name\t to\t be borrowed?\tAnd\twho\twas\tto\tborrow\tit? Carl\tsat\tdown,\tand\tsaid: \\\"Now,\tI\thave\ta\tperfectly\tserious\tthing\tto\tpropose.\tI\tthink\tit\tis\tthe\tonly\tway\tto keep\tus\tout\tof\tthe\talmshouse,\tand\tI\tbelieve\tit\tto\tbe\ta\tperfectly\tsure\tway.\tI\tbase this\t opinion\t upon\t certain\t multitudinous\t and\t long-established\t facts\t in\t human history.\tI\tbelieve\tmy\tproject\twill\tmake\tus\tall\trich.\\\" \\\"Rich!\tYou've\tlost\tyour\tmind.\\\" \\\"No,\tI\thaven't.\\\" \\\"Yes,\tyou\thave--you've\tlost\tyour\tmind.\tWhat\tdo\tyou\tcall\trich?\\\" \\\"A\thundred\tthousand\tfrancs\tapiece.\\\" \\\"He\thas\tlost\this\tmind.\tI\tknew\tit.\\\" \\\"Yes,\the\thas.\tCarl,\tprivation\thas\tbeen\ttoo\tmuch\tfor\tyou,\tand--\\\" \\\"Carl,\tyou\twant\tto\ttake\ta\tpill\tand\tget\tright\tto\tbed.\\\" \\\"Bandage\thim\tfirst--bandage\this\thead,\tand\tthen--\\\" \\\"No,\tbandage\this\theels;\this\tbrains\thave\tbeen\tsettling\tfor\tweeks--I've\tnoticed it.\\\" \\\"Shut\tup!\\\"\tsaid\tMillet,\twith\tostensible\tseverity,\t\\\"and\tlet\tthe\tboy\tsay\this\tsay. Now,\tthen--come\tout\twith\tyour\tproject,\tCarl.\tWhat\tis\tit?\\\" \\\"Well,\t then,\t by\t way\t of\t preamble\t I\t will\t ask\t you\t to\t note\t this\t fact\t in\t human history:\tthat\tthe\tmerit\tof\tmany\ta\tgreat\tartist\thas\tnever\tbeen\tacknowledged\tuntil after\the\twas\tstarved\t and\tdead.\tThis\thas\thappened\tso\toften\tthat\tI\tmake\tbold\tto found\t a\t law\t upon\t it.\t This\t law:\t that\t the\t merit\t of\t every\t great\t unknown\t and neglected\t artist\t must\t and\t will\t be\t recognized,\t and\t his\t pictures\t climb\t to\t high prices\tafter\this\tdeath.\tMy\tproject\tis\tthis:\twe\tmust\tcast\tlots--one\tof\tus\tmust\tdie.\\\" The\t remark\t fell\t so\t calmly\t and\t so\t unexpectedly\t that\t we\t almost\t forgot\t to jump.\t Then\t there\t was\t a\t wild\t chorus\t of\t advice\t again--medical\t advice--for\t the help\t of\t Carl's\t brain;\t but\t he\t waited\t patiently\t for\t the\t hilarity\t to\t calm\t down,\t then went\ton\tagain\twith\this\tproject: \\\"Yes,\t one\t of\t us\t must\t die,\t to\t save\t the\t others--and\t himself.\t We\t will\t cast\t lots. The\tone\tchosen\tshall\tbe\tillustrious,\tall\tof\tus\tshall\tbe\trich.\tHold\tstill,\tnow--hold still;\tdon't\tinterrupt--I\ttell\tyou\tI\tknow\twhat\tI\tam\ttalking\tabout.\tHere\tis\tthe\tidea.","During\tthe\tnext\tthree\tmonths\tthe\tone\twho\tis\tto\tdie\tshall\tpaint\twith\tall\this\tmight, enlarge\this\tstock\tall\the\tcan--not\tpictures,\tno!\tskeleton\tsketches,\tstudies,\tparts\tof studies,\tfragments\tof\tstudies,\ta\tdozen\tdabs\tof\tthe\tbrush\ton\teach--meaningless,\tof course,\tbut\this\twith\this\tcipher\ton\tthem;\tturn\tout\tfifty\ta\tday,\teach\tto\tcontain\tsome peculiarity\tor\tmannerism,\teasily\tdetectable\tas\this--they're\tthe\tthings\tthat\tsell\tyou know,\t and\t are\t collected\t at\t fabulous\t prices\t for\t the\t world's\t museums,\t after\t the great\t man\t is\t gone;\t we'll\t have\t a\t ton\t of\t them\t ready--a\t ton!\t And\t all\t that\t time\t the rest\t of\t us\t will\t be\t busy\t supporting\t the\t moribund,\t and\t working\t Paris\t and\t the dealers--preparations\t for\t the\t coming\t event,\t you\t know;\t and\t when\t everything\t is hot\tand\tjust\tright,\twe'll\tspring\tthe\tdeath\ton\tthem\tand\thave\tthe\tnotorious\tfuneral. You\tget\tthe\tidea?\\\" \\\"N-o;\tat\tleast,\tnot\tqu--\\\" \\\"Not\tquite?\tDon't\tyou\tsee?\tThe\tman\tdoesn't\treally\tdie;\the\tchanges\this\tname and\tvanishes;\twe\tbury\ta\tdummy,\tand\tcry\tover\tit,\twith\tall\tthe\tworld\tto\thelp.\tAnd I--\\\" But\the\twasn't\tallowed\tto\tfinish.\tEverybody\tbroke\tout\tinto\ta\trousing\thurrah\tof applause;\tand\tall\tjumped\tup\tand\tcapered\tabout\tthe\troom\tand\tfell\ton\teach\tother's necks\tin\ttransports\tof\tgratitude\tand\tjoy.\tFor\thours\twe\ttalked\tover\tthe\tgreat\tplan, without\t ever\t feeling\t hungry;\t and\t at\t last,\t when\t all\t the\t details\t had\t been\t arranged satisfactorily,\twe\tcast\tlots\tand\tMillet\twas\telected--elected\tto\tdie,\tas\twe\tcalled\tit. Then\t we\t scraped\t together\t those\t things\t which\t one\t never\t parts\t with\t until\t he\t is betting\t them\t against\t future\t wealth--keepsake\t trinkets\t and\t such\t like--and\t these we\tpawned\tfor\tenough\tto\tfurnish\tus\ta\tfrugal\tfarewell\tsupper\tand\tbreakfast,\tand leave\tus\ta\tfew\tfrancs\tover\tfor\ttravel,\tand\ta\tstake\tof\tturnips\tand\tsuch\tfor\tMillet\tto live\ton\tfor\ta\tfew\tdays. Next\tmorning,\tearly,\tthe\tthree\tof\tus\tcleared\tout,\tstraightway\tafter\tbreakfast-- on\t foot,\t of\t course.\t Each\t of\t us\t carried\t a\t dozen\t of\t Millet's\t small\t pictures, purposing\t to\t market\t them.\t Carl\t struck\t for\t Paris,\t where\t he\t would\t start\t the\t work of\tbuilding\tup\tMillet's\tfame\tagainst\tthe\tcoming\tgreat\tday.\tClaude\tand\tI\twere\tto separate,\tand\tscatter\tabroad\tover\tFrance. Now,\t it\t will\t surprise\t you\t to\t know\t what\t an\t easy\t and\t comfortable\t thing\t we had.\tI\twalked\ttwo\tdays\tbefore\tI\tbegan\tbusiness.\tThen\tI\tbegan\tto\tsketch\ta\tvilla\tin the\t outskirts\t of\t a\t big\t town--because\t I\t saw\t the\t proprietor\t standing\t on\t an\t upper veranda.\t He\t came\t down\t to\t look\t on--I\t thought\t he\t would.\t I\t worked\t swiftly, intending\tto\tkeep\thim\tinterested.\tOccasionally\the\tfired\toff\ta\tlittle\tejaculation\tof approbation,\t and\t by\t and\t by\t he\t spoke\t up\t with\t enthusiasm,\t and\t said\t I\t was\t a master!","I\t put\t down\t my\t brush,\t reached\t into\t my\t satchel,\t fetched\t out\t a\t Millet,\t and pointed\tto\tthe\tcipher\tin\tthe\tcorner.\tI\tsaid,\tproudly: \\\"I\tsuppose\tyou\trecognize\tthat?\tWell,\the\ttaught\tme!\tI\tshould\tthink\tI\tought\tto know\tmy\ttrade!\\\" The\tman\tlooked\tguiltily\tembarrassed,\tand\twas\tsilent.\tI\tsaid,\tsorrowfully: \\\"You\t don't\t mean\t to\t intimate\t that\t you\t don't\t know\t the\t cipher\t of\t Francois Millet!\\\" Of\tcourse\the\tdidn't\tknow\tthat\tcipher;\tbut\the\twas\tthe\tgratefulest\tman\tyou\tever saw,\t just\t the\t same,\t for\t being\t let\t out\t of\t an\t uncomfortable\t place\t on\t such\t easy terms.\tHe\tsaid: \\\"No!\t Why,\t it\t is\t Millet's,\t sure\t enough!\t I\t don't\t know\t what\t I\t could\t have\t been thinking\tof.\tOf\tcourse\tI\trecognize\tit\tnow.\\\" Next,\the\twanted\tto\tbuy\tit;\tbut\tI\tsaid\tthat\talthough\tI\twasn't\trich\tI\twasn't\tthat poor.\tHowever,\tat\tlast,\tI\tlet\thim\thave\tit\tfor\teight\thundred\tfrancs. \\\"Eight\thundred!\\\" Yes.\t Millet\t would\t have\t sold\t it\t for\t a\t pork-chop.\t Yes,\t I\t got\t eight\t hundred francs\tfor\tthat\tlittle\tthing.\tI\twish\tI\tcould\tget\tit\tback\tfor\teighty\tthousand.\tBut\tthat time's\t gone\t by.\t I\t made\t a\t very\t nice\t picture\t of\t that\t man's\t house,\t and\t I\t wanted\t to offer\tit\tto\thim\tfor\tten\tfrancs,\tbut\tthat\twouldn't\tanswer,\tseeing\tI\twas\tthe\tpupil\tof such\t a\t master,\t so\t I\t sold\t it\t to\t him\t for\t a\t hundred.\t I\t sent\t the\t eight\t hundred\t francs straight\tback\tto\tMillet\tfrom\tthat\ttown\tand\tstruck\tout\tagain\tnext\tday. But\t I\t didn't\t walk--no.\t I\t rode.\t I\t have\t ridden\t ever\t since.\t I\t sold\t one\t picture every\tday,\tand\tnever\ttried\tto\tsell\ttwo.\tI\talways\tsaid\tto\tmy\tcustomer: \\\"I\t am\t a\t fool\t to\t sell\t a\t picture\t of\t Francois\t Millet's\t at\t all,\t for\t that\t man\t is\t not going\tto\tlive\tthree\tmonths,\tand\twhen\the\tdies\this\tpictures\tcan't\tbe\thad\tfor\tlove\tor money.\\\" I\ttook\tcare\tto\tspread\tthat\tlittle\tfact\tas\tfar\tas\tI\tcould,\tand\tprepare\tthe\tworld\tfor the\tevent. I\t take\t credit\t to\t myself\t for\t our\t plan\t of\t selling\t the\t pictures--it\t was\t mine.\t I suggested\t it\t that\t last\t evening\t when\t we\t were\t laying\t out\t our\t campaign,\t and\t all three\tof\tus\tagreed\tto\tgive\tit\ta\tgood\tfair\ttrial\tbefore\tgiving\tit\tup\tfor\tsome\tother.\tIt succeeded\twith\tall\tof\tus.\tI\twalked\tonly\ttwo\tdays,\tClaude\twalked\ttwo--both\tof\tus afraid\tto\tmake\tMillet\tcelebrated\ttoo\tclose\tto\thome--but\tCarl\twalked\tonly\thalf\ta day,\tthe\tbright,\tconscienceless\trascal,\tand\tafter\tthat\the\ttraveled\tlike\ta\tduke. Every\t now\t and\t then\t we\t got\t in\t with\t a\t country\t editor\t and\t started\t an\t item around\t through\t the\t press;\t not\t an\t item\t announcing\t that\t a\t new\t painter\t had\t been discovered,\t but\t an\t item\t which\t let\t on\t that\t everybody\t knew\t Francois\t Millet;\t not","an\t item\t praising\t him\t in\t any\t way,\t but\t merely\t a\t word\t concerning\t the\t present condition\t of\t the\t \\\"master\\\"--sometimes\t hopeful,\t sometimes\t despondent,\t but always\ttinged\twith\tfears\tfor\tthe\tworst.\tWe\talways\tmarked\tthese\tparagraphs,\tand sent\tthe\tpapers\tto\tall\tthe\tpeople\twho\thad\tbought\tpictures\tof\tus. Carl\t was\t soon\t in\t Paris,\t and\t he\t worked\t things\t with\t a\t high\t hand.\t He\t made friends\t with\t the\t correspondents,\t and\t got\t Millet's\t condition\t reported\t to\t England and\tall\tover\tthe\tcontinent,\tand\tAmerica,\tand\teverywhere. At\t the\t end\t of\t six\t weeks\t from\t the\t start,\t we\t three\t met\t in\t Paris\t and\t called\t a halt,\t and\t stopped\t sending\t back\t to\t Millet\t for\t additional\t pictures.\t The\t boom\t was so\t high,\t and\t everything\t so\t ripe,\t that\t we\t saw\t that\t it\t would\t be\t a\t mistake\t not\t to strike\tnow,\tright\taway,\twithout\twaiting\tany\tlonger.\tSo\twe\twrote\tMillet\tto\tgo\tto bed\tand\tbegin\tto\twaste\taway\tpretty\tfast,\tfor\twe\tshould\tlike\thim\tto\tdie\tin\tten\tdays if\the\tcould\tget\tready. Then\twe\tfigured\tup\tand\tfound\tthat\tamong\tus\twe\thad\tsold\teighty-five\tsmall pictures\tand\tstudies,\tand\thad\tsixty-nine\tthousand\tfrancs\tto\tshow\tfor\tit.\tCarl\thad made\t the\t last\t sale\t and\t the\t most\t brilliant\t one\t of\t all.\t He\t sold\t the\t \\\"Angelus\\\"\t for twenty-two\thundred\tfrancs.\tHow\twe\tdid\tglorify\thim!--not\tforeseeing\tthat\ta\tday was\t coming\t by\t and\t by\t when\t France\t would\t struggle\t to\t own\t it\t and\t a\t stranger would\tcapture\tit\tfor\tfive\thundred\tand\tfifty\tthousand,\tcash. We\t had\t a\t wind-up\t champagne\t supper\t that\t night,\t and\t next\t day\t Claude\t and\t I packed\t up\t and\t went\t off\t to\t nurse\t Millet\t through\t his\t last\t days\t and\t keep busybodies\t out\t of\t the\t house\t and\t send\t daily\t bulletins\t to\t Carl\t in\t Paris\t for publication\tin\tthe\tpapers\tof\tseveral\t continents\tfor\tthe\tinformation\tof\ta\twaiting world.\t The\t sad\t end\t came\t at\t last,\t and\t Carl\t was\t there\t in\t time\t to\t help\t in\t the\t final mournful\trites. You\tremember\tthat\tgreat\tfuneral,\tand\twhat\ta\tstir\tit\tmade\tall\tover\tthe\tglobe, and\thow\tthe\tillustrious\tof\ttwo\tworlds\tcame\tto\tattend\tit\tand\ttestify\ttheir\tsorrow. We\tfour--still\tinseparable--carried\tthe\tcoffin,\tand\twould\tallow\tnone\tto\thelp.\tAnd we\t were\t right\t about\t that,\t because\t it\t hadn't\t anything\t in\t it\t but\t a\t wax\t figure,\t and any\t other\t coffin-bearers\t would\t have\t found\t fault\t with\t the\t weight.\t Yes,\t we\t same old\t four,\t who\t had\t lovingly\t shared\t privation\t together\t in\t the\t old\t hard\t times\t now gone\tforever,\tcarried\tthe\tcof-- \t \\\"Which\tfour?\\\" \\\"We\t four--for\t Millet\t helped\t to\t carry\t his\t own\t coffin.\t In\t disguise,\t you\t know.","Disguised\tas\ta\trelative--distant\trelative.\\\" \\\"Astonishing!\\\" \\\"But\t true,\t just\t the\t same.\t Well,\t you\t remember\t how\t the\t pictures\t went\t up. Money?\t We\t didn't\t know\t what\t to\t do\t with\t it.\t There's\t a\t man\t in\t Paris\t to-day\t who owns\tseventy\tMillet\tpictures.\tHe\tpaid\tus\ttwo\tmillion\tfrancs\tfor\tthem.\tAnd\tas\tfor the\t bushels\t of\t sketches\t and\t studies\t which\t Millet\t shoveled\t out\t during\t the\t six weeks\tthat\twe\twere\ton\tthe\troad,\twell,\tit\twould\tastonish\tyou\tto\tknow\tthe\tfigure we\tsell\tthem\tat\tnowadays--that\tis,\twhen\twe\tconsent\tto\tlet\tone\tgo!\\\" \\\"It\tis\ta\twonderful\thistory,\tperfectly\twonderful!\\\" \\\"Yes--it\tamounts\tto\tthat.\\\" \\\"Whatever\tbecame\tof\tMillet?\\\" \\\"Can\tyou\tkeep\ta\tsecret?\\\" \\\"I\tcan.\\\" \\\"Do\tyou\tremember\tthe\tman\tI\tcalled\tyour\tattention\tto\tin\tthe\tdining-room\tto- day?\tThat\twas\tFrancois\tMillet.\\\" \\\"Great--\\\" \\\"Scott!\t Yes.\t For\t once\t they\t didn't\t starve\t a\t genius\t to\t death\t and\t then\t put\t into other\t pockets\t the\t rewards\t he\t should\t have\t had\t himself.\t This\t songbird\t was\t not allowed\t to\t pipe\t out\t its\t heart\t unheard\t and\t then\t be\t paid\t with\t the\t cold\t pomp\t of\t a big\tfuneral.\tWe\tlooked\tout\tfor\tthat.\\\" 1893","THE\tPS1,000,000\tBANK-NOTE WHEN\tI\twas\ttwenty-seven\tyears\told,\tI\twas\ta\tmining-broker's\tclerk\tin\tSan Francisco,\t and\t an\t expert\t in\t all\t the\t details\t of\t stock\t traffic.\t I\t was\t alone\t in\t the world,\tand\thad\tnothing\tto\tdepend\tupon\tbut\tmy\twits\tand\ta\tclean\treputation;\tbut these\twere\tsetting\tmy\tfeet\tin\tthe\troad\tto\teventual\tfortune,\tand\tI\twas\tcontent\twith the\tprospect. My\t time\t was\t my\t own\t after\t the\t afternoon\t board,\t Saturdays,\t and\t I\t was accustomed\tto\tput\tit\tin\ton\ta\tlittle\tsail-boat\ton\tthe\tbay.\tOne\tday\tI\tventured\ttoo\tfar, and\twas\t carried\t out\tto\tsea.\t Just\tat\tnightfall,\twhen\thope\twas\tabout\tgone,\tI\twas picked\t up\t by\t a\t small\t brig\t which\t was\t bound\t for\t London.\t It\t was\t a\t long\t and stormy\tvoyage,\tand\tthey\tmade\tme\twork\tmy\tpassage\twithout\tpay,\tas\ta\tcommon sailor.\t When\t I\t stepped\t ashore\t in\t London\t my\t clothes\t were\t ragged\t and\t shabby, and\tI\thad\tonly\ta\tdollar\tin\tmy\tpocket.\tThis\tmoney\tfed\tand\tsheltered\tme\ttwenty- four\thours.\tDuring\tthe\tnext\ttwenty-four\tI\twent\twithout\tfood\tand\tshelter. About\t ten\t o'clock\t on\t the\t following\t morning,\t seedy\t and\t hungry,\t I\t was dragging\tmyself\talong\tPortland\tPlace,\twhen\ta\tchild\tthat\twas\tpassing,\ttowed\tby\ta nurse-maid,\ttossed\ta\tluscious\tbig\tpear--minus\tone\tbite--into\tthe\tgutter.\tI\tstopped, of\t course,\t and\t fastened\t my\t desiring\t eye\t on\t that\t muddy\t treasure.\t My\t mouth watered\t for\t it,\t my\t stomach\t craved\t it,\t my\t whole\t being\t begged\t for\t it.\t But\t every time\t I\t made\t a\t move\t to\t get\t it\t some\t passing\t eye\t detected\t my\t purpose,\t and\t of course\tI\tstraightened\tup\tthen,\tand\tlooked\tindifferent,\tand\tpretended\tthat\tI\thadn't been\t thinking\t about\t the\t pear\t at\t all.\t This\t same\t thing\t kept\t happening\t and happening,\t and\t I\t couldn't\t get\t the\t pear.\t I\t was\t just\t getting\t desperate\t enough\t to brave\tall\tthe\tshame,\tand\tto\tseize\tit,\twhen\ta\twindow\tbehind\tme\twas\traised,\tand\ta gentleman\tspoke\tout\tof\tit,\tsaying: \\\"Step\tin\there,\tplease.\\\" I\t was\t admitted\t by\t a\t gorgeous\t flunkey,\t and\t shown\t into\t a\t sumptuous\t room where\t a\t couple\t of\t elderly\t gentlemen\t were\t sitting.\t They\t sent\t away\t the\t servant, and\tmade\tme\tsit\tdown.\t They\thad\tjust\tfinished\ttheir\tbreakfast,\tand\tthe\tsight\t of the\tremains\tof\tit\talmost\toverpowered\tme.\tI\tcould\thardly\tkeep\tmy\twits\ttogether in\tthe\tpresence\tof\tthat\tfood,\tbut\tas\tI\twas\tnot\tasked\tto\tsample\tit,\tI\thad\tto\tbear\tmy trouble\tas\tbest\tI\tcould. Now,\t something\t had\t been\t happening\t there\t a\t little\t before,\t which\t I\t did\t not know\tanything\tabout\tuntil\ta\tgood\tmany\tdays\tafterward,\tbut\tI\twill\ttell\tyou\tabout it\t now.\t Those\t two\t old\t brothers\t had\t been\t having\t a\t pretty\t hot\t argument\t a\t couple of\t days\t before,\t and\t had\t ended\t by\t agreeing\t to\t decide\t it\t by\t a\t bet,\t which\t is\t the","English\tway\tof\tsettling\teverything. You\t will\t remember\t that\t the\t Bank\t of\t England\t once\t issued\t two\t notes\t of\t a million\t pounds\t each,\t to\t be\t used\t for\t a\t special\t purpose\t connected\t with\t some public\t transaction\t with\t a\t foreign\t country.\t For\t some\t reason\t or\t other\t only\t one\t of these\thad\tbeen\t used\t and\tcanceled;\tthe\tother\tstill\tlay\t in\t the\tvaults\tof\tthe\tBank. Well,\tthe\tbrothers,\tchatting\talong,\thappened\tto\tget\tto\twondering\twhat\tmight\tbe the\tfate\tof\ta\tperfectly\thonest\tand\tintelligent\tstranger\twho\tshould\tbe\tturned\tadrift in\t London\t without\t a\t friend,\t and\t with\t no\t money\t but\t that\t million-pound\t bank- note,\tand\tno\tway\tto\taccount\tfor\this\tbeing\tin\tpossession\tof\tit.\tBrother\tA\tsaid\the would\t starve\t to\t death;\t Brother\t B\t said\t he\t wouldn't.\t Brother\t A\t said\t he\t couldn't offer\tit\tat\ta\tbank\tor\tanywhere\telse,\tbecause\the\twould\tbe\tarrested\ton\tthe\tspot.\tSo they\twent\ton\tdisputing\ttill\tBrother\tB\tsaid\the\twould\tbet\ttwenty\tthousand\tpounds that\tthe\tman\twould\tlive\tthirty\tdays,\tanyway,\ton\tthat\tmillion,\tand\tkeep\tout\tof\tjail, too.\t Brother\t A\t took\t him\t up.\t Brother\t B\t went\t down\t to\t the\t Bank\t and\t bought\t that note.\tJust\tlike\tan\tEnglishman,\tyou\tsee;\tpluck\tto\tthe\tbackbone.\tThen\the\tdictated\ta letter,\twhich\tone\tof\this\tclerks\twrote\tout\tin\ta\tbeautiful\tround\thand,\tand\tthen\tthe two\tbrothers\tsat\tat\tthe\twindow\ta\twhole\tday\twatching\tfor\tthe\tright\tman\tto\tgive\tit to. They\t saw\t many\t honest\t faces\t go\t by\t that\t were\t not\t intelligent\t enough;\t many that\t were\t intelligent,\t but\t not\t honest\t enough;\t many\t that\t were\t both,\t but\t the possessors\t were\t not\t poor\t enough,\t or,\t if\t poor\t enough,\t were\t not\t strangers.\t There was\talways\ta\tdefect,\tuntil\tI\tcame\talong;\tbut\tthey\tagreed\tthat\tI\tfilled\tthe\tbill\tall around;\t so\t they\t elected\t me\t unanimously,\t and\t there\t I\t was\t now\t waiting\t to\t know why\t I\t was\t called\t in.\t They\t began\t to\t ask\t me\t questions\t about\t myself,\t and\t pretty soon\tthey\thad\tmy\tstory.\tFinally\tthey\ttold\tme\tI\twould\tanswer\ttheir\tpurpose.\tI\tsaid I\t was\t sincerely\t glad,\t and\t asked\t what\t it\t was.\t Then\t one\t of\t them\t handed\t me\t an envelope,\t and\tsaid\tI\twould\t find\tthe\texplanation\t inside.\tI\twas\tgoing\tto\topen\tit, but\the\tsaid\tno;\ttake\tit\tto\tmy\tlodgings,\tand\tlook\tit\tover\tcarefully,\tand\tnot\tbe\thasty or\trash.\tI\twas\tpuzzled,\tand\twanted\tto\tdiscuss\tthe\tmatter\ta\tlittle\tfurther,\tbut\tthey didn't;\tso\tI\ttook\tmy\tleave,\tfeeling\thurt\tand\tinsulted\tto\tbe\tmade\tthe\tbutt\tof\twhat was\t apparently\t some\t kind\t of\t a\t practical\t joke,\t and\t yet\t obliged\t to\t put\t up\t with\t it, not\tbeing\tin\tcircumstances\tto\tresent\taffronts\tfrom\trich\tand\tstrong\tfolk. I\twould\thave\tpicked\tup\tthe\tpear\tnow\tand\teaten\tit\tbefore\tall\tthe\tworld,\tbut\tit was\t gone;\t so\t I\t had\t lost\t that\t by\t this\t unlucky\t business,\t and\t the\t thought\t of\t it\t did not\t soften\t my\t feeling\t toward\t those\t men.\t As\t soon\t as\t I\t was\t out\t of\t sight\t of\t that house\t I\t opened\t my\t envelope,\t and\t saw\t that\t it\t contained\t money!\t My\t opinion\t of those\t people\t changed,\t I\t can\t tell\t you!\t I\t lost\t not\t a\t moment,\t but\t shoved\t note\t and","money\tinto\tmy\tvest\tpocket,\tand\tbroke\tfor\tthe\tnearest\tcheap\teating-house.\tWell, how\tI\tdid\teat!\tWhen\tat\tlast\tI\tcouldn't\thold\tany\tmore,\tI\ttook\tout\tmy\tmoney\tand unfolded\tit,\ttook\tone\tglimpse\tand\tnearly\tfainted.\tFive\tmillions\tof\tdollars!\tWhy, it\tmade\tmy\thead\tswim. I\t must\t have\t sat\t there\t stunned\t and\t blinking\t at\t the\t note\t as\t much\t as\t a\t minute before\t I\t came\t rightly\t to\t myself\t again.\t The\t first\t thing\t I\t noticed,\t then,\t was\t the landlord.\tHis\teye\twas\ton\tthe\tnote,\tand\the\twas\tpetrified.\tHe\twas\tworshiping,\twith all\this\tbody\tand\tsoul,\tbut\the\tlooked\tas\tif\the\tcouldn't\tstir\thand\tor\tfoot.\tI\ttook\tmy cue\t in\t a\t moment,\t and\t did\t the\t only\t rational\t thing\t there\t was\t to\t do.\t I\t reached\t the note\ttoward\thim,\tand\tsaid,\tcarelessly: \\\"Give\tme\tthe\tchange,\tplease.\\\" Then\t he\t was\t restored\t to\t his\t normal\t condition,\t and\t made\t a\t thousand apologies\tfor\tnot\tbeing\table\tto\tbreak\tthe\tbill,\tand\tI\tcouldn't\tget\thim\tto\ttouch\tit. He\twanted\tto\tlook\tat\tit,\tand\tkeep\ton\tlooking\tat\tit;\the\tcouldn't\tseem\tto\tget\tenough of\t it\t to\t quench\t the\t thirst\t of\t his\t eye,\t but\t he\t shrank\t from\t touching\t it\t as\t if\t it\t had been\tsomething\ttoo\tsacred\tfor\tpoor\tcommon\tclay\tto\thandle.\tI\tsaid: \\\"I\t am\t sorry\t if\t it\t is\t an\t inconvenience,\t but\t I\t must\t insist.\t Please\t change\t it;\t I haven't\tanything\telse.\\\" But\the\tsaid\tthat\twasn't\tany\tmatter;\the\twas\tquite\twilling\tto\tlet\tthe\ttrifle\tstand over\ttill\tanother\ttime.\tI\tsaid\tI\tmight\tnot\tbe\tin\this\tneighborhood\tagain\tfor\ta\tgood while;\t but\t he\t said\t it\t was\t of\t no\t consequence,\t he\t could\t wait,\t and,\t moreover,\t I could\thave\tanything\tI\twanted,\tany\ttime\tI\tchose,\tand\tlet\tthe\taccount\trun\tas\tlong as\tI\tpleased.\tHe\tsaid\the\thoped\the\twasn't\tafraid\tto\ttrust\tas\trich\ta\tgentleman\tas\tI was,\tmerely\tbecause\tI\twas\tof\ta\tmerry\tdisposition,\tand\tchose\tto\tplay\tlarks\ton\tthe public\tin\tthe\tmatter\tof\tdress.\tBy\tthis\ttime\tanother\tcustomer\twas\tentering,\tand\tthe landlord\thinted\tto\tme\tto\tput\tthe\tmonster\tout\tof\tsight;\tthen\the\tbowed\tme\tall\tthe way\t to\t the\t door,\t and\t I\t started\t straight\t for\t that\t house\t and\t those\t brothers,\t to correct\t the\t mistake\t which\t had\t been\t made\t before\t the\t police\t should\t hunt\t me\t up, and\thelp\tme\tdo\tit.\tI\twas\tpretty\tnervous;\tin\tfact,\tpretty\tbadly\tfrightened,\tthough, of\tcourse,\tI\twas\tno\tway\tin\tfault;\tbut\tI\tknew\tmen\twell\tenough\tto\tknow\tthat\twhen they\tfind\tthey've\tgiven\ta\ttramp\ta\tmillion-pound\tbill\twhen\tthey\tthought\tit\twas\ta one-pounder,\t they\t are\t in\t a\t frantic\t rage\t against\t him\t instead\t of\t quarreling\t with their\t own\t near-sightedness,\t as\t they\t ought.\t As\t I\t approached\t the\t house\t my excitement\t began\t to\t abate,\t for\t all\t was\t quiet\t there,\t which\t made\t me\t feel\t pretty sure\t the\t blunder\t was\t not\t discovered\t yet.\t I\t rang.\t The\t same\t servant\t appeared.\t I asked\tfor\tthose\tgentlemen. \\\"They\tare\tgone.\\\"\tThis\tin\tthe\tlofty,\tcold\tway\tof\tthat\tfellow's\ttribe.","\\\"Gone?\tGone\twhere?\\\" \\\"On\ta\tjourney.\\\" \\\"But\twhereabouts?\\\" \\\"To\tthe\tContinent,\tI\tthink.\\\" \\\"The\tContinent?\\\" \\\"Yes,\tsir.\\\" \\\"Which\tway--by\twhat\troute?\\\" \\\"I\tcan't\tsay,\tsir.\\\" \\\"When\twill\tthey\tbe\tback?\\\" \\\"In\ta\tmonth,\tthey\tsaid.\\\" \\\"A\tmonth!\tOh,\tthis\tis\tawful!\tGive\tme\tsome\tsort\tof\tidea\tof\thow\tto\tget\ta\tword to\tthem.\tIt's\tof\tthe\tlast\timportance.\\\" \\\"I\tcan't,\tindeed.\tI've\tno\tidea\twhere\tthey've\tgone,\tsir.\\\" \\\"Then\tI\tmust\tsee\tsome\tmember\tof\tthe\tfamily.\\\" \\\"Family's\taway,\ttoo;\tbeen\tabroad\tmonths--in\tEgypt\tand\tIndia,\tI\tthink.\\\" \\\"Man,\tthere's\tbeen\tan\timmense\tmistake\tmade.\tThey'll\tbe\tback\tbefore\tnight. Will\t you\t tell\t them\t I've\t been\t here,\t and\t that\t I\t will\t keep\t coming\t till\t it's\t all\t made right,\tand\tthey\tneedn't\tbe\tafraid?\\\" \\\"I'll\ttell\tthem,\tif\tthey\tcome\tback,\tbut\tI\tam\tnot\texpecting\tthem.\tThey\tsaid\tyou would\t be\t here\t in\t an\t hour\t to\t make\t inquiries,\t but\t I\t must\t tell\t you\t it's\t all\t right, they'll\tbe\there\ton\ttime\tand\texpect\tyou.\\\" So\tI\thad\tto\tgive\tit\tup\tand\tgo\taway.\tWhat\ta\triddle\tit\tall\twas!\tI\twas\tlike\tto\tlose my\t mind.\t They\t would,\t be\t here\t \\\"on\t time.\\\"\t What\t could\t that\t mean?\t Oh\t the\t letter would\texplain,\tmaybe.\tI\thad\tforgotten\tthe\tletter;\tI\tgot\tit\tout\tand\tread\tit.\tThis\tis what\tit\tsaid: You\tare\tan\tintelligent\tand\thonest\tman,\tas\tone\tmay\tsee\tby\tyour\tface.\tWe conceive\t you\t to\t be\t poor\t and\t a\t stranger.\t Enclosed\t you\t will\t find\t a\t sum\t of money.\tIt\tis\tlent\tto\tyou\tfor\tthirty\tdays,\twithout\tinterest.\tReport\tat\tthis\thouse at\t the\t end\t of\t that\t time.\t I\t have\t a\t bet\t on\t you.\t If\t I\t win\t it\t you\t shall\t have\t any situation\t that\t is\t in\t my\t gift--any,\t that\t is,\t that\t you\t shall\t be\t able\t to\t prove yourself\tfamiliar\twith\tand\tcompetent\tto\tfill. No\tsignature,\tno\taddress,\tno\tdate. Well,\there\twas\ta\tcoil\tto\tbe\tin!\tYou\tare\tposted\ton\twhat\thad\tpreceded\tall\tthis, but\tI\twas\tnot.\tIt\twas\tjust\ta\tdeep,\tdark\tpuzzle\tto\tme.\tI\thadn't\tthe\tleast\tidea\twhat","the\tgame\twas,\tnor\twhether\tharm\twas\tmeant\tme\tor\ta\tkindness.\tI\twent\tinto\ta\tpark, and\tsat\tdown\tto\ttry\tto\tthink\tit\tout,\tand\tto\tconsider\twhat\tI\thad\tbest\tdo. At\tthe\tend\tof\tan\thour\tmy\treasonings\thad\tcrystallized\tinto\tthis\tverdict. Maybe\tthose\tmen\tmean\tme\twell,\tmaybe\tthey\tmean\tme\till;\tno\tway\tto\tdecide that--let\tit\tgo.\tThey've\tgot\ta\tgame,\tor\ta\tscheme,\tor\tan\texperiment,\tof\tsome\tkind on\thand;\tno\tway\tto\tdetermine\twhat\tit\tis--let\tit\tgo.\tThere's\ta\tbet\ton\tme;\tno\tway\tto find\t out\t what\t it\t is--let\t it\t go.\t That\t disposes\t of\t the\t indeterminable\t quantities;\t the remainder\t of\t the\t matter\t is\t tangible,\t solid,\t and\t may\t be\t classed\t and\t labeled\t with certainty.\tIf\tI\task\tthe\tBank\tof\tEngland\tto\tplace\tthis\tbill\tto\tthe\tcredit\tof\tthe\tman\tit belongs\tto,\tthey'll\tdo\tit,\tfor\tthey\tknow\thim,\talthough\tI\tdon't;\tbut\tthey\twill\task\tme how\tI\tcame\tin\tpossession\tof\tit,\tand\tif\tI\ttell\tthe\ttruth\tthey'll\tput\tme\tin\tthe\tasylum, naturally,\tand\ta\tlie\twill\tland\tme\tin\tjail.\tThe\tsame\tresult\twould\tfollow\tif\tI\ttried\tto bank\t the\t bill\t anywhere\t or\t to\t borrow\t money\t on\t it.\t I\t have\t got\t to\t carry\t this immense\tburden\taround\tuntil\tthose\tmen\tcome\tback,\twhether\tI\twant\tto\tor\tnot.\tIt is\tuseless\tto\tme,\tas\tuseless\tas\ta\thandful\tof\tashes,\tand\tyet\tI\tmust\ttake\tcare\tof\tit, and\twatch\tover\tit,\twhile\tI\tbeg\tmy\tliving.\tI\tcouldn't\tgive\tit\taway,\tif\tI\tshould\ttry, for\tneither\thonest\tcitizen\tnor\thighwayman\twould\taccept\tit\tor\tmeddle\twith\tit\tfor anything.\tThose\tbrothers\tare\tsafe.\tEven\tif\tI\tlose\ttheir\tbill,\tor\tburn\tit,\tthey\tare\tstill safe,\t because\t they\t can\t stop\t payment,\t and\t the\t bank\t will\t make\t them\t whole;\t but meantime\t I've\t got\t to\t do\t a\t month's\t suffering\t without\t wages\t or\t profit--unless\t I help\twin\tthat\tbet,\twhatever\tit\tmay\tbe,\tand\tget\tthat\tsituation\tthat\tI\tam\tpromised.\tI should\t like\t to\t get\t that;\t men\t of\t their\t sort\t have\t situations\t in\t their\t gift\t that\t are worth\thaving. I\t got\t to\t thinking\t a\t good\t deal\t about\t that\t situation.\t My\t hopes\t began\t to\t rise high.\tWithout\tdoubt\tthe\tsalary\twould\tbe\tlarge.\tIt\twould\tbegin\tin\ta\tmonth;\tafter that\tI\tshould\tbe\tall\tright.\tPretty\tsoon\tI\twas\tfeeling\tfirst\trate.\tBy\tthis\ttime\tI\twas tramping\tthe\tstreets\tagain.\tThe\tsight\tof\ta\ttailorshop\tgave\tme\ta\tsharp\tlonging\tto shed\tmy\trags,\tand\tto\tclothe\tmyself\tdecently\tonce\tmore.\tCould\tI\tafford\tit?\tNo;\tI had\t nothing\t in\t the\t world\t but\t a\t million\t pounds.\t So\t I\t forced\t myself\t to\t go\t on\t by. But\tsoon\tI\twas\tdrifting\tback\tagain.\tThe\ttemptation\tpersecuted\tme\tcruelly.\tI\tmust have\t passed\t that\t shop\t back\t and\t forth\t six\t times\t during\t that\t manful\t struggle.\t At last\tI\tgave\tin;\tI\thad\tto.\tI\tasked\tif\tthey\thad\ta\tmisfit\tsuit\tthat\thad\tbeen\tthrown\ton their\t hands.\tThe\tfellow\tI\tspoke\tto\tnodded\this\thead\ttoward\tanother\tfellow,\tand gave\t me\t no\t answer.\t I\t went\t to\t the\t indicated\t fellow,\t and\t he\t indicated\t another fellow\twith\this\thead,\tand\tno\twords.\tI\twent\tto\thim,\tand\the\tsaid: \\\"'Tend\tto\tyou\tpresently.\\\" I\t waited\t till\t he\t was\t done\t with\t what\t he\t was\t at,\t then\t he\t took\t me\t into\t a\t back","room,\tand\toverhauled\ta\tpile\tof\trejected\tsuits,\tand\tselected\tthe\trattiest\tone\tfor\tme. I\t put\t it\t on.\t It\t didn't\t fit,\t and\t wasn't\t in\t any\t way\t attractive,\t but\t it\t was\t new,\t and\t I was\tanxious\tto\thave\tit;\tso\tI\tdidn't\tfind\tany\tfault,\tbut\tsaid,\twith\tsome\tdiffidence: \\\"It\t would\t be\t an\t accommodation\t to\t me\t if\t you\t could\t wait\t some\t days\t for\t the money.\tI\thaven't\tany\tsmall\tchange\tabout\tme.\\\" The\tfellow\tworked\tup\ta\tmost\tsarcastic\texpression\tof\tcountenance,\tand\tsaid: \\\"Oh,\t you\t haven't?\t Well,\t of\t course,\t I\t didn't\t expect\t it.\t I'd\t only\t expect gentlemen\tlike\tyou\tto\tcarry\tlarge\tchange.\\\" I\twas\tnettled,\tand\tsaid: \\\"My\tfriend,\tyou\tshouldn't\tjudge\ta\tstranger\talways\tby\tthe\tclothes\the\twears.\tI am\tquite\table\tto\tpay\tfor\tthis\tsuit;\tI\tsimply\tdidn't\twish\tto\tput\tyou\tto\tthe\ttrouble\tof changing\ta\tlarge\tnote.\\\" He\tmodified\this\tstyle\ta\tlittle\tat\tthat,\tand\tsaid,\tthough\tstill\twith\tsomething\tof an\tair: \\\"I\tdidn't\tmean\tany\tparticular\tharm,\tbut\tas\tlong\tas\trebukes\tare\tgoing,\tI\tmight say\tit\twasn't\tquite\tyour\taffair\tto\tjump\tto\tthe\tconclusion\tthat\twe\tcouldn't\tchange any\tnote\tthat\tyou\tmight\thappen\tto\tbe\tcarrying\taround.\tOn\tthe\tcontrary,\twe\tcan.\\\" I\thanded\tthe\tnote\tto\thim,\tand\tsaid: \\\"Oh,\tvery\twell;\tI\tapologize.\\\" He\t received\t it\t with\t a\t smile,\t one\t of\t those\t large\t smiles\t which\t go\t all\t around over,\t and\t have\t folds\t in\t them,\t and\t wrinkles,\t and\t spirals,\t and\t look\t like\t the\t place where\t you\t have\t thrown\t a\t brick\t in\t a\t pond;\t and\t then\t in\t the\t act\t of\t his\t taking\t a glimpse\t of\t the\t bill\t this\t smile\t froze\t solid,\t and\t turned\t yellow,\t and\t looked\t like those\t wavy,\t wormy\t spreads\t of\t lava\t which\t you\t find\t hardened\t on\t little\t levels\t on the\t side\t of\t Vesuvius.\t I\t never\t before\t saw\t a\t smile\t caught\t like\t that,\t and perpetuated.\tThe\tman\tstood\tthere\tholding\tthe\tbill,\tand\tlooking\tlike\tthat,\tand\tthe proprietor\thustled\tup\tto\tsee\twhat\twas\tthe\tmatter,\tand\tsaid,\tbriskly: \\\"Well,\twhat's\tup?\twhat's\tthe\ttrouble?\twhat's\twanting?\\\" I\tsaid:\t\\\"There\tisn't\tany\ttrouble.\tI'm\twaiting\tfor\tmy\tchange.\\\" \\\"Come,\tcome;\tget\thim\this\tchange,\tTod;\tget\thim\this\tchange.\\\" Tod\t retorted:\t \\\"Get\t him\t his\t change!\t It's\t easy\t to\t say,\t sir;\t but\t look\t at\t the\t bill yourself.\\\" The\t proprietor\t took\t a\t look,\t gave\t a\t low,\t eloquent\t whistle,\t then\t made\t a\t dive for\tthe\tpile\tof\trejected\tclothing,\tand\tbegan\tto\tsnatch\tit\tthis\tway\tand\tthat,\ttalking all\tthe\ttime\texcitedly,\tand\tas\tif\tto\thimself: \\\"Sell\tan\teccentric\tmillionaire\tsuch\tan\tunspeakable\tsuit\tas\tthat!\tTod's\ta\tfool--a born\tfool.\tAlways\tdoing\tsomething\tlike\tthis.\tDrives\tevery\tmillionaire\taway\tfrom","this\tplace,\tbecause\the\tcan't\ttell\ta\tmillionaire\tfrom\ta\ttramp,\tand\tnever\tcould.\tAh, here's\tthe\tthing\tI\tam\tafter.\tPlease\tget\tthose\tthings\toff,\tsir,\tand\tthrow\tthem\tin\tthe fire.\tDo\tme\tthe\tfavor\tto\tput\ton\tthis\tshirt\tand\tthis\tsuit;\tit's\tjust\tthe\tthing,\tthe\tvery thing--plain,\t rich,\t modest,\t and\t just\t ducally\t nobby;\t made\t to\t order\t for\t a\t foreign prince--you\t may\t know\t him,\t sir,\t his\t Serene\t Highness\t the\t Hospodar\t of\t Halifax; had\tto\tleave\tit\twith\tus\tand\ttake\ta\tmourning-suit\tbecause\this\tmother\twas\tgoing\tto die--which\t she\t didn't.\t But\t that's\t all\t right;\t we\t can't\t always\t have\t things\t the\t way we--that\t is,\t the\t way\t they--there!\t trousers\t all\t right,\t they\t fit\t you\t to\t a\t charm,\t sir; now\t the\t waistcoat;\t aha,\t right\t again!\t now\t the\t coat--lord!\t look\t at\t that,\t now! Perfect--the\twhole\tthing!\tI\tnever\tsaw\tsuch\ta\ttriumph\tin\tall\tmy\texperience.\\\" I\texpressed\tmy\tsatisfaction. \\\"Quite\t right,\t sir,\t quite\t right;\t it'll\t do\t for\t a\t makeshift,\t I'm\t bound\t to\t say.\t But wait\t till\t you\t see\t what\t we'll\t get\t up\t for\t you\t on\t your\t own\t measure.\t Come,\t Tod, book\t and\t pen;\t get\t at\t it.\t Length\t of\t leg,\t 32''\\\"--and\t so\t on.\t Before\t I\t could\t get\t in\t a word\the\thad\tmeasured\tme,\tand\twas\tgiving\torders\tfor\tdress-suits,\tmorning\tsuits, shirts,\tand\tall\tsorts\tof\tthings.\tWhen\tI\tgot\ta\tchance\tI\tsaid: \\\"But,\tmy\tdear\tsir,\tI\tcan't\tgive\tthese\torders,\tunless\tyou\tcan\twait\tindefinitely, or\tchange\tthe\tbill.\\\" \\\"Indefinitely!\t It's\t a\t weak\t word,\t sir,\t a\t weak\t word.\t Eternally--that's\t the\t word, sir.\t Tod,\t rush\t these\t things\t through,\t and\t send\t them\t to\t the\t gentleman's\t address without\t any\t waste\t of\t time.\t Let\t the\t minor\t customers\t wait.\t Set\t down\t the gentleman's\taddress\tand--\\\" \\\"I'm\tchanging\tmy\tquarters.\tI\twill\tdrop\tin\tand\tleave\tthe\tnew\taddress.\\\" \\\"Quite\tright,\tsir,\tquite\tright.\tOne\tmoment--let\tme\tshow\tyou\tout,\tsir.\tThere-- good\tday,\tsir,\tgood\tday.\\\" Well,\t don't\t you\t see\t what\t was\t bound\t to\t happen?\t I\t drifted\t naturally\t into buying\t whatever\t I\t wanted,\t and\t asking\t for\t change.\t Within\t a\t week\t I\t was sumptuously\tequipped\twith\tall\tneedful\tcomforts\tand\tluxuries,\tand\twas\thoused\tin an\t expensive\t private\t hotel\t in\t Hanover\t Square.\t I\t took\t my\t dinners\t there,\t but\t for breakfast\t I\t stuck\t by\t Harris's\t humble\t feeding-house,\t where\t I\t had\t got\t my\t first meal\ton\tmy\tmillion-pound\tbill.\tI\twas\tthe\tmaking\tof\tHarris.\tThe\tfact\thad\tgone\tall abroad\tthat\tthe\tforeign\tcrank\twho\tcarried\tmillion-pound\tbills\tin\this\tvest\tpocket was\t the\t patron\t saint\t of\t the\t place.\t That\t was\t enough.\t From\t being\t a\t poor, struggling,\t little\t hand-to-mouth\t enterprise,\t it\t had\t become\t celebrated,\t and overcrowded\t with\t customers.\t Harris\t was\t so\t grateful\t that\t he\t forced\t loans\t upon me,\tand\twould\tnot\tbe\tdenied;\tand\tso,\tpauper\tas\tI\twas,\tI\thad\tmoney\tto\tspend,\tand was\tliving\tlike\tthe\trich\tand\tthe\tgreat.\tI\tjudged\tthat\tthere\twas\tgoing\tto\tbe\ta\tcrash","by\tand\tby,\tbut\tI\twas\tin\tnow\tand\tmust\tswim\tacross\tor\tdrown.\tYou\tsee\tthere\twas just\tthat\telement\tof\timpending\tdisaster\tto\tgive\ta\tserious\tside,\ta\tsober\tside,\tyes,\ta tragic\t side,\t to\t a\t state\t of\t things\t which\t would\t otherwise\t have\t been\t purely ridiculous.\tIn\tthe\tnight,\tin\tthe\tdark,\tthe\ttragedy\tpart\twas\talways\tto\tthe\tfront,\tand always\twarning,\talways\tthreatening;\tand\tso\tI\tmoaned\tand\ttossed,\tand\tsleep\twas hard\t to\t find.\t But\t in\t the\t cheerful\t daylight\t the\t tragedy\t element\t faded\t out\t and disappeared,\t and\t I\t walked\t on\t air,\t and\t was\t happy\t to\t giddiness,\t to\t intoxication, you\tmay\tsay. And\tit\twas\tnatural;\tfor\tI\thad\tbecome\tone\tof\tthe\tnotorieties\tof\tthe\tmetropolis of\tthe\tworld,\tand\tit\tturned\tmy\thead,\tnot\tjust\ta\tlittle,\tbut\ta\tgood\tdeal.\tYou\tcould not\t take\t up\t a\t newspaper,\t English,\t Scotch,\t or\t Irish,\t without\t finding\t in\t it\t one\t or more\t references\t to\t the\t \\\"vest-pocket\t million-pounder\\\"\t and\t his\t latest\t doings\t and sayings.\t At\t first,\t in\t these\t mentions,\t I\t was\t at\t the\t bottom\t of\t the\t personal-gossip column;\tnext,\tI\twas\tlisted\tabove\tthe\tknights,\tnext\tabove\tthe\tbaronets,\tnext\tabove the\tbarons,\tand\tso\ton,\tand\tso\ton,\tclimbing\tsteadily,\tas\tmy\tnotoriety\taugmented, until\t I\t reached\t the\t highest\t altitude\t possible,\t and\t there\t I\t remained,\t taking precedence\t of\t all\t dukes\t not\t royal,\t and\t of\t all\t ecclesiastics\t except\t the\t primate\t of all\t England.\t But\t mind,\t this\t was\t not\t fame;\t as\t yet\t I\t had\t achieved\t only\t notoriety. Then\t came\t the\t climaxing\t stroke--the\t accolade,\t so\t to\t speak--which\t in\t a\t single instant\t transmuted\t the\t perishable\t dross\t of\t notoriety\t into\t the\t enduring\t gold\t of fame:\t Punch\t caricatured\t me!\t Yes,\t I\t was\t a\t made\t man\t now;\t my\t place\t was established.\t I\t might\t be\t joked\t about\t still,\t but\t reverently,\t not\t hilariously,\t not rudely;\t I\t could\t be\t smiled\t at,\t but\t not\t laughed\t at.\t The\t time\t for\t that\t had\t gone\t by. Punch\t pictured\t me\t all\t a-flutter\t with\t rags,\t dickering\t with\t a\t beef-eater\t for\t the Tower\t of\t London.\t Well,\t you\t can\t imagine\t how\t it\t was\t with\t a\t young\t fellow\t who had\t never\t been\t taken\t notice\t of\t before,\t and\t now\t all\t of\t a\t sudden\t couldn't\t say\t a thing\tthat\twasn't\ttaken\tup\tand\trepeated\teverywhere;\tcouldn't\tstir\tabroad\twithout constantly\t overhearing\tthe\tremark\tflying\tfrom\tlip\t to\tlip,\t\\\"There\t he\tgoes;\tthat's him!\\\"\tcouldn't\ttake\this\tbreakfast\twithout\ta\tcrowd\tto\tlook\ton;\tcouldn't\tappear\tin an\topera-box\twithout\tconcentrating\tthere\tthe\tfire\tof\ta\tthousand\tlorgnettes.\tWhy, I\tjust\tswam\tin\tglory\tall\tday\tlong--that\tis\tthe\tamount\tof\tit. You\tknow,\tI\teven\tkept\tmy\told\tsuit\tof\trags,\tand\tevery\tnow\tand\tthen\tappeared in\tthem,\tso\tas\tto\thave\tthe\told\tpleasure\tof\tbuying\ttrifles,\tand\tbeing\tinsulted,\tand then\t shooting\t the\t scoffer\t dead\t with\t the\t million-pound\t bill.\t But\t I\t couldn't\t keep that\tup.\tThe\tillustrated\tpapers\tmade\tthe\toutfit\tso\tfamiliar\tthat\twhen\tI\twent\tout\tin it\t I\t was\t at\t once\t recognized\t and\t followed\t by\t a\t crowd,\t and\t if\t I\t attempted\t a purchase\tthe\tman\twould\toffer\tme\this\twhole\tshop\ton\tcredit\tbefore\tI\t could\tpull","my\tnote\ton\thim. About\tthe\ttenth\tday\tof\tmy\tfame\tI\twent\tto\tfulfil\tmy\tduty\tto\tmy\tflag\tby\tpaying my\t respects\t to\t the\t American\t minister.\t He\t received\t me\t with\t the\t enthusiasm proper\t in\t my\t case,\t upbraided\t me\t for\t being\t so\t tardy\t in\t my\t duty,\t and\t said\t that there\twas\tonly\tone\tway\tto\tget\this\tforgiveness,\tand\tthat\twas\tto\ttake\tthe\tseat\tat\this dinner-party\t that\t night\t made\t vacant\t by\t the\t illness\t of\t one\t of\t his\t guests.\t I\t said\t I would,\t and\t we\t got\t to\t talking.\t It\t turned\t out\t that\t he\t and\t my\t father\t had\t been schoolmates\t in\t boyhood,\t Yale\t students\t together\t later,\t and\t always\t warm\t friends up\tto\tmy\tfather's\tdeath.\tSo\tthen\the\trequired\tme\tto\tput\tin\tat\this\thouse\tall\tthe\todd time\tI\tmight\thave\tto\tspare,\tand\tI\twas\tvery\twilling,\tof\tcourse. In\tfact,\tI\twas\tmore\tthan\twilling;\tI\twas\tglad.\tWhen\tthe\tcrash\tshould\tcome,\the might\tsomehow\tbe\table\tto\tsave\tme\tfrom\ttotal\tdestruction;\tI\tdidn't\tknow\thow,\tbut he\tmight\tthink\tof\ta\tway,\tmaybe.\tI\tcouldn't\tventure\tto\tunbosom\tmyself\tto\thim\tat this\t late\t date,\t a\t thing\t which\t I\t would\t have\t been\t quick\t to\t do\t in\t the\t beginning\t of this\tawful\tcareer\tof\tmine\tin\tLondon.\tNo,\tI\tcouldn't\tventure\tit\tnow;\tI\twas\tin\ttoo deep;\tthat\tis,\ttoo\tdeep\tfor\tme\tto\tbe\trisking\trevelations\tto\tso\tnew\ta\tfriend,\tthough not\t clear\t beyond\t my\t depth,\t as\t I\t looked\t at\t it.\t Because,\t you\t see,\t with\t all\t my borrowing,\tI\twas\tcarefully\tkeeping\twithin\tmy\tmeans--I\tmean\twithin\tmy\tsalary. Of\t course,\t I\t couldn't\t know\t what\t my\t salary\t was\t going\t to\t be,\t but\t I\t had\t a\t good enough\tbasis\tfor\tan\testimate\tin\tthe\tfact\tthat\tif\tI\twon\tthe\tbet\tI\twas\tto\thave\tchoice of\tany\tsituation\tin\tthat\trich\told\tgentleman's\tgift\tprovided\tI\twas\tcompetent--and\tI should\t certainly\t prove\t competent;\t I\t hadn't\t any\t doubt\t about\t that.\t And\t as\t to\t the bet,\tI\twasn't\tworrying\tabout\tthat;\tI\thad\talways\tbeen\tlucky.\tNow\tmy\testimate\tof the\t salary\t was\t six\t hundred\t to\t a\t thousand\t a\t year;\t say,\t six\t hundred\t for\t the\t first year,\tand\tso\ton\tup\tyear\tby\tyear,\ttill\tI\tstruck\tthe\tupper\tfigure\tby\tproved\tmerit.\tAt present\tI\twas\tonly\tin\tdebt\tfor\tmy\tfirst\tyear's\tsalary.\tEverybody\thad\tbeen\ttrying to\t lend\t me\t money,\t but\t I\t had\t fought\t off\t the\t most\t of\t them\t on\t one\t pretext\t or another;\tso\tthis\tindebtedness\trepresented\tonly\tPS300\tborrowed\tmoney,\tthe\tother PS300\t represented\t my\t keep\t and\t my\t purchases.\t I\t believed\t my\t second\t year's salary\twould\tcarry\tme\tthrough\tthe\trest\tof\tthe\tmonth\tif\tI\twent\ton\tbeing\tcautious and\t economical,\t and\t I\t intended\t to\t look\t sharply\t out\t for\t that.\t My\t month\t ended, my\temployer\tback\tfrom\this\tjourney,\tI\tshould\tbe\tall\tright\tonce\tmore,\tfor\tI\tshould at\tonce\tdivide\tthe\ttwo\tyears'\tsalary\tamong\tmy\tcreditors\tby\tassignment,\tand\tget right\tdown\tto\tmy\twork. It\t was\t a\t lovely\t dinner-party\t of\t fourteen.\t The\t Duke\t and\t Duchess\t of Shoreditch,\t and\t their\t daughter\t the\t Lady\t Anne-Grace-Eleanor-Celeste-and-so- forth-and-so-forth-de-Bohun,\t the\t Earl\t and\t Countess\t of\t Newgate,\t Viscount","Cheapside,\tLord\tand\tLady\tBlatherskite,\tsome\tuntitled\tpeople\tof\tboth\tsexes,\tthe minister\tand\this\twife\tand\tdaughter,\tand\this\tdaughter's\tvisiting\tfriend,\tan\tEnglish girl\t of\t twenty-two,\t named\t Portia\t Langham,\t whom\t I\t fell\t in\t love\t with\t in\t two minutes,\tand\tshe\twith\tme--I\tcould\tsee\tit\twithout\tglasses.\tThere\twas\tstill\tanother guest,\t an\t American--but\t I\t am\t a\t little\t ahead\t of\t my\t story.\t While\t the\t people\t were still\t in\t the\t drawing-room,\t whetting\t up\t for\t dinner,\t and\t coldly\t inspecting\t the\t late comers,\tthe\tservant\tannounced: \\\"Mr.\tLloyd\tHastings.\\\" The\tmoment\tthe\tusual\tcivilities\twere\tover,\tHastings\tcaught\tsight\tof\tme,\tand came\tstraight\twith\tcordially\toutstretched\thand;\tthen\tstopped\tshort\twhen\tabout\tto shake,\tand\tsaid,\twith\tan\tembarrassed\tlook: \\\"I\tbeg\tyour\tpardon,\tsir,\tI\tthought\tI\tknew\tyou.\\\" \\\"Why,\tyou\tdo\tknow\tme,\told\tfellow.\\\" \\\"No.\tAre\tyou\tthe--the--\\\" \\\"Vest-pocket\t monster?\t I\t am,\t indeed.\t Don't\t be\t afraid\t to\t call\t me\t by\t my nickname;\tI'm\tused\tto\tit.\\\" \\\"Well,\t well,\t well,\t this\t is\t a\t surprise.\t Once\t or\t twice\t I've\t seen\t your\t own\t name coupled\t with\t the\t nickname,\t but\t it\t never\t occurred\t to\t me\t that\t you\t could\t be\t the Henry\tAdams\treferred\tto.\tWhy,\tit\tisn't\tsix\tmonths\tsince\tyou\twere\tclerking\taway for\t Blake\t Hopkins\t in\t Frisco\t on\t a\t salary,\t and\t sitting\t up\t nights\t on\t an\t extra allowance,\thelping\tme\tarrange\tand\tverify\tthe\tGould\tand\tCurry\tExtension\tpapers and\t statistics.\t The\t idea\t of\t your\t being\t in\t London,\t and\t a\t vast\t millionaire,\t and\t a colossal\tcelebrity!\tWhy,\tit's\tthe\tArabian\tNights\tcome\tagain.\tMan,\tI\tcan't\ttake\tit in\tat\tall;\tcan't\trealize\tit;\tgive\tme\ttime\tto\tsettle\tthe\twhirl\tin\tmy\thead.\\\" \\\"The\tfact\tis,\tLloyd,\tyou\tare\tno\tworse\toff\tthan\tI\tam.\tI\tcan't\trealize\tit\tmyself.\\\" \\\"Dear\tme,\tit\tis\tstunning,\tnow\tisn't\tit?\tWhy,\tit's\tjust\tthree\tmonths\ttoday\tsince we\twent\tto\tthe\tMiners'\trestaurant--\\\" \\\"No;\tthe\tWhat\tCheer.\\\" \\\"Right,\t it\t was\t the\t What\t Cheer;\t went\t there\t at\t two\t in\t the\t morning,\t and\t had\t a chop\t and\t coffee\t after\t a\t hard\t six-hours\t grind\t over\t those\t Extension\t papers,\t and\t I tried\t to\t persuade\t you\t to\t come\t to\t London\t with\t me,\t and\t offered\t to\t get\t leave\t of absence\t for\t you\t and\t pay\t all\t your\t expenses,\t and\t give\t you\t something\t over\t if\t I succeeded\t in\t making\t the\t sale;\t and\t you\t would\t not\t listen\t to\t me,\t said\t I\t wouldn't succeed,\t and\t you\t couldn't\t afford\t to\t lose\t the\t run\t of\t business\t and\t be\t no\t end\t of time\tgetting\tthe\thang\tof\tthings\tagain\twhen\tyou\tgot\tback\thome.\tAnd\tyet\there\tyou are.\tHow\todd\tit\tall\tis!\tHow\tdid\tyou\thappen\tto\tcome,\tand\twhatever\tdid\tgive\tyou this\tincredible\tstart?\\\"","\\\"Oh,\tjust\tan\taccident.\t It's\ta\tlong\tstory--a\tromance,\ta\tbody\tmay\tsay.\tI'll\ttell you\tall\tabout\tit,\tbut\tnot\tnow.\\\" \\\"When?\\\" \\\"The\tend\tof\tthis\tmonth.\\\" \\\"That's\t more\t than\t a\t fortnight\t yet.\t It's\t too\t much\t of\t a\t strain\t on\t a\t person's curiosity.\tMake\tit\ta\tweek.\\\" \\\"I\tcan't.\tYou'll\tknow\twhy,\tby\tand\tby.\tBut\thow's\tthe\ttrade\tgetting\talong?\\\" His\tcheerfulness\tvanished\tlike\ta\tbreath,\tand\the\tsaid\twith\ta\tsigh: \\\"You\t were\t a\t true\t prophet,\t Hal,\t a\t true\t prophet.\t I\t wish\t I\t hadn't\t come.\t I\t don't want\tto\ttalk\tabout\tit.\\\" \\\"But\t you\t must.\t You\t must\t come\t and\t stop\t with\t me\t to-night,\t when\t we\t leave here,\tand\ttell\tme\tall\tabout\tit.\\\" \\\"Oh,\tmay\tI?\tAre\tyou\tin\tearnest?\\\"\tand\tthe\twater\tshowed\tin\this\teyes. \\\"Yes;\tI\twant\tto\thear\tthe\twhole\tstory,\tevery\tword.\\\" \\\"I'm\tso\tgrateful!\tJust\tto\tfind\ta\thuman\tinterest\tonce\tmore,\tin\tsome\tvoice\tand in\tsome\teye,\tin\tme\tand\taffairs\tof\tmine,\tafter\twhat\tI've\tbeen\tthrough\there--lord!\tI could\tgo\tdown\ton\tmy\tknees\tfor\tit!\\\" He\t gripped\t my\t hand\t hard,\t and\t braced\t up,\t and\t was\t all\t right\t and\t lively\t after that\t for\t the\t dinner--which\t didn't\t come\t off.\t No;\t the\t usual\t thing\t happened,\t the thing\t that\t is\t always\t happening\t under\t the\t vicious\t and\t aggravating\t English system--the\tmatter\tof\tprecedence\tcouldn't\tbe\tsettled,\tand\tso\tthere\twas\tno\tdinner. Englishmen\t always\t eat\t dinner\t before\t they\t go\t out\t to\t dinner,\t because\t they\t know the\trisks\tthey\tare\trunning;\tbut\tnobody\tever\twarns\tthe\tstranger,\tand\tso\the\twalks placidly\tinto\tthe\ttrap.\tOf\tcourse,\tnobody\twas\thurt\tthis\ttime,\tbecause\twe\thad\tall been\tto\tdinner,\tnone\tof\tus\tbeing\tnovices\texcepting\tHastings,\tand\the\thaving\tbeen informed\tby\tthe\tminister\tat\tthe\ttime\tthat\the\tinvited\thim\tthat\tin\tdeference\tto\tthe English\t custom\t he\t had\t not\t provided\t any\t dinner.\t Everybody\t took\t a\t lady\t and processioned\t down\t to\t the\t dining-room\t because\t it\t is\t usual\t to\t go\t through\t the motions;\t but\t there\t the\t dispute\t began.\t The\t Duke\t of\t Shoreditch\t wanted\t to\t take precedence,\tand\tsit\tat\tthe\thead\tof\tthe\ttable,\tholding\tthat\the\toutranked\ta\tminister who\t represented\t merely\t a\t nation\t and\t not\t a\t monarch;\t but\t I\t stood\t for\t my\t rights, and\trefused\tto\tyield.\tIn\tthe\tgossip\tcolumn\tI\tranked\tall\tdukes\tnot\troyal,\tand\tsaid so,\tand\tclaimed\tprecedence\tof\tthis\tone.\tIt\tcouldn't\tbe\tsettled,\tof\tcourse,\tstruggle as\t we\t might\t and\t did,\t he\t finally\t (and\t injudiciously)\t trying\t to\t play\t birth\t and antiquity,\t and\t I\t \\\"seeing\\\"\t his\t Conqueror\t and\t \\\"raising\\\"\t him\t with\t Adam,\t whose direct\tposterity\tI\twas,\tas\tshown\tby\tmy\tname,\twhile\the\twas\tof\ta\tcollateral\tbranch, as\tshown\tby\this,\tand\tby\this\trecent\tNorman\torigin;\tso\twe\tall\tprocessioned\tback","to\tthe\tdrawing-room\tagain\tand\thad\ta\tperpendicular\tlunch--plate\tof\tsardines\tand a\tstrawberry,\tand\tyou\tgroup\tyourself\tand\tstand\tup\tand\teat\tit.\tHere\tthe\treligion\tof precedence\t is\t not\t so\t strenuous;\t the\t two\t persons\t of\t highest\t rank\t chuck\t up\t a shilling,\t the\t one\t that\t wins\t has\t first\t go\t at\t his\t strawberry,\t and\t the\t loser\t gets\t the shilling.\tThe\tnext\ttwo\tchuck\tup,\tthen\tthe\tnext\ttwo,\tand\tso\ton.\tAfter\trefreshment, tables\t were\t brought,\t and\t we\t all\t played\t cribbage,\t sixpence\t a\t game.\t The\t English never\t play\t any\t game\t for\t amusement.\t If\t they\t can't\t make\t something\t or\t lose something--they\tdon't\tcare\twhich--they\twon't\tplay. We\thad\ta\tlovely\ttime;\tcertainly\ttwo\tof\tus\thad,\tMiss\tLangham\tand\tI.\tI\twas\tso bewitched\t with\t her\t that\t I\t couldn't\t count\t my\t hands\t if\t they\t went\t above\t a\t double sequence;\t and\t when\t I\t struck\t home\t I\t never\t discovered\t it,\t and\t started\t up\t the outside\trow\tagain,\tand\twould\thave\tlost\tthe\tgame\tevery\ttime,\tonly\tthe\tgirl\tdid\tthe same,\t she\t being\t in\t just\t my\t condition,\t you\t see;\t and\t consequently\t neither\t of\t us ever\t got\t out,\t or\t cared\t to\t wonder\t why\t we\t didn't;\t we\t only\t just\t knew\t we\t were happy,\tand\tdidn't\twish\tto\tknow\tanything\telse,\tand\tdidn't\twant\tto\tbe\tinterrupted. And\tI\ttold\ther--I\tdid,\tindeed--told\ther\tI\tloved\ther;\tand\tshe--well,\tshe\tblushed\ttill her\thair\tturned\tred,\tbut\tshe\tliked\tit;\tshe\tsaid\tshe\tdid.\tOh,\tthere\twas\tnever\tsuch\tan evening!\t Every\t time\t I\t pegged\t I\t put\t on\t a\t postscript;\t every\t time\t she\t pegged\t she acknowledged\t receipt\t of\t it,\t counting\t the\t hands\t the\t same.\t Why,\t I\t couldn't\t even say\t \\\"Two\t for\t his\t heels\\\"\t without\t adding\t \\\"My,\t how\t sweet\t you\t do\t look!\\\"\t and\t she would\t say,\t \\\"Fifteen\t two,\t fifteen\t four,\t fifteen\t six,\t and\t a\t pair\t are\t eight,\t and\t eight are\tsixteen--do\t you\t think\t so?\\\"--peeping\t out\t aslant\t from\t under\t her\t lashes,\t you know,\tso\tsweet\tand\tcunning.\tOh,\tit\twas\tjust\ttoo-too! Well,\t I\t was\t perfectly\t honest\t and\t square\t with\t her;\t told\t her\t I\t hadn't\t a\t cent\t in the\tworld\tbut\tjust\tthe\tmillion-pound\tnote\tshe'd\theard\tso\tmuch\ttalk\tabout,\tand\tit didn't\tbelong\tto\tme,\tand\tthat\tstarted\ther\tcuriosity;\tand\tthen\tI\ttalked\tlow,\tand\ttold her\tthe\twhole\thistory\tright\tfrom\tthe\tstart,\tand\tit\tnearly\tkilled\ther\tlaughing.\tWhat in\tthe\tnation\tshe\tcould\tfind\tto\tlaugh\tabout\tI\tcouldn't\tsee,\tbut\tthere\tit\twas;\tevery half-minute\tsome\tnew\tdetail\twould\tfetch\ther,\tand\tI\twould\thave\tto\tstop\tas\tmuch as\t a\t minute\t and\t a\t half\t to\t give\t her\t a\t chance\t to\t settle\t down\t again.\t Why,\t she laughed\t herself\t lame--she\t did,\t indeed;\t I\t never\t saw\t anything\t like\t it.\t I\t mean\t I never\tsaw\ta\tpainful\tstory--a\tstory\tof\ta\tperson's\ttroubles\tand\tworries\tand\tfears-- produce\tjust\tthat\t kind\t of\t effect\t before.\t So\t I\t loved\t her\t all\t the\t more,\t seeing\t she could\tbe\tso\tcheerful\twhen\tthere\twasn't\tanything\tto\tbe\tcheerful\tabout;\tfor\tI\tmight soon\tneed\tthat\tkind\tof\twife,\tyou\tknow,\tthe\tway\tthings\tlooked.\tOf\tcourse,\tI\ttold her\twe\tshould\thave\tto\twait\ta\tcouple\tof\tyears,\ttill\tI\tcould\tcatch\tup\ton\tmy\tsalary; but\tshe\tdidn't\tmind\tthat,\tonly\tshe\thoped\tI\twould\tbe\tas\tcareful\tas\tpossible\tin\tthe","matter\t of\t expenses,\t and\t not\t let\t them\t run\t the\t least\t risk\t of\t trenching\t on\t our\t third year's\t pay.\t Then\t she\t began\t to\t get\t a\t little\t worried,\t and\t wondered\t if\t we\t were making\t any\t mistake,\t and\t starting\t the\t salary\t on\t a\t higher\t figure\t for\t the\t first\t year than\tI\twould\tget.\tThis\twas\tgood\tsense,\tand\tit\tmade\tme\tfeel\ta\tlittle\tless\tconfident than\t I\t had\t been\t feeling\t before;\t but\t it\t gave\t me\t a\t good\t business\t idea,\t and\t I brought\tit\tfrankly\tout. \\\"Portia,\tdear,\twould\tyou\tmind\tgoing\twith\tme\tthat\tday,\twhen\tI\tconfront\tthose old\tgentlemen?\\\" She\tshrank\ta\tlittle,\tbut\tsaid: \\\"N-o;\t if\t my\t being\t with\t you\t would\t help\t hearten\t you.\t But--would\t it\t be\t quite proper,\tdo\tyou\tthink?\\\" \\\"No,\tI\tdon't\tknow\tthat\tit\twould--in\tfact,\tI'm\tafraid\tit\twouldn't;\tbut,\tyou\tsee, there's\tso\tmuch\tdependent\tupon\tit\tthat--\\\" \\\"Then\t I'll\t go\t anyway,\t proper\t or\t improper,\\\"\t she\t said,\t with\t a\t beautiful\t and generous\tenthusiasm.\t\\\"Oh,\tI\tshall\tbe\tso\thappy\tto\tthink\tI'm\thelping!\\\" \\\"Helping,\tdear?\tWhy,\tyou'll\tbe\tdoing\tit\tall.\tYou're\tso\tbeautiful\tand\tso\tlovely and\t so\t winning,\t that\t with\t you\t there\t I\t can\t pile\t our\t salary\t up\t till\t I\t break\t those good\told\tfellows,\tand\tthey'll\tnever\thave\tthe\theart\tto\tstruggle.\\\" Sho!\tyou\tshould\thave\tseen\tthe\trich\tblood\tmount,\tand\ther\thappy\teyes\tshine! \\\"You\twicked\tflatterer!\tThere\tisn't\ta\tword\tof\ttruth\tin\twhat\tyou\tsay,\tbut\tstill\tI'll go\t with\t you.\t Maybe\t it\t will\t teach\t you\t not\t to\t expect\t other\t people\t to\t look\t with your\teyes.\\\" Were\tmy\tdoubts\tdissipated?\tWas\tmy\tconfidence\trestored?\tYou\tmay\tjudge\tby this\tfact:\tprivately\tI\traised\tmy\tsalary\tto\ttwelve\thundred\tthe\tfirst\tyear\ton\tthe\tspot. But\tI\tdidn't\ttell\ther:\tI\tsaved\tit\tfor\ta\tsurprise. All\tthe\tway\thome\tI\twas\tin\tthe\tclouds.\tHastings\ttalking,\tI\tnot\thearing\ta\tword. When\t he\t and\t I\t entered\t my\t parlor,\t he\t brought\t me\t to\t myself\t with\t his\t fervent appreciations\tof\tmy\tmanifold\tcomforts\tand\tluxuries. \\\"Let\t me\t just\t stand\t here\t a\t little\t and\t look\t my\t fill.\t Dear\t me!\t it's\t a\t palace--it's just\ta\tpalace!\tAnd\tin\tit\teverything\ta\tbody\tcould\tdesire,\tincluding\tcozy\tcoal\tfire and\t supper\t standing\t ready.\t Henry,\t it\t doesn't\t merely\t make\t me\t realize\t how\t rich you\tare;\tit\tmakes\tme\trealize,\tto\t the\tbone,\tto\tthe\tmarrow,\thow\tpoor\tI\tam--how poor\tI\tam,\tand\thow\tmiserable,\thow\tdefeated,\trouted,\tannihilated!\\\" Plague\ttake\tit!\tthis\tlanguage\tgave\tme\tthe\tcold\tshudders.\tIt\tscared\tme\tbroad awake,\tand\tmade\tme\tcomprehend\tthat\tI\twas\tstanding\ton\ta\thalf-inch\tcrust,\twith\ta crater\t underneath.\t I\t didn't\t know\t I\t had\t been\t dreaming--that\t is,\t I\t hadn't\t been allowing\tmyself\tto\t know\tit\tfor\ta\twhile\tback;\tbut\tnow--oh,\t dear!\t Deep\t in\t debt,","not\ta\tcent\tin\tthe\tworld,\ta\tlovely\tgirl's\thappiness\tor\twoe\tin\tmy\thands,\tand\tnothing in\tfront\tof\tme\tbut\ta\tsalary\twhich\tmight\tnever--oh,\twould\tnever--materialize!\tOh, oh,\toh!\tI\tam\truined\tpast\thope!\tnothing\tcan\tsave\tme! \\\"Henry,\tthe\tmere\tunconsidered\tdrippings\tof\tyour\tdaily\tincome\twould--\\\" \\\"Oh,\t my\t daily\t income!\t Here,\t down\t with\t this\t hot\t Scotch,\t and\t cheer\t up\t your soul.\tHere's\twith\tyou!\tOr,\tno--you're\thungry;\tsit\tdown\tand--\\\" \\\"Not\ta\tbite\tfor\tme;\tI'm\tpast\tit.\tI\tcan't\teat,\tthese\tdays;\tbut\tI'll\tdrink\twith\tyou till\tI\tdrop.\tCome!\\\" \\\"Barrel\t for\t barrel,\t I'm\t with\t you!\t Ready?\t Here\t we\t go!\t Now,\t then,\t Lloyd, unreel\tyour\tstory\twhile\tI\tbrew.\\\" \\\"Unreel\tit?\tWhat,\tagain?\\\" \\\"Again?\tWhat\tdo\tyou\tmean\tby\tthat?\\\" \\\"Why,\tI\tmean\tdo\tyou\twant\tto\thear\tit\tover\tagain?\\\" \\\"Do\tI\twant\tto\thear\tit\tover\tagain?\tThis\tis\ta\tpuzzler.\tWait;\tdon't\ttake\tany\tmore of\tthat\tliquid.\tYou\tdon't\tneed\tit.\\\" \\\"Look\t here,\t Henry,\t you\t alarm\t me.\t Didn't\t I\t tell\t you\t the\t whole\t story\t on\t the way\there?\\\" \\\"You?\\\" \\\"Yes,\tI.\\\" \\\"I'll\tbe\thanged\tif\tI\theard\ta\tword\tof\tit.\\\" \\\"Henry,\tthis\tis\ta\tserious\tthing.\tIt\ttroubles\tme.\tWhat\tdid\tyou\ttake\tup\tyonder\tat the\tminister's?\\\" Then\tit\tall\tflashed\ton\tme,\tand\tI\towned\tup\tlike\ta\tman. \\\"I\ttook\tthe\tdearest\tgirl\tin\tthis\tworld--prisoner!\\\" So\t then\t he\t came\t with\t a\t rush,\t and\t we\t shook,\t and\t shook,\t and\t shook\t till\t our hands\t ached;\t and\t he\t didn't\t blame\t me\t for\t not\t having\t heard\t a\t word\t of\t a\t story which\t had\t lasted\t while\t we\t walked\t three\t miles.\t He\t just\t sat\t down\t then,\t like\t the patient,\tgood\tfellow\the\twas,\tand\ttold\tit\tall\tover\tagain.\tSynopsized,\tit\tamounted to\tthis:\tHe\thad\tcome\tto\tEngland\twith\twhat\the\tthought\twas\ta\tgrand\topportunity; he\thad\tan\t\\\"option\\\"\tto\tsell\tthe\tGould\tand\tCurry\tExtension\tfor\tthe\t\\\"locators\\\"\tof\tit, and\tkeep\tall\the\tcould\tget\tover\ta\tmillion\tdollars.\tHe\thad\tworked\thard,\thad\tpulled every\twire\the\tknew\tof,\thad\tleft\tno\thonest\texpedient\tuntried,\thad\tspent\tnearly\tall the\t money\t he\t had\t in\t the\t world,\t had\t not\t been\t able\t to\t get\t a\t solitary\t capitalist\t to listen\tto\thim,\tand\this\toption\twould\trun\tout\tat\tthe\tend\tof\tthe\tmonth.\tIn\ta\tword,\the was\truined.\tThen\the\tjumped\tup\tand\tcried\tout: \\\"Henry,\t you\t can\t save\t me!\t You\t can\t save\t me,\t and\t you're\t the\t only\t man\t in\t the universe\tthat\tcan.\tWill\tyou\tdo\tit?\tWon't\tyou\tdo\tit?\\\"","\\\"Tell\tme\thow.\tSpeak\tout,\tmy\tboy.\\\" \\\"Give\t me\t a\t million\t and\t my\t passage\t home\t for\t my\t 'option'!\t Don't,\t don't refuse!\\\" I\t was\t in\t a\t kind\t of\t agony.\t I\t was\t right\t on\t the\t point\t of\t coming\t out\t with\t the words,\t \\\"Lloyd,\t I'm\t a\t pauper\t myself--absolutely\t penniless,\t and\t in\t debt.\\\"\t But\t a white-hot\tidea\tcame\tflaming\tthrough\tmy\thead,\tand\tI\tgripped\tmy\tjaws\ttogether, and\t calmed\t myself\t down\t till\t I\t was\t as\t cold\t as\t a\t capitalist.\t Then\t I\t said,\t in\t a commercial\tand\tself-possessed\tway: \\\"I\twill\tsave\tyou,\tLloyd--\\\" \\\"Then\tI'm\talready\tsaved!\tGod\tbe\tmerciful\tto\tyou\tforever!\tIf\tever\tI--\\\" \\\"Let\tme\tfinish,\tLloyd.\tI\twill\tsave\tyou,\tbut\tnot\tin\tthat\tway;\tfor\tthat\twould\tnot be\tfair\tto\tyou,\tafter\tyour\thard\twork,\tand\tthe\trisks\tyou've\trun.\tI\tdon't\tneed\tto\tbuy mines;\t I\t can\t keep\t my\t capital\t moving,\t in\t a\t commercial\t center\t like\t London, without\t that;\t it's\t what\t I'm\t at,\t all\t the\t time;\t but\t here\t is\t what\t I'll\t do.\t I\t know\t all about\t that\t mine,\t of\t course;\t I\t know\t its\t immense\t value,\t and\t can\t swear\t to\t it\t if anybody\t wishes\t it.\t You\t shall\t sell\t out\t inside\t of\t the\t fortnight\t for\t three\t millions cash,\tusing\tmy\tname\tfreely,\tand\twe'll\tdivide,\tshare\tand\tshare\talike.\\\" Do\t you\t know,\t he\t would\t have\t danced\t the\t furniture\t to\t kindling-wood\t in\t his insane\t joy,\t and\t broken\t everything\t on\t the\t place,\t if\t I\t hadn't\t tripped\t him\t up\t and tied\thim. Then\the\tlay\tthere,\tperfectly\thappy,\tsaying: \\\"I\tmay\tuse\tyour\tname!\tYour\tname--think\tof\tit!\tMan,\tthey'll\tflock\tin\tdroves, these\t rich\t Londoners;\t they'll\t fight\t for\t that\t stock!\t I'm\t a\t made\t man,\t I'm\t a\t made man\tforever,\tand\tI'll\tnever\tforget\tyou\tas\tlong\tas\tI\tlive!\\\" In\t less\t than\t twenty-four\t hours\t London\t was\t abuzz!\t I\t hadn't\t anything\t to\t do, day\tafter\tday,\tbut\tsit\tat\thome,\tand\tsay\tto\tall\tcomers: \\\"Yes;\t I\t told\t him\t to\t refer\t to\t me.\t I\t know\t the\t man,\t and\t I\t know\t the\t mine.\t His character\tis\tabove\treproach,\tand\tthe\tmine\tis\tworth\tfar\tmore\tthan\the\tasks\tfor\tit.\\\" Meantime\tI\tspent\tall\tmy\tevenings\tat\tthe\tminister's\twith\tPortia.\tI\tdidn't\tsay\ta word\t to\t her\t about\t the\t mine;\t I\t saved\t it\t for\t a\t surprise.\t We\t talked\t salary;\t never anything\tbut\tsalary\tand\tlove;\tsometimes\tlove,\tsometimes\tsalary,\tsometimes\tlove and\tsalary\ttogether.\tAnd\tmy!\tthe\tinterest\tthe\tminister's\twife\tand\tdaughter\ttook\tin our\t little\t affair,\t and\t the\t endless\t ingenuities\t they\t invented\t to\t save\t us\t from interruption,\tand\tto\tkeep\tthe\tminister\tin\tthe\tdark\tand\tunsuspicious--well,\tit\twas just\tlovely\tof\tthem! When\t the\t month\t was\t up\t at\t last,\t I\t had\t a\t million\t dollars\t to\t my\t credit\t in\t the London\t and\t County\t Bank,\t and\t Hastings\t was\t fixed\t in\t the\t same\t way.\t Dressed\t at","my\t level\t best,\t I\t drove\t by\t the\t house\t in\t Portland\t Place,\t judged\t by\t the\t look\t of things\tthat\tmy\tbirds\twere\thome\tagain,\twent\ton\ttoward\tthe\tminister's\tand\tgot\tmy precious,\t and\t we\t started\t back,\t talking\t salary\t with\t all\t our\t might.\t She\t was\t so excited\tand\tanxious\tthat\tit\tmade\ther\tjust\tintolerably\tbeautiful.\tI\tsaid: \\\"Dearie,\t the\t way\t you're\t looking\t it's\t a\t crime\t to\t strike\t for\t a\t salary\t a\t single penny\tunder\tthree\tthousand\ta\tyear.\\\" \\\"Henry,\tHenry,\tyou'll\truin\tus!\\\" \\\"Don't\tyou\tbe\tafraid.\tJust\tkeep\tup\tthose\tlooks\tand\ttrust\tto\tme.\tIt\t'll\tall\tcome out\tright.\\\" So,\tas\tit\tturned\tout,\tI\thad\tto\tkeep\tbolstering\tup\ther\tcourage\tall\tthe\tway.\tShe kept\tpleading\twith\tme,\tand\tsaying: \\\"Oh,\t please\t remember\t that\t if\t we\t ask\t for\t too\t much\t we\t may\t get\t no\t salary\t at all;\t and\t then\t what\t will\t become\t of\t us,\t with\t no\t way\t in\t the\t world\t to\t earn\t our living?\\\" We\t were\t ushered\t in\t by\t that\t same\t servant,\t and\t there\t they\t were,\t the\t two\t old gentlemen.\t Of\t course,\t they\t were\t surprised\t to\t see\t that\t wonderful\t creature\t with me,\tbut\tI\tsaid: \\\"It's\tall\tright,\tgentlemen;\tshe\tis\tmy\tfuture\tstay\tand\thelpmate.\\\" And\t I\t introduced\t them\t to\t her,\t and\t called\t them\t by\t name.\t It\t didn't\t surprise them;\tthey\tknew\tI\twould\tknow\tenough\tto\tconsult\tthe\tdirectory.\tThey\tseated\tus, and\t were\t very\t polite\t to\t me,\t and\t very\t solicitous\t to\t relieve\t her\t from embarrassment,\tand\tput\ther\tas\tmuch\tat\ther\tease\tas\tthey\tcould.\tThen\tI\tsaid: \\\"Gentlemen,\tI\tam\tready\tto\treport.\\\" \\\"We\tare\tglad\tto\thear\tit,\\\"\tsaid\tmy\tman,\t\\\"For\tnow\twe\tcan\tdecide\tthe\tbet\twhich my\t brother\t Abel\t and\t I\t made.\t If\t you\t have\t won\t for\t me,\t you\t shall\t have\t any situation\tin\tmy\tgift.\tHave\tyou\tthe\tmillion-pound\tnote?\\\" \\\"Here\tit\tis,\tsir,\\\"\tand\tI\thanded\tit\tto\thim. \\\"I've\t won!\\\"\t he\t shouted,\t and\t slapped\t Abel\t on\t the\t back.\t \\\"Now\t what\t do\t you say,\tbrother?\\\" \\\"I\tsay\t he\t did\t survive,\t and\t I've\t lost\t twenty\t thousand\t pounds.\t I\t never\t would have\tbelieved\tit.\\\" \\\"I've\ta\tfurther\treport\tto\tmake,\\\"\tI\tsaid,\t\\\"and\ta\tpretty\tlong\tone.\tI\twant\tyou\tto let\t me\t come\t soon,\t and\t detail\t my\t whole\t month's\t history;\t and\t I\t promise\t you\t it's worth\thearing.\tMeantime,\ttake\ta\tlook\tat\tthat.\\\" \\\"What,\tman!\tCertificate\tof\tdeposit\tfor\tPS200,000.\tIs\tit\tyours?\\\" \\\"Mine.\t I\t earned\t it\t by\t thirty\t days'\t judicious\t use\t of\t that\t little\t loan\t you\t let\t me have.\t And\t the\t only\t use\t I\t made\t of\t it\t was\t to\t buy\t trifles\t and\t offer\t the\t bill\t in","change.\\\" \\\"Come,\tthis\tis\tastonishing!\tIt's\tincredible,\tman!\\\" \\\"Never\tmind,\tI'll\tprove\tit.\tDon't\ttake\tmy\tword\tunsupported.\\\" But\tnow\tPortia's\tturn\twas\tcome\tto\tbe\tsurprised.\tHer\teyes\twere\tspread\twide, and\tshe\tsaid: \\\"Henry,\tis\tthat\treally\tyour\tmoney?\tHave\tyou\tbeen\tfibbing\tto\tme?\\\" \\\"I\thave,\tindeed,\tdearie.\tBut\tyou'll\tforgive\tme,\tI\tknow.\\\" She\tput\tup\tan\tarch\tpout,\tand\tsaid: \\\"Don't\tyou\tbe\tso\tsure:\tYou\tare\ta\tnaughty\tthing\tto\tdeceive\tme\tso!\\\" \\\"Oh,\t you'll\t get\t over\t it,\t sweetheart,\t you'll\t get\t over\t it;\t it\t was\t only\t fun,\t you know.\tCome,\tlet's\tbe\tgoing.\\\" \\\"But\t wait,\t wait!\t The\t situation,\t you\t know.\t I\t want\t to\t give\t you\t the\t situation,\\\" said\tmy\tman. \\\"Well,\\\"\tI\tsaid,\t\\\"I'm\tjust\tas\tgrateful\tas\tI\tcan\tbe,\tbut\treally\tI\tdon't\twant\tone.\\\" \\\"But\tyou\tcan\thave\tthe\tvery\tchoicest\tone\tin\tmy\tgift.\\\" \\\"Thanks\tagain,\twith\tall\tmy\theart;\tbut\tI\tdon't\teven\twant\tthat\tone.\\\" \\\"Henry,\tI'm\tashamed\tof\tyou.\tYou\tdon't\thalf\tthank\tthe\tgood\tgentleman.\tMay\tI do\tit\tfor\tyou?\\\" \\\"Indeed,\tyou\tshall,\tdear,\tif\tyou\tcan\timprove\tit.\tLet\tus\tsee\tyou\ttry.\\\" She\t walked\t to\t my\t man,\t got\t up\t in\t his\t lap,\t put\t her\t arm\t round\t his\t neck,\t and kissed\t him\t right\t on\t the\t mouth.\t Then\t the\t two\t old\t gentlemen\t shouted\t with laughter,\tbut\tI\twas\tdumb-founded,\tjust\tpetrified,\tas\tyou\tmay\tsay.\tPortia\tsaid: \\\"Papa,\t he\t has\t said\t you\t haven't\t a\t situation\t in\t your\t gift\t that\t he'd\t take;\t and\t I feel\tjust\tas\thurt\tas--\\\" \\\"My\tdarling,\tis\tthat\tyour\tpapa?\\\" \\\"Yes;\t he's\t my\t step-papa,\t and\t the\t dearest\t one\t that\t ever\t was.\t You\t understand now,\tdon't\tyou,\twhy\tI\twas\table\tto\tlaugh\twhen\tyou\ttold\tme\tat\tthe\tminister's,\tnot knowing\t my\t relationships,\t what\t trouble\t and\t worry\t papa's\t and\t Uncle\t Abel's scheme\twas\tgiving\tyou?\\\" Of\tcourse,\tI\tspoke\tright\tup\tnow,\twithout\tany\tfooling,\tand\twent\tstraight\tto\tthe point. \\\"Oh,\t my\t dearest\t dear\t sir,\t I\t want\t to\t take\t back\t what\t I\t said.\t You\t have\t got\t a situation\topen\tthat\tI\twant.\\\" \\\"Name\tit.\\\" \\\"Son-in-law.\\\" \\\"Well,\twell,\twell!\tBut\tyou\tknow,\tif\tyou\thaven't\tever\tserved\tin\tthat\tcapacity, you,\tof\tcourse,\tcan't\tfurnish\trecommendations\tof\ta\tsort\tto\tsatisfy\tthe\tconditions","of\tthe\tcontract,\tand\tso--\\\" \\\"Try\tme--oh,\tdo,\tI\tbeg\tof\tyou!\tOnly\tjust\ttry\tme\tthirty\tor\tforty\tyears,\tand\tif--\\\" \\\"Oh,\twell,\tall\tright;\tit's\tbut\ta\tlittle\tthing\tto\task,\ttake\ther\talong.\\\" Happy,\twe\ttwo?\tThere\tare\tnot\twords\tenough\tin\tthe\tunabridged\tto\tdescribe\tit. And\t when\t London\t got\t the\t whole\t history,\t a\t day\t or\t two\t later,\t of\t my\t month's adventures\twith\tthat\tbank-note,\tand\thow\tthey\tended,\tdid\tLondon\ttalk,\tand\thave a\tgood\ttime?\tYes. My\t Portia's\t papa\t took\t that\t friendly\t and\t hospitable\t bill\t back\t to\t the\t Bank\t of England\t and\t cashed\t it;\t then\t the\t Bank\t canceled\t it\t and\t made\t him\t a\t present\t of\t it, and\t he\t gave\t it\t to\t us\t at\t our\t wedding,\t and\t it\t has\t always\t hung\t in\t its\t frame\t in\t the sacredest\t place\t in\t our\t home\t ever\t since.\t For\t it\t gave\t me\t my\t Portia.\t But\t for\t it\t I could\t not\t have\t remained\t in\t London,\t would\t not\t have\t appeared\t at\t the\t minister's, never\tshould\thave\tmet\ther.\tAnd\tso\tI\talways\tsay,\t\\\"Yes,\tit's\ta\tmillion-pounder,\tas you\tsee;\tbut\tit\tnever\tmade\tbut\tone\tpurchase\tin\tits\tlife,\tand\tthen\tgot\tthe\tarticle\tfor only\tabout\ta\ttenth\tpart\tof\tits\tvalue.\\\" 1893","CECIL\tRHODES\tAND\tTHE\tSHARK THE\t SHARK\t is\t the\t swiftest\t fish\t that\t swims.\t The\t speed\t of\t the\t fastest steamer\t afloat\t is\t poor\t compared\t to\t his.\t And\t he\t is\t a\t great\t gad-about,\t and\t roams far\tand\twide\tin\tthe\toceans,\tand\tvisits\tthe\tshores\tof\tall\tof\tthem,\tultimately,\tin\tthe course\t of\t his\t restless\t excursions.\t I\t have\t a\t tale\t to\t tell\t now,\t which\t has\t not\t as\t yet been\tin\tprint.\tIn\t1870\ta\tyoung\tstranger\tarrived\tin\tSydney,\tand\tset\tabout\tfinding something\tto\tdo;\tbut\the\tknew\tno\tone,\tand\tbrought\tno\trecommendations,\tand\tthe result\t was\t that\t he\t got\t no\t employment.\t He\t had\t aimed\t high,\t at\t first,\t but\t as\t time and\t his\t money\t wasted\t away\t he\t grew\t less\t and\t less\t exacting,\t until\t at\t last\t he\t was willing\t to\t serve\t in\t the\t humblest\t capacities\t if\t so\t he\t might\t get\t bread\t and\t shelter. But\tluck\twas\tstill\tagainst\thim;\the\tcould\tfind\tno\topening\tof\tany\tsort.\tFinally\this money\twas\tall\tgone.\tHe\twalked\tthe\tstreets\tall\tday,\tthinking;\the\twalked\tthem\tall night,\tthinking,\tthinking,\tand\tgrowing\thungrier\tand\thungrier.\tAt\tdawn\the\tfound himself\twell\taway\tfrom\tthe\ttown\tand\tdrifting\taimlessly\talong\tthe\tharbor\tshore. As\the\twas\tpassing\tby\ta\tnodding\tshark-fisher\tthe\tman\tlooked\tup\tand\tsaid:\t\\\"Say, young\tfellow,\ttake\tmy\tline\ta\tspell,\tand\tchange\tmy\tluck\tfor\tme.\\\" \\\"How\tdo\tyou\tknow\tI\twon't\tmake\tit\tworse?\\\" \\\"Because\tyou\tcan't.\tIt\thas\tbeen\tat\tits\tworst\tall\tnight.\tIf\tyou\tcan't\tchange\tit,\tno harm's\tdone;\tif\tyou\tdo\tchange\tit,\tit's\tfor\tthe\tbetter,\tof\tcourse.\tCome.\\\" \\\"All\tright,\twhat\twill\tyou\tgive?\\\" \\\"I'll\tgive\tyou\tthe\tshark,\tif\tyou\tcatch\tone.\\\" \\\"And\tI\twill\teat\tit,\tbones\tand\tall.\tGive\tme\tthe\tline.\\\" \\\"Here\tyou\tare.\tI\twill\tget\taway,\tnow,\tfor\ta\twhile,\tso\tthat\tmy\tluck\twon't\tspoil yours;\tfor\tmany\tand\tmany\ta\ttime\tI've\tnoticed\tthat\tif--there,\tpull\tin,\tpull\tin,\tman, you've\t got\t a\t bite!\t I\t knew\t how\t it\t would\t be.\t Why,\t I\t knew\t you\t for\t a\t born\t son\t of luck\tthe\tminute\tI\tsaw\tyou.\tAll\tright--he's\tlanded.\\\" It\twas\tan\tunusually\tlarge\tshark--\\\"a\tfull\tnineteen-footer,\\\"\tthe\tfisherman\tsaid, as\the\tlaid\tthe\tcreature\topen\twith\this\tknife. \\\"Now\t you\t rob\t him,\t young\t man,\t while\t I\t step\t to\t my\t hamper\t for\t a\t fresh\t bait. There's\t generally\t something\t in\t them\t worth\t going\t for.\t You've\t changed\t my\t luck, you\tsee.\tBut,\tmy\tgoodness,\tI\thope\tyou\thaven't\tchanged\tyour\town.\\\" \\\"Oh,\tit\twouldn't\tmatter;\tdon't\tworry\tabout\tthat.\tGet\tyour\tbait.\tI'll\trob\thim.\\\" When\t the\t fisherman\t got\t back\t the\t young\t man\t had\t just\t finished\t washing\t his hands\tin\tthe\tbay\tand\twas\tstarting\taway. \\\"What!\tyou\tare\tnot\tgoing?\\\" \\\"Yes.\tGood-by.\\\"","\\\"But\twhat\tabout\tyour\tshark?\\\" \\\"The\tshark?\tWhy,\twhat\tuse\tis\the\tto\tme?\\\" \\\"What\tuse\tis\the?\tI\tlike\tthat.\tDon't\tyou\tknow\tthat\twe\tcan\tgo\tand\treport\thim\tto Government,\tand\tyou'll\tget\ta\tclean\tsolid\teighty\tshillings\tbounty?\tHard\tcash,\tyou know.\tWhat\tdo\tyou\tthink\tabout\tit\tnow?\\\" \\\"Oh,\twell,\tyou\tcan\tcollect\tit.\\\" \\\"And\tkeep\tit?\tIs\tthat\twhat\tyou\tmean?\\\" \\\"Yes.\\\" \\\"Well,\tthis\tis\todd.\tYou're\tone\tof\tthose\tsort\tthey\tcall\teccentrics,\tI\tjudge.\tThe saying\tis,\tyou\tmustn't\tjudge\ta\tman\tby\this\tclothes,\tand\tI'm\tbelieving\tit\tnow.\tWhy yours\tare\tlooking\tjust\tratty,\tdon't\tyou\tknow;\tand\tyet\tyou\tmust\tbe\trich.\\\" \\\"I\tam.\\\" The\tyoung\tman\twalked\tslowly\tback\tto\tthe\ttown,\tdeeply\tmusing\tas\the\twent. He\t halted\t a\t moment\t in\t front\t of\t the\t best\t restaurant,\t then\t glanced\t at\t his\t clothes and\tpassed\ton,\tand\tgot\this\tbreakfast\tat\ta\t\\\"stand-up.\\\"\tThere\twas\ta\tgood\tdeal\tof\tit, and\tit\tcost\tfive\tshillings.\tHe\ttendered\ta\tsovereign,\tgot\this\tchange,\tglanced\tat\this silver,\t muttered\t to\t himself,\t \\\"There\t isn't\t enough\t to\t buy\t clothes\t with,\\\"\t and\t went his\tway. At\t half\t past\t nine\t the\t richest\t wool-broker\t in\t Sydney\t was\t sitting\t in\t his morning-room\tat\thome,\tsettling\this\tbreakfast\twith\tthe\tmorning\tpaper.\tA\tservant put\this\thead\tin\tand\tsaid:\t\\\"There's\ta\tsundowner\tat\tthe\tdoor\twants\tto\tsee\tyou,\tsir.\\\" \\\"What\t do\t you\t bring\t that\t kind\t of\t a\t message\t here\t for?\t Send\t him\t about\t his business.\\\" \\\"He\twon't\tgo,\tsir.\tI've\ttried.\\\" \\\"He\twon't\tgo?\tThat's--why,\tthat's\tunusual.\tHe's\tone\tof\ttwo\tthings,\tthen:\the's a\tremarkable\tperson,\tor\the's\tcrazy.\tIs\the\tcrazy?\\\" \\\"No,\tsir.\tHe\tdon't\tlook\tit.\\\" \\\"Then\the's\tremarkable.\tWhat\tdoes\the\tsay\the\twants?\\\" \\\"He\twon't\ttell,\tsir;\tonly\tsays\tit's\tvery\timportant.\\\" \\\"And\twon't\tgo.\tDoes\the\tsay\the\twon't\tgo?\\\" \\\"Says\the'll\tstand\tthere\ttill\the\tsees\tyou,\tsir,\tif\tit's\tall\tday.\\\" \\\"And\tyet\tisn't\tcrazy.\tShow\thim\tup.\\\" The\t sundowner\t was\t shown\t in.\t The\t broker\t said\t to\t himself,\t \\\"No,\t he's\t not crazy;\tthat\tis\teasy\tto\tsee;\tso\the\tmust\tbe\tthe\tother\tthing.\\\" Then\taloud,\t\\\"Well,\tmy\tgood\tfellow,\tbe\tquick\tabout\tit;\tdon't\twaste\tany\twords; what\tis\tit\tyou\twant?\\\" \\\"I\twant\tto\tborrow\ta\thundred\tthousand\tpounds.\\\"","\\\"Scott!\t(It's\ta\tmistake;\the\t is\tcrazy.\t .\t.\t.\tNo--he\tcan't\tbe--not\twith\t that\teye.) Why,\tyou\ttake\tmy\tbreath\taway.\tCome,\twho\tare\tyou?\\\" \\\"Nobody\tthat\tyou\tknow.\\\" \\\"What\tis\tyour\tname?\\\" \\\"Cecil\tRhodes.\\\" \\\"No,\t I\t don't\t remember\t hearing\t the\t name\t before.\t Now\t then--just\t for curiosity's\tsake--what\thas\tsent\tyou\tto\tme\ton\tthis\textraordinary\terrand?\\\" \\\"The\tintention\tto\tmake\ta\thundred\tthousand\tpounds\tfor\tyou\tand\tas\tmuch\tfor myself\twithin\tthe\tnext\tsixty\tdays.\\\" \\\"Well,\t well,\t well.\t It\t is\t the\t most\t extraordinary\t idea\t that\t I--sit\t down--you interest\tme.\tAnd\tsomehow\tyou--well,\tyou\tfascinate\tme,\tI\tthink\tthat\tthat\tis\tabout the\t word.\t And\t it\t isn't\t your\t proposition--no,\t that\t doesn't\t fascinate\t me;\t it's something\telse,\tI\tdon't\tquite\tknow\twhat;\tsomething\tthat's\tborn\tin\tyou\tand\toozes out\tof\tyou,\tI\tsuppose.\tNow\tthen--just\tfor\tcuriosity's\tsake\tagain,\tnothing\tmore:\tas I\tunderstand\tit,\tit\tis\tyour\tdesire\tto\tbor--\\\" \\\"I\tsaid\tintention.\\\" \\\"Pardon,\t so\t you\t did.\t I\t thought\t it\t was\t an\t unheedful\t use\t of\t the\t word--an unheedful\tvaluing\tof\tits\tstrength,\tyou\tknow.\\\" \\\"I\tknew\tits\tstrength.\\\" \\\"Well,\t I\t must\t say--but\t look\t here,\t let\t me\t walk\t the\t floor\t a\t little,\t my\t mind\t is getting\t into\t a\t sort\t of\t whirl,\t though\t you\t don't\t seem\t disturbed\t any.\t (Plainly\t this young\tfellow\tisn't\tcrazy;\tbut\tas\tto\this\tbeing\tremarkable--well,\treally\the\tamounts to\t that,\t and\t something\t over.)\t Now\t then,\t I\t believe\t I\t am\t beyond\t the\t reach\t of further\tastonishment.\tStrike,\tand\tspare\tnot.\tWhat\tis\tyour\tscheme?\\\" \\\"To\tbuy\tthe\twool\tcrop--deliverable\tin\tsixty\tdays.\\\" \\\"What,\tthe\twhole\tof\tit?\\\" \\\"The\twhole\tof\tit.\\\" \\\"No,\t I\t was\t not\t quite\t out\t of\t the\t reach\t of\t surprises,\t after\t all.\t Why,\t how\t you talk.\tDo\tyou\tknow\twhat\tour\tcrop\tis\tgoing\tto\tfoot\tup?\\\" \\\"Two\tand\ta\thalf\tmillion\tsterling--maybe\ta\tlittle\tmore.\\\" \\\"Well,\tyou've\tgot\tyour\tstatistics\tright,\tanyway.\tNow\tthen,\tdo\tyou\tknow\twhat the\tmargins\twould\tfoot\tup,\tto\tbuy\tit\tat\tsixty\tdays?\\\" \\\"The\thundred\tthousand\tpounds\tI\tcame\there\tto\tget.\\\" \\\"Right,\tonce\tmore.\tWell,\tdear\tme,\tjust\tto\tsee\twhat\twould\thappen,\tI\twish\tyou had\tthe\tmoney.\tAnd\tif\tyou\thad\tit,\twhat\twould\tyou\tdo\twith\tit?\\\" \\\"I\tshall\tmake\ttwo\thundred\tthousand\tpounds\tout\tof\tit\tin\tsixty\tdays.\\\" \\\"You\tmean,\tof\tcourse,\tthat\tyou\tmight\tmake\tit\tif--\\\"","\\\"I\tsaid,\t'shall.'\\\" \\\"Yes,\tby\tGeorge,\tyou\tdid\tsay\t'shall'!\tYou\t are\tthe\tmost\tdefinite\t devil\tI\tever saw,\t in\t the\t matter\t of\t language.\t Dear,\t dear,\t dear,\t look\t here!\t Definite\t speech means\tclarity\tof\tmind.\tUpon\tmy\tword\tI\tbelieve\tyou've\tgot\twhat\tyou\tbelieve\tto be\ta\trational\treason\tfor\tventuring\tinto\tthis\thouse,\tan\tentire\tstranger,\ton\tthis\twild scheme\tof\tbuying\tthe\twool\tcrop\tof\tan\tentire\tcolony\ton\tspeculation.\tBring\tit\tout-- I\t am\t prepared--acclimatized,\t if\t I\t may\t use\t the\t word.\t Why\t would\t you\t buy\t the crop,\tand\twhy\t would\t you\t make\t that\t sum\t out\t of\t it?\t That\t is\t to\t say,\t what\t makes you\tthink\tyou--\\\" \\\"I\tdon't\tthink--I\tknow.\\\" \\\"Definite\tagain.\tHow\tdo\tyou\tknow?\\\" \\\"Because\tFrance\thas\tdeclared\twar\tagainst\tGermany,\tand\twool\t has\tgone\tup fourteen\tper\tcent.\tin\tLondon\tand\tis\tstill\trising.\\\" \\\"Oh,\tin-deed?\tNow\tthen,\tI've\tgot\tyou!\tSuch\ta\tthunderbolt\tas\tyou\thave\tjust\tlet fly\t ought\t to\t have\t made\t me\t jump\t out\t of\t my\t chair,\t but\t it\t didn't\t stir\t me\t the\t least little\tbit,\tyou\tsee.\tAnd\tfor\ta\tvery\tsimple\treason:\tI\thave\tread\tthe\tmorning\tpaper. You\tcan\tlook\tat\tit\tif\tyou\twant\tto.\tThe\tfastest\tship\tin\tthe\tservice\tarrived\tat\televen o'clock\t last\t night,\t fifty\t days\t out\t from\t London.\t All\t her\t news\t is\t printed\t here. There\tare\tno\twar-clouds\tanywhere;\tand\tas\tfor\twool,\twhy,\tit\tis\tthe\tlow-spiritedest commodity\t in\t the\t English\t market.\t It\t is\t your\t turn\t to\t jump,\t now.\t .\t .\t .\t Well,\t why don't\tyou\tjump?\tWhy\tdo\tyou\tsit\tthere\tin\tthat\tplacid\tfashion,\twhen--\\\" \\\"Because\tI\thave\tlater\tnews.\\\" \\\"Later\t news?\t Oh,\t come--later\t news\t than\t fifty\t days,\t brought\t steaming\t hot from\tLondon\tby\tthe--\\\" \\\"My\tnews\tis\tonly\tten\tdays\told.\\\" \\\"Oh,\tMun-chausen,\thear\tthe\tmaniac\ttalk!\tWhere\tdid\tyou\tget\tit?\\\" \\\"Got\tit\tout\tof\ta\tshark.\\\" \\\"Oh,\toh,\toh,\tthis\tis\ttoo\tmuch!\tFront!\tcall\tthe\tpolice--bring\tthe\tgun--raise\tthe town!\tAll\tthe\tasylums\tin\tChristendom\thave\tbroken\tloose\tin\tthe\tsingle\tperson\tof- -\\\" \\\"Sit\t down!\t And\t collect\t yourself.\t Where\t is\t the\t use\t in\t getting\t excited?\t Am\t I excited?\tThere\tis\tnothing\tto\tget\texcited\tabout.\tWhen\tI\tmake\ta\tstatement\twhich\tI cannot\t prove,\t it\t will\t be\t time\t enough\t for\t you\t to\t begin\t to\t offer\t hospitality\t to damaging\tfancies\tabout\tme\tand\tmy\tsanity.\\\" \\\"Oh,\t a\t thousand\t thousand\t pardons!\t I\t ought\t to\t be\t ashamed\t of\t myself,\t and\t I am\tashamed\tof\tmyself\tfor\tthinking\tthat\ta\tlittle\tbit\tof\ta\tcircumstance\tlike\tsending a\tshark\tto\tEngland\tto\tfetch\tback\ta\tmarket\treport--\\\"","\\\"What\tdoes\tyour\tmiddle\tinitial\tstand\tfor,\tsir?\\\" \\\"Andrew.\tWhat\tare\tyou\twriting?\\\" \\\"Wait\t a\t moment.\t Proof\t about\t the\t shark--and\t another\t matter.\t Only\t ten\t lines. There--now\tit\tis\tdone.\tSign\tit.\\\" \\\"Many\t thanks--many.\t Let\t me\t see;\t it\t says--it\t says--oh,\t come,\t this\t is interesting!\t Why--why--look\t here!\t prove\t what\t you\t say\t here,\t and\t I'll\t put\t up\t the money,\tand\tdouble\tas\tmuch,\tif\tnecessary,\tand\tdivide\tthe\twinnings\twith\tyou,\thalf and\thalf.\tThere,\tnow--I've\tsigned;\tmake\tyour\tpromise\tgood\tif\tyou\tcan.\tShow\tme a\tcopy\tof\tthe\tLondon\tTimes\tonly\tten\tdays\told.\\\" \\\"Here\tit\tis--and\twith\tit\tthese\tbuttons\tand\ta\tmemorandum-book\tthat\tbelonged to\tthe\tman\tthe\tshark\tswallowed.\tSwallowed\thim\tin\tthe\tThames,\twithout\ta\tdoubt; for\tyou\twill\tnotice\tthat\tthe\tlast\tentry\tin\tthe\tbook\tis\tdated\t'London,'\tand\tis\tof\tthe same\t date\t as\t the\t Times,\t and\t says\t 'Ber\t confequentz\t ber\t Ariegeserflarung,\t reife ich\theute\tnach\tDeutfchland\tab,\tauf\tdak\tich\tmein\tLeben\tauf\tdem\tultar\tmeines Landes\tIegen\tmag'--as\tclean\tnative\tGerman\tas\tanybody\tcan\tput\tupon\tpaper,\tand means\tthat\tin\tconsequence\tof\tthe\tdeclaration\tof\twar,\tthis\tloyal\tsoul\tis\tleaving\tfor home\t to-day,\tto\tfight.\t And\the\tdid\tleave,\ttoo,\tbut\tthe\tshark\thad\t him\t before\tthe day\twas\tdone,\tpoor\tfellow.\\\" \\\"And\ta\tpity,\ttoo.\tBut\tthere\tare\ttimes\tfor\tmourning,\tand\twe\twill\tattend\tto\tthis case\t further\t on;\t other\t matters\t are\t pressing,\t now.\t I\t will\t go\t down\t and\t set\t the machinery\tin\tmotion\tin\ta\tquiet\tway\tand\tbuy\tthe\tcrop.\tIt\twill\tcheer\tthe\tdrooping spirits\t of\t the\t boys,\t in\t a\t transitory\t way.\t Everything\t is\t transitory\t in\t this\t world. Sixty\t days\t hence,\t when\t they\t are\t called\t to\t deliver\t the\t goods,\t they\t will\t think they've\t been\t struck\t by\t lightning.\t But\t there\t is\t a\t time\t for\t mourning,\t and\t we\t will attend\t to\t that\t case\t along\t with\t the\t other\t one.\t Come\t along,\t I'll\t take\t you\t to\t my tailor.\tWhat\tdid\tyou\tsay\tyour\tname\tis?\\\" \\\"Cecil\tRhodes.\\\" \\\"It\tis\thard\tto\tremember.\tHowever,\tI\tthink\tyou\twill\tmake\tit\teasier\tby\tand\tby, if\t you\t live.\t There\t are\t three\t kinds\t of\t people--Commonplace\t Men,\t Remarkable Men,\tand\tLunatics.\tI'll\tclassify\tyou\twith\tthe\tRemarkables,\tand\ttake\tthe\tchances.\\\" The\tdeal\twent\tthrough,\tand\tsecured\tto\tthe\tyoung\tstranger\tthe\tfirst\tfortune\the ever\tpocketed. From\tFOLLOWING\tTHE\tEQUATOR,\t1897","THE\tJOKE\tTHAT\tMADE\tED'S\tFORTUNE Let\tus\tbe\tthankful\tfor\tthe\tfools.\tBut\tfor\tthem\tthe\trest\tof\tus\tcould\tnot\tsucceed. --Pudd'nhead\tWilson's\tNew\tCalendar A\tFEW\tYEARS\tbefore\tthe\toutbreak\tof\tthe\tCivil\tWar\tit\tbegan\tto\tappear\tthat Memphis,\t Tennessee,\t was\t going\t to\t be\t a\t great\t tobacco\t entrepot--the\t wise\t could see\tthe\tsigns\tof\tit.\tAt\tthat\ttime\tMemphis\thad\ta\twharfboat,\tof\tcourse.\tThere\twas\ta paved\tsloping\twharf,\tfor\tthe\taccommodation\tof\tfreight,\tbut\tthe\tsteamers\tlanded on\tthe\toutside\tof\tthe\twharfboat,\tand\tall\tloading\tand\tunloading\twas\tdone\tacross it,\t between\t steamer\t and\t shore.\t A\t number\t of\t wharfboat\t clerks\t were\t needed,\t and part\t of\t the\t time,\t every\t day,\t they\t were\t very\t busy,\t and\t part\t of\t the\t time\t tediously idle.\t They\t were\t boiling\t over\t with\t youth\t and\t spirits,\t and\t they\t had\t to\t make\t the intervals\t of\t idleness\t endurable\t in\t some\t way;\t and\t as\t a\t rule,\t they\t did\t it\t by contriving\tpractical\tjokes\tand\tplaying\tthem\tupon\teach\tother. The\t favorite\t butt\t for\t the\t jokes\t was\t Ed\t Jackson,\t because\t he\t played\t none himself,\tand\twas\teasy\tgame\tfor\tother\tpeople's--for\the\talways\tbelieved\twhatever was\ttold\thim. One\t day\t he\t told\t the\t others\t his\t scheme\t for\t his\t holiday.\t He\t was\t not\t going fishing\tor\thunting\tthis\ttime--no,\the\thad\tthought\tout\ta\tbetter\tplan.\tOut\tof\this\tforty dollars\ta\tmonth\the\thad\tsaved\tenough\tfor\this\tpurpose,\tin\tan\teconomical\tway,\tand he\twas\tgoing\tto\thave\ta\tlook\tat\tNew\tYork. It\t was\t a\t great\t and\t surprising\t idea.\t It\t meant\t travel--immense\t travel--in\t those days\t it\t meant\t seeing\t the\t world;\t it\t was\t the\t equivalent\t of\t a\t voyage\t around\t it\t in ours.\t At\t first\t the\t other\t youths\t thought\t his\t mind\t was\t affected,\t but\t when\t they found\t that\the\twas\tin\tearnest,\tthe\tnext\tthing\tto\tbe\tthought\tof\twas,\twhat\tsort\tof opportunity\tthis\tventure\tmight\tafford\tfor\ta\tpractical\tjoke. The\t young\t men\t studied\t over\t the\t matter,\t then\t held\t a\t secret\t consultation\t and made\t a\t plan.\t The\t idea\t was,\t that\t one\t of\t the\t conspirators\t should\t offer\t Ed\t a\t letter of\t introduction\t to\t Commodore\t Vanderbilt,\t and\t trick\t him\t into\t delivering\t it.\t It would\tbe\teasy\tto\tdo\tthis.\tBut\twhat\twould\tEd\tdo\twhen\the\tgot\tback\tto\tMemphis? That\twas\ta\tserious\tmatter.\tHe\twas\tgood-hearted,\tand\thad\talways\ttaken\tthe\tjokes patiently;\t but\t they\t had\t been\t jokes\t which\t did\t not\t humiliate\t him,\t did\t not\t bring him\tto\tshame;\twhereas,\tthis\twould\tbe\ta\tcruel\tone\tin\tthat\tway,\tand\tto\tplay\tit\twas to\t meddle\t with\t fire;\t for\t with\t all\t his\t good\t nature,\t Ed\t was\t a\t Southerner--and\t the English\t of\t that\t was,\t that\t when\t he\t came\t back\t he\t would\t kill\t as\t many\t of\t the conspirators\t as\t he\t could\t before\t falling\t himself.\t However,\t the\t chances\t must\t be","taken--it\twouldn't\tdo\tto\twaste\tsuch\ta\tjoke\tas\tthat. So\t the\t letter\t was\t prepared\t with\t great\t care\t and\t elaboration.\t It\t was\t signed Alfred\tFairchild,\tand\twas\twritten\tin\tan\teasy\tand\tfriendly\tspirit.\tIt\tstated\tthat\tthe bearer\t was\t the\t bosom\t friend\t of\t the\t writer's\t son,\t and\t was\t of\t good\t parts\t and sterling\tcharacter,\tand\tit\tbegged\tthe\tCommodore\tto\tbe\tkind\tto\tthe\tyoung\tstranger for\tthe\twriter's\tsake.\tIt\twent\ton\tto\tsay,\t\\\"You\tmay\thave\tforgotten\tme,\tin\tthis\tlong stretch\tof\ttime,\tbut\tyou\twill\teasily\tcall\tme\tback\tout\tof\tyour\tboyhood\tmemories when\t I\t remind\t you\t of\t how\t we\t robbed\t old\t Stevenson's\t orchard\t that\t night;\t and how,\t while\the\twas\tchasing\tdown\tthe\t road\tafter\tus,\twe\tcut\tacross\tthe\tfield\tand doubled\tback\tand\tsold\this\town\tapples\tto\this\town\tcook\tfor\ta\thatful\tof\tdoughnuts; and\t the\t time\t that\t we--\\\"\t and\t so\t forth\t and\t so\t on,\t bringing\t in\t names\t of\t imaginary comrades,\t and\t detailing\t all\t sorts\t of\t wild\t and\t absurd\t and,\t of\t course,\t wholly imaginary\t schoolboy\t pranks\t and\t adventures,\t but\t putting\t them\t into\t lively\t and telling\tshape. With\tall\tgravity\tEd\twas\tasked\tif\the\twould\tlike\tto\thave\ta\tletter\tto\tCommodore Vanderbilt,\t the\t great\t millionaire.\t It\t was\t expected\t that\t the\t question\t would astonish\tEd,\tand\tit\tdid. \\\"What?\tDo\tyou\tknow\tthat\textraordinary\tman?\\\" \\\"No;\tbut\tmy\tfather\tdoes.\tThey\twere\tschoolboys\ttogether.\tAnd\tif\tyou\tlike,\tI'll write\tand\task\tfather.\tI\tknow\the'll\tbe\tglad\tto\tgive\tit\tto\tyou\tfor\tmy\tsake.\\\" Ed\tcould\tnot\tfind\twords\tcapable\tof\texpressing\this\tgratitude\tand\tdelight.\tThe three\tdays\t passed,\tand\t the\tletter\twas\tput\t into\t his\thands.\tHe\tstarted\t on\this\t trip, still\tpouring\tout\this\tthanks\twhile\the\tshook\tgood-by\tall\taround.\tAnd\twhen\the\twas out\tof\tsight\this\tcomrades\tlet\tfly\ttheir\tlaughter\tin\ta\tstorm\tof\thappy\tsatisfaction-- and\tthen\tquieted\tdown,\tand\twere\tless\thappy,\tless\tsatisfied.\tFor\tthe\told\tdoubts\tas to\tthe\twisdom\tof\tthis\tdeception\tbegan\tto\tintrude\tagain. Arrived\tin\tNew\tYork,\tEd\tfound\this\tway\tto\tCommodore\tVanderbilt's\tbusiness quarters,\t and\t was\t ushered\t into\t a\t large\t anteroom,\t where\t a\t score\t of\t people\t were patiently\t awaiting\t their\t turn\t for\t a\t two-minute\t interview\t with\t the\t millionaire\t in his\t private\t office.\t A\t servant\t asked\t for\t Ed's\t card,\t and\t got\t the\t letter\t instead.\t Ed was\t sent\t for\t a\t moment\t later,\t and\t found\t Mr.\t Vanderbilt\t alone,\t with\t the\t letter-- open--in\this\thand. \\\"Pray\tsit\tdown,\tMr.--er--\\\" \\\"Jackson.\\\" \\\"Ah--sit\tdown,\tMr.\tJackson.\tBy\tthe\topening\tsentences\tit\tseems\tto\tbe\ta\tletter from\t an\t old\t friend.\t Allow\t me--I\t will\t run\t my\t eye\t through\t it.\t He\t says--he\t says-- why,\twho\tis\tit?\\\"\tHe\tturned\tthe\tsheet\tand\tfound\tthe\tsignature.\t\\\"Alfred\tFairchild--","h'm--Fairchild--I\t don't\t recall\t the\t name.\t But\t that\t is\t nothing--a\t thousand\t names have\tgone\tfrom\tme.\tHe\tsays--he\tsays--h'm--h'm--oh,\tdear,\tbut\tit's\tgood!\tOh,\tit's rare!\tI\tdon't\tquite\tremember\tit,\tbut\tI\tseem\tto--it'll\tall\tcome\tback\tto\tme\tpresently. He\t says--he\t says--h'm--h'm--oh,\t but\t that\t was\t a\t game!\t Oh,\t spl-endid!\t How\t it carries\t me\t back!\t It's\t all\t dim,\t of\t course--it's\t a\t long\t time\t ago--and\t the\t names-- some\tof\tthe\tnames\tare\twavery\tand\tindistinct--but\tsho',\tI\tknow\tit\thappened--I\tcan feel\t it!\t and\t lord,\t how\t it\t warms\t my\t heart,\t and\t brings\t back\t my\t lost\t youth!\t Well, well,\twell,\tI've\tgot\tto\tcome\tback\tinto\tthis\tworkaday\tworld\tnow--business\tpresses and\tpeople\tare\twaiting--I'll\tkeep\tthe\trest\tfor\tbed\tto-night,\tand\tlive\tmy\tyouth\tover again.\t And\t you'll\t thank\t Fairchild\t for\t me\t when\t you\t see\t him--I\t used\t to\t call\t him Alf,\tI\tthink--and\tyou'll\tgive\thim\tmy\tgratitude\tfor\twhat\tthis\tletter\thas\tdone\tfor\tthe tired\tspirit\tof\ta\thard-worked\tman;\tand\ttell\thim\tthere\tisn't\tanything\tthat\tI\tcan\tdo for\thim\tor\tany\tfriend\tof\this\tthat\tI\twon't\tdo.\tAnd\tas\tfor\tyou,\tmy\tlad,\tyou\tare\tmy guest;\tyou\tcan't\tstop\tat\tany\thotel\tin\tNew\tYork.\tSit\twhere\tyou\tare\ta\tlittle\twhile, till\tI\tget\tthrough\twith\tthese\tpeople,\tthen\twe'll\tgo\thome,\tI'll\ttake\tcare\tof\tyou,\tmy boy--make\tyourself\teasy\tas\tto\tthat.\\\" Ed\t stayed\t a\t week,\t and\t had\t an\t immense\t time--and\t never\t suspected\t that\t the Commodore's\t shrewd\t eyes\t were\t on\t him,\t and\t that\t he\t was\t daily\t being\t weighed and\tmeasured\tand\tanalyzed\tand\ttried\tand\ttested. Yes,\t he\t had\t an\t immense\t time;\t and\t never\t wrote\t home,\t but\t saved\t it\t all\t up\t to tell\t when\t he\t should\t get\t back.\t Twice,\t with\t proper\t modesty\t and\t decency,\t he proposed\tto\tend\this\tvisit,\tbut\tthe\tCommodore\tsaid,\t\\\"No--wait;\tleave\tit\tto\tme;\tI'll tell\tyou\twhen\tto\tgo.\\\" In\tthose\tdays\tthe\tCommodore\twas\tmaking\tsome\tof\tthose\tvast\tcombinations of\t his--consolidations\t of\t warring\t odds\t and\t ends\t of\t railroads\t into\t harmonious systems,\t and\t concentrations\t of\t floating\t and\t rudderless\t commerce\t in\t effective centers--and\tamong\tother\tthings\this\tfar-seeing\teye\thad\tdetected\tthe\tconvergence of\tthat\thuge\ttobacco-commerce,\talready\tspoken\tof,\ttoward\tMemphis,\tand\the\thad resolved\tto\tset\this\tgrasp\tupon\tit\tand\tmake\tit\this\town. The\tweek\tcame\tto\tan\tend.\tThen\tthe\tCommodore\tsaid: \\\"Now\t you\t can\t start\t home.\t But\t first\t we\t will\t have\t some\t more\t talk\t about\t that tobacco\tmatter.\tI\tknow\tyou\tnow.\tI\tknow\tyour\tabilities\tas\twell\tas\tyou\tknow\tthem yourself--perhaps\t better.\t You\t understand\t that\t tobacco\t matter;\t you\t understand that\tI\tam\tgoing\tto\ttake\tpossession\tof\tit,\tand\tyou\talso\tunderstand\tthe\tplans\twhich I\t have\t matured\t for\t doing\t it.\t What\t I\t want\t is\t a\t man\t who\t knows\t my\t mind,\t and\t is qualified\t to\t represent\t me\t in\t Memphis,\t and\t be\t in\t supreme\t command\t of\t that important\tbusiness--and\tI\tappoint\tyou.\\\"","\\\"Me!\\\" \\\"Yes.\tYour\tsalary\twill\tbe\thigh--of\tcourse--for\tyou\tare\trepresenting\tme.\tLater you\t will\t earn\t increases\t of\t it,\t and\t will\t get\t them.\t You\t will\t need\t a\t small\t army\t of assistants;\t choose\t them\t yourself--and\t carefully.\t Take\t no\t man\t for\t friendship's sake;\t but,\t all\t things\t being\t equal,\t take\t the\t man\t you\t know,\t take\t your\t friend,\t in preference\tto\tthe\tstranger.\\\" After\tsome\tfurther\ttalk\tunder\tthis\thead,\tthe\tCommodore\tsaid:\t\\\"Good-by,\tmy boy,\tand\tthank\tAlf\tfor\tme,\tfor\tsending\tyou\tto\tme.\\\" When\tEd\treached\tMemphis\the\trushed\tdown\tto\tthe\twharf\tin\ta\tfever\tto\ttell\this great\tnews\tand\tthank\tthe\tboys\tover\tand\tover\tagain\tfor\tthinking\tto\tgive\thim\tthe letter\t to\t Mr.\t Vanderbilt.\t It\t happened\t to\t be\t one\t of\t those\t idle\t times.\t Blazing\t hot noonday,\tand\tno\tsign\tof\tlife\ton\tthe\twharf.\tBut\tas\tEd\tthreaded\this\tway\tamong\tthe freightpiles,\t he\t saw\t a\t white\t linen\t figure\t stretched\t in\t slumber\t upon\t a\t pile\t of grain-sacks\t under\t an\t awning,\t and\t said\t to\t himself,\t \\\"That's\t one\t of\t them,\\\"\t and hastened\this\tstep;\tnext,\the\tsaid,\t\\\"It's\tCharley--it's\tFairchild--good\\\";\tand\tthe\tnext moment\t laid\t an\t affectionate\t hand\t on\t the\t sleeper's\t shoulder.\t The\t eyes\t opened lazily,\ttook\tone\tglance,\tthe\tface\tblanched,\tthe\tform\twhirled\titself\tfrom\tthe\tsack- pile,\t and\t in\t an\t instant\t Ed\t was\t alone\t and\t Fairchild\t was\t flying\t for\t the\t wharfboat like\tthe\twind! Ed\twas\tdazed,\tstupefied.\tWas\tFairchild\tcrazy?\tWhat\tcould\tbe\tthe\tmeaning\tof this?\tHe\tstarted\tslow\tand\tdreamily\tdown\ttoward\tthe\twharfboat;\tturned\tthe\tcorner of\t a\t freightpile\t and\t came\t suddenly\t upon\t two\t of\t the\t boys.\t They\t were\t lightly laughing\t over\t some\t pleasant\t matter;\t they\t heard\t his\t step,\t and\t glanced\t up\t just\t as he\t discovered\t them;\t the\t laugh\t died\t abruptly;\t and\t before\t Ed\t could\t speak\t they were\t off,\t and\t sailing\t over\t barrels\t and\t bales\t like\t hunted\t deer.\t Again\t Ed\t was paralyzed.\t Had\t the\t boys\t all\t gone\t mad?\t What\t could\t be\t the\t explanation\t of\t this extraordinary\t conduct?\t And\t so,\t dreaming\t along,\t he\t reached\t the\t wharfboat,\t and stepped\t aboard--nothing\t but\t silence\t there,\t and\t vacancy.\t He\t crossed\t the\t deck, turned\tthe\tcorner\tto\tgo\tdown\tthe\touter\tguard,\theard\ta\tfervent-- \\\"O\tLord!\\\"\tand\tsaw\ta\twhite\tlinen\tform\tplunge\toverboard. The\tyouth\tcame\tup\tcoughing\tand\tstrangling,\tand\tcried\tout: \\\"Go\t'way\tfrom\there!\tYou\tlet\tme\talone.\tI\tdidn't\tdo\tit,\tI\tswear\tI\tdidn't!\\\" \\\"Didn't\tdo\twhat?\\\" \\\"Give\tyou\tthe--\\\" \\\"Never\t mind\t what\t you\t didn't\t do--come\t out\t of\t that!\t What\t makes\t you\t all\t act so?\tWhat\thave\tI\tdone?\\\" \\\"You?\tWhy,\tyou\thaven't\tdone\tanything.\tBut--\\\"","\\\"Well,\tthen,\twhat\thave\tyou\tgot\tagainst\tme?\tWhat\tdo\tyou\tall\ttreat\tme\tso\tfor?\\\" \\\"I--er--but\thaven't\tyou\tgot\tanything\tagainst\tus?\\\" \\\"Of\tcourse\tnot.\tWhat\tput\tsuch\ta\tthing\tinto\tyour\thead?\\\" \\\"Honor\tbright--you\thaven't?\\\" \\\"Honor\tbright.\\\" \\\"Swear\tit!\\\" \\\"I\tdon't\tknow\twhat\tin\tthe\tworld\tyou\tmean,\tbut\tI\tswear\tit,\tanyway.\\\" \\\"And\tyou'll\tshake\thands\twith\tme?\\\" \\\"Goodness\tknows\tI'll\tbe\tglad\tto!\tWhy,\tI'm\tjust\tstarving\tto\tshake\thands\twith somebody!\\\" The\t swimmer\t muttered,\t \\\"Hang\t him,\t he\t smelt\t a\t rat\t and\t never\t delivered\t the letter!--but\t it's\t all\t right,\t I'm\t not\t going\t to\t fetch\t up\t the\t subject.\\\"\t And\t he\t crawled out\tand\tcame\tdripping\tand\tdraining\tto\tshake\thands.\tFirst\tone\tand\tthen\tanother\tof the\tconspirators\tshowed\tup\tcautiously--armed\tto\tthe\tteeth--took\tin\tthe\tamicable situation,\tthen\tventured\twarily\tforward\tand\tjoined\tthe\tlove-feast. And\tto\tEd's\teager\tinquiry\tas\tto\twhat\tmade\tthem\tact\tas\tthey\thad\tbeen\tacting, they\t answered\t evasively\t and\t pretended\t that\t they\t had\t put\t it\t up\t as\t a\t joke,\t to\t see what\t he\t would\t do.\t It\t was\t the\t best\t explanation\t they\t could\t invent\t at\t such\t short notice.\tAnd\teach\tsaid\tto\thimself,\t\\\"He\tnever\tdelivered\tthat\tletter,\tand\tthe\tjoke\tis on\tus,\tif\the\tonly\tknew\tit\tor\twe\twere\tdull\tenough\tto\tcome\tout\tand\ttell.\\\" Then,\tof\tcourse,\tthey\twanted\tto\tknow\tall\tabout\tthe\ttrip;\tand\the\tsaid: \\\"Come\t right\t up\t on\t the\t boiler\t deck\t and\t order\t the\t drinks--it's\t my\t treat.\t I'm going\t to\t tell\t you\t all\t about\t it.\t And\t to-night\t it's\t my\t treat\t again--and\t we'll\t have oysters\tand\ta\ttime!\\\" When\tthe\tdrinks\twere\tbrought\tand\tcigars\tlighted,\tEd\tsaid: \\\"Well,\twhen\tI\tdelivered\tthe\tletter\tto\tMr.\tVanderbilt--\\\" \\\"Great\tScott!\\\" \\\"Gracious,\thow\tyou\tscared\tme.\tWhat's\tthe\tmatter?\\\" \\\"Oh--er--nothing.\tNothing--it\twas\ta\ttack\tin\tthe\tchair-seat,\\\"\tsaid\tone. \\\"But\tyou\tall\tsaid\tit.\tHowever,\tno\tmatter.\tWhen\tI\tdelivered\tthe\tletter--\\\" \\\"Did\t you\t deliver\t it?\\\"\t And\t they\t looked\t at\t each\t other\t as\t people\t might\t who thought\tthat\tmaybe\tthey\twere\tdreaming. Then\t they\t settled\t to\t listening;\t and\t as\t the\t story\t deepened\t and\t its\t marvels grew,\t the\t amazement\t of\t it\t made\t them\t dumb,\t and\t the\t interest\t of\t it\t took\t their breath.\tThey\thardly\tuttered\ta\twhisper\tduring\ttwo\thours,\tbut\tsat\tlike\tpetrifactions and\tdrank\tin\tthe\timmortal\tromance.\tAt\tlast\tthe\ttale\twas\tended,\tand\tEd\tsaid: \\\"And\tit's\tall\towing\tto\tyou,\tboys,\tand\t you'll\tnever\tfind\tme\tungrateful--bless","your\t hearts,\t the\t best\t friends\t a\t fellow\t ever\t had!\t You'll\t all\t have\t places;\t I\t want every\t one\t of\t you.\t I\t know\t you--I\t know\t you\t 'by\t the\t back,'\t as\t the\t gamblers\t say. You're\tjokers,\tand\tall\tthat,\tbut\tyou're\tsterling,\twith\tthe\thallmark\ton.\tAnd\tCharley Fairchild,\t you\t shall\t be\t my\t first\t assistant\t and\t right\t hand,\t because\t of\t your\t first- class\t ability,\t and\t because\t you\t got\t me\t the\t letter,\t and\t for\t your\t father's\t sake\t who wrote\t it\t for\t me,\t and\t to\t please\t Mr.\t Vanderbilt,\t who\t said\t it\t would!\t And\t here's\t to that\tgreat\tman--drink\thearty!\\\" Yes,\t when\t the\t Moment\t comes,\t the\t Man\t appears--even\t if\t he\t is\t a\t thousand miles\taway,\tand\thas\tto\tbe\tdiscovered\tby\ta\tpractical\tjoke. From\tFOLLOWING\tTHE\tEQUATOR,\t1897","A\tSTORY\tWITHOUT\tAN\tEND WE\t HAD\t one\t game\t in\t the\t ship\t which\t was\t a\t good\t time-passer--at\t least\t it was\tat\tnight\tin\tthe\tsmoking-room\twhen\tthe\tmen\twere\tgetting\tfreshened\tup\tfrom the\t day's\t monotonies\t and\t dullnesses.\t It\t was\t the\t completing\t of\t non-complete stories.\tThat\tis\tto\tsay,\ta\tman\twould\ttell\tall\tof\ta\tstory\texcept\tthe\tfinish,\tthen\tthe others\t would\t try\t to\t supply\t the\t ending\t out\t of\t their\t own\t invention.\t When\t every one\t who\t wanted\t a\t chance\t had\t had\t it,\t the\t man\t who\t had\t introduced\t the\t story would\t give\t it\t its\t original\t ending--then\t you\t could\t take\t your\t choice.\t Sometimes the\t new\t endings\t turned\t out\t to\t be\t better\t than\t the\t old\t one.\t But\t the\t story\t which called\t out\t the\t most\t persistent\t and\t determined\t and\t ambitious\t effort\t was\t one which\t had\t no\t ending,\t and\t so\t there\t was\t nothing\t to\t compare\t the\t new-made endings\t with.\t The\t man\t who\t told\t it\t said\t he\t could\t furnish\t the\t particulars\t up\t to\t a certain\tpoint\tonly,\tbecause\tthat\twas\tas\tmuch\tof\tthe\ttale\tas\the\tknew.\tHe\thad\tread it\tin\ta\tvolume\tof\tsketches\ttwenty-five\tyears\tago,\tand\twas\tinterrupted\tbefore\tthe end\twas\treached.\tHe\twould\tgive\tany\tone\tfifty\tdollars\twho\twould\tfinish\tthe\tstory to\t the\t satisfaction\t of\t a\t jury\t to\t be\t appointed\t by\t ourselves.\t We\t appointed\t a\t jury and\t wrestled\t with\t the\t tale.\t We\t invented\t plenty\t of\t endings,\t but\t the\t jury\t voted them\t all\t down.\t The\t jury\t was\t right.\t It\t was\t a\t tale\t which\t the\t author\t of\t it\t may possibly\t have\t completed\t satisfactorily,\t and\t if\t he\t really\t had\t that\t good\t fortune\t I would\t like\t to\t know\t what\t the\t ending\t was.\t Any\t ordinary\t man\t will\t find\t that\t the story's\tstrength\tis\tin\tits\tmiddle,\tand\tthat\tthere\tis\tapparently\tno\tway\tto\ttransfer\tit to\t the\t close,\t where\t of\t course\t it\t ought\t to\t be.\t In\t substance\t the\t storiette\t was\t as follows: \t John\t Brown,\t aged\t thirty-one,\t good,\t gentle,\t bashful,\t timid,\t lived\t in\t a\t quiet village\tin\tMissouri.\tHe\twas\tsuperintendent\tof\tthe\tPresbyterian\tSunday-school.\tIt was\t but\t a\t humble\t distinction;\t still,\t it\t was\t his\t only\t official\t one,\t and\t he\t was modestly\tproud\tof\tit\tand\twas\tdevoted\tto\tits\twork\tand\tits\tinterests.\tThe\textreme kindliness\tof\t his\t nature\twas\t recognized\tby\tall;\tin\tfact,\tpeople\tsaid\tthat\the\twas made\t entirely\t out\t of\t good\t impulses\t and\t bashfulness;\t that\t he\t could\t always\t be counted\tupon\tfor\thelp\twhen\tit\twas\tneeded,\tand\tfor\tbashfulness\tboth\twhen\tit\twas needed,\tand\twhen\tit\twasn't. Mary\t Taylor,\t twenty-three,\t modest,\t sweet,\t winning,\t and\t in\t character\t and person\t beautiful,\t was\t all\t in\t all\t to\t him.\t And\t he\t was\t very\t nearly\t all\t in\t all\t to\t her.","She\twas\twavering,\this\thopes\twere\thigh.\tHer\tmother\thad\tbeen\tin\topposition\tfrom the\t first.\t But\t she\t was\t wavering,\t too;\t he\t could\t see\t it.\t She\t was\t being\t touched\t by his\t warm\t interest\t in\t her\t two\t charity\t proteges\t and\t by\t his\t contributions\t toward their\tsupport.\tThese\twere\ttwo\tforlorn\tand\taged\tsisters\twho\tlived\tin\ta\tlog\thut\tin\ta lonely\t place\t up\t a\t cross-road\t four\t miles\t from\t Mrs.\t Taylor's\t farm.\t One\t of\t the sisters\twas\tcrazy,\tand\tsometimes\ta\tlittle\tviolent,\tbut\tnot\toften. At\t last\t the\t time\t seemed\t ripe\t for\t a\t final\t advance,\t and\t Brown\t gathered\t his courage\ttogether\tand\tresolved\tto\tmake\tit.\tHe\twould\ttake\talong\ta\tcontribution\tof double\tthe\tusual\tsize,\tand\twin\tthe\tmother\tover;\twith\ther\topposition\tannulled,\tthe rest\tof\tthe\tconquest\twould\tbe\tsure\tand\tprompt. He\t took\t to\t the\t road\t in\t the\t middle\t of\t a\t placid\t Sunday\t afternoon\t in\t the\t soft Missourian\t summer,\t and\t he\t was\t equipped\t properly\t for\t his\t mission.\t He\t was clothed\tall\tin\twhite\tlinen,\twith\ta\tblue\tribbon\tfor\ta\tnecktie,\tand\the\thad\ton\tdressy tight\t boots.\t His\t horse\t and\t buggy\t were\t the\t finest\t that\t the\t livery-stable\t could furnish.\t The\t lap-robe\t was\t of\t white\t linen,\t it\t was\t new,\t and\t it\t had\t a\t hand-worked border\tthat\tcould\tnot\tbe\trivaled\tin\tthat\tregion\tfor\tbeauty\tand\telaboration. When\t he\t was\t four\t miles\t out\t on\t the\t lonely\t road\t and\t was\t walking\t his\t horse over\t a\t wooden\tbridge,\t his\tstraw\that\tblew\t off\tand\t fell\tin\t the\tcreek,\t and\tfloated down\tand\tlodged\tagainst\ta\tbar.\tHe\tdid\tnot\tquite\tknow\twhat\tto\tdo.\tHe\tmust\thave the\that,\tthat\twas\tmanifest;\tbut\thow\twas\the\tto\tget\tit? Then\t he\t had\t an\t idea.\t The\t roads\t were\t empty,\t nobody\t was\t stirring.\t Yes,\t he would\t risk\t it.\t He\t led\t the\t horse\t to\t the\t road-side\t and\t set\t it\t to\t cropping\t the\t grass; then\the\tundressed\tand\tput\this\tclothes\tin\tthe\tbuggy,\tpetted\tthe\thorse\ta\tmoment\tto secure\t its\t compassion\t and\t its\t loyalty,\t then\t hurried\t to\t the\t stream.\t He\t swam\t out and\tsoon\thad\tthe\that.\tWhen\the\tgot\tto\tthe\ttop\tof\tthe\tbank\tthe\thorse\twas\tgone! His\tlegs\talmost\tgave\tway\tunder\thim.\tThe\thorse\twas\twalking\tleisurely\talong the\troad.\tBrown\ttrotted\tafter\tit,\tsaying,\t\\\"Whoa,\twhoa,\tthere's\ta\tgood\tfellow\\\";\tbut whenever\t he\t got\t near\t enough\t to\t chance\t a\t jump\t for\t the\t buggy,\t the\t horse quickened\tits\tpace\ta\tlittle\tand\tdefeated\thim.\tAnd\tso\tthis\twent\ton,\tthe\tnaked\tman perishing\twith\tanxiety,\tand\texpecting\tevery\tmoment\tto\tsee\tpeople\tcome\tin\tsight. He\ttagged\ton\tand\ton,\timploring\tthe\thorse,\tbeseeching\tthe\thorse,\ttill\the\thad\tleft\ta mile\tbehind\thim,\tand\twas\tclosing\tup\ton\tthe\tTaylor\tpremises;\tthen\tat\tlast\the\twas successful,\t and\t got\t into\t the\t buggy.\t He\t flung\t on\t his\t shirt,\t his\t necktie,\t and\t his coat;\tthen\treached\tfor--but\the\twas\ttoo\tlate;\the\tsat\tsuddenly\tdown\tand\tpulled\tup the\tlap-robe,\tfor\the\tsaw\tsome\tone\tcoming\tout\tof\tthe\tgate--a\twoman,\the\tthought. He\t wheeled\t the\t horse\t to\t the\t left,\t and\t struck\t briskly\t up\t the\t cross-road.\t It\t was perfectly\tstraight,\tand\texposed\ton\tboth\tsides;\tbut\tthere\twere\twoods\tand\ta\tsharp","turn\tthree\tmiles\tahead,\tand\the\twas\tvery\tgrateful\twhen\the\tgot\tthere.\tAs\the\tpassed around\tthe\tturn\the\tslowed\tdown\tto\ta\twalk,\tand\treached\tfor\this\ttr--too\tlate\tagain. He\t had\t come\t upon\t Mrs.\t Enderby,\t Mrs.\t Glossop,\t Mrs.\t Taylor,\t and\t Mary. They\t were\t on\t foot,\t and\t seemed\t tired\t and\t excited.\t They\t came\t at\t once\t to\t the buggy\t and\t shook\t hands,\t and\t all\t spoke\t at\t once,\t and\t said,\t eagerly\t and\t earnestly, how\t glad\t they\t were\t that\t he\t was\t come,\t and\t how\t fortunate\t it\t was.\t And\t Mrs. Enderby\tsaid,\timpressively: \\\"It\tlooks\tlike\tan\taccident,\this\tcoming\tat\tsuch\ta\ttime;\tbut\tlet\tno\tone\tprofane\tit with\tsuch\ta\tname;\the\twas\tsent--sent\tfrom\ton\thigh.\\\" They\twere\tall\tmoved,\tand\tMrs.\tGlossop\tsaid\tin\tan\tawed\tvoice: \\\"Sarah\tEnderby,\tyou\tnever\tsaid\ta\ttruer\tword\tin\tyour\tlife.\tThis\tis\tno\taccident, it\tis\ta\tspecial\tProvidence.\tHe\twas\tsent.\tHe\tis\tan\tangel--an\tangel\tas\ttruly\tas\tever angel\twas--an\tangel\tof\tdeliverance.\tI\tsay\tangel,\tSarah\tEnderby,\tand\twill\thave\tno other\tword.\tDon't\tlet\tany\tone\tever\tsay\tto\tme\tagain,\tthat\tthere's\tno\tsuch\tthing\tas special\tProvidences;\tfor\tif\tthis\tisn't\tone,\tlet\tthem\taccount\tfor\tit\tthat\tcan.\\\" \\\"I\tknow\t it's\t so,\\\"\t said\t Mrs.\t Taylor,\t fervently.\t \\\"John\t Brown,\t I\t could\t worship you;\tI\tcould\tgo\tdown\ton\tmy\tknees\tto\tyou.\tDidn't\tsomething\ttell\tyou--didn't\tyou feel\tthat\tyou\twere\tsent?\tI\tcould\tkiss\tthe\them\tof\tyour\tlap-robe.\\\" He\twas\tnot\table\tto\tspeak;\the\twas\thelpless\twith\tshame\tand\tfright.\tMrs.\tTaylor went\ton: \\\"Why,\t just\t look\t at\t it\t all\t around,\t Julia\t Glossop.\t Any\t person\t can\t see\t the\t hand of\t Providence\t in\t it.\t Here\t at\t noon\t what\t do\t we\t see?\t We\t see\t the\t smoke\t rising.\t I speak\tup\tand\tsay,\t'That's\tthe\tOld\tPeople's\tcabin\tafire.'\tDidn't\tI,\tJulia\tGlossop?\\\" \\\"The\tvery\twords\tyou\tsaid,\tNancy\tTaylor.\tI\twas\tas\tclose\tto\tyou\tas\tI\tam\tnow, and\t I\t heard\t them.\t You\t may\t have\t said\t hut\t instead\t of\t cabin,\t but\t in\t substance\t it's the\tsame.\tAnd\tyou\twere\tlooking\tpale,\ttoo.\\\" \\\"Pale?\t I\t was\t that\t pale\t that\t if--why,\t you\t just\t compare\t it\t with\t this\t lap-robe. Then\t the\t next\t thing\t I\t said\t was,\t 'Mary\t Taylor,\t tell\t the\t hired\t man\t to\t rig\t up\t the team--we'll\t go\t to\t the\t rescue.'\t And\t she\t said,\t 'Mother,\t don't\t you\t know\t you\t told him\the\tcould\tdrive\tto\tsee\this\tpeople,\tand\tstay\tover\tSunday?'\tAnd\tit\twas\tjust\tso.\tI declare\t for\t it,\t I\t had\t forgotten\t it.\t 'Then,'\t said\t I,\t 'we'll\t go\t afoot.'\t And\t go\t we\t did. And\tfound\tSarah\tEnderby\ton\tthe\troad.\\\" \\\"And\twe\tall\twent\ttogether,\\\"\tsaid\tMrs.\tEnderby.\t\\\"And\tfound\tthe\tcabin\tset\tfire and\tburnt\tdown\tby\tthe\tcrazy\tone,\tand\tthe\tpoor\told\tthings\tso\told\tand\tfeeble\tthat they\t couldn't\t go\t afoot.\t And\t we\t got\t them\t to\t a\t shady\t place\t and\t made\t them\t as comfortable\t as\t we\t could,\t and\t began\t to\t wonder\t which\t way\t to\t turn\t to\t find\t some way\t to\t get\t them\t conveyed\t to\t Nancy\t Taylor's\t house.\t And\t I\t spoke\t up\t and\t said--","now\twhat\tdid\tI\tsay?\tDidn't\tI\tsay,\t'Providence\twill\tprovide'?\\\" \\\"Why\tsure\tas\tyou\tlive,\tso\tyou\tdid!\tI\thad\tforgotten\tit.\\\" \\\"So\t had\t I,\\\"\t said\t Mrs.\t Glossop\t and\t Mrs.\t Taylor;\t \\\"but\t you\t certainly\t said\t it. Now\twasn't\tthat\tremarkable?\\\" \\\"Yes,\t I\t said\t it.\t And\t then\t we\t went\t to\t Mr.\t Moseley's,\t two\t miles,\t and\t all\t of them\twere\tgone\tto\tthe\tcamp-meeting\tover\ton\tStony\tFork;\tand\tthen\twe\tcame\tall the\t way\t back,\t two\t miles,\t and\t then\t here,\t another\t mile--and\t Providence\t has provided.\tYou\tsee\tit\tyourselves.\\\" They\t gazed\t at\t each\t other\t awe-struck,\t and\t lifted\t their\t hands\t and\t said\t in unison: \\\"It's\tperfectly\twonderful.\\\" \\\"And\tthen,\\\"\tsaid\tMrs.\tGlossop,\t\\\"what\tdo\tyou\tthink\twe\thad\tbetter\tdo--let\tMr. Brown\tdrive\tthe\tOld\tPeople\tto\tNancy\tTaylor's\tone\tat\ta\ttime,\tor\tput\tboth\tof\tthem in\tthe\tbuggy,\tand\thim\tlead\tthe\thorse?\\\" Brown\tgasped. \\\"Now,\tthen,\tthat's\ta\tquestion,\\\"\tsaid\tMrs.\tEnderby.\t\\\"You\tsee,\twe\tare\tall\ttired out,\tand\tany\tway\twe\tfix\tit\tit's\tgoing\tto\tbe\tdifficult.\tFor\tif\tMr.\tBrown\ttakes\tboth of\tthem,\tat\tleast\tone\tof\tus\tmust\tgo\tback\tto\thelp\thim,\tfor\the\tcan't\tload\tthem\tinto the\tbuggy\tby\thimself,\tand\tthey\tso\thelpless.\\\" \\\"That\tis\tso,\\\"\tsaid\tMrs.\tTaylor.\t\\\"It\tdoesn't\tlook--oh,\thow\twould\tthis\tdo!--one of\tus\tdrive\tthere\twith\tMr.\tBrown,\tand\tthe\trest\tof\tyou\tgo\talong\tto\tmy\thouse\tand get\tthings\tready.\tI'll\tgo\twith\thim.\tHe\tand\tI\ttogether\tcan\tlift\tone\tof\tthe\tOld\tPeople into\tthe\tbuggy;\tthen\tdrive\ther\tto\tmy\thouse\tand--\\\" \\\"But\t who\t will\t take\t care\t of\t the\t other\t one?\\\"\t said\t Mrs.\t Enderby.\t \\\"We\t mustn't leave\t her\t there\t in\t the\t woods\t alone,\t you\t know--especially\t the\t crazy\t one.\t There and\tback\tis\teight\tmiles,\tyou\tsee.\\\" They\t had\t all\t been\t sitting\t on\t the\t grass\t beside\t the\t buggy\t for\t a\t while,\t now, trying\tto\trest\ttheir\tweary\tbodies.\tThey\tfell\tsilent\ta\tmoment\tor\ttwo,\tand\tstruggled in\tthought\tover\tthe\tbaffling\tsituation;\tthen\tMrs.\tEnderby\tbrightened\tand\tsaid: \\\"I\tthink\tI've\tgot\tthe\tidea,\tnow.\tYou\tsee,\twe\tcan't\twalk\tany\tmore.\tThink\twhat we've\t done;\t four\t miles\t there,\t two\t to\t Moseley's,\t is\t six,\t then\t back\t to\t here--nine miles\t since\t noon,\t and\t not\t a\t bite\t to\t eat:\t I\t declare\t I\t don't\t see\t how\t we've\t done\t it; and\tas\tfor\tme,\tI\tam\tjust\tfamishing.\tNow,\tsomebody's\tgot\tto\tgo\tback,\tto\thelp\tMr. Brown--there's\t no\t getting\t around\t that;\t but\t whoever\t goes\t has\t got\t to\t ride,\t not walk.\t So\t my\t idea\t is\t this:\t one\t of\t us\t to\t ride\t back\t with\t Mr.\t Brown,\t then\t ride\t to Nancy\tTaylor's\thouse\twith\tone\tof\tthe\tOld\tPeople,\tleaving\tMr.\tBrown\tto\tkeep\tthe other\told\tone\tcompany,\tyou\tall\tto\tgo\tnow\tto\tNancy's\tand\trest\tand\twait;\tthen\tone","of\tyou\tdrive\tback\tand\tget\tthe\tother\tone\tand\tdrive\ther\tto\tNancy's,\tand\tMr.\tBrown walk.\\\" \\\"Splendid!\\\"\tthey\tall\tcried.\t\\\"Oh,\tthat\twill\tdo--that\twill\tanswer\tperfectly.\\\"\tAnd they\t all\t said\t that\t Mrs.\t Enderby\t had\t the\t best\t head\t for\t planning\t in\t the\t company; and\t they\t said\t that\t they\t wondered\t that\t they\t hadn't\t thought\t of\t this\t simple\t plan themselves.\tThey\thadn't\tmeant\tto\ttake\tback\tthe\tcompliment,\tgood\tsimple\tsouls, and\t didn't\t know\t they\t had\t done\t it.\t After\t a\t consultation\t it\t was\t decided\t that\t Mrs. Enderby\t should\t drive\t back\t with\t Brown,\t she\t being\t entitled\t to\t the\t distinction because\tshe\thad\tinvented\tthe\tplan.\tEverything\tnow\tbeing\tsatisfactorily\tarranged and\t settled,\t the\t ladies\t rose,\t relieved\t and\t happy,\t and\t brushed\t down\t their\t gowns, and\t three\t of\t them\t started\t homeward;\t Mrs.\t Enderby\t set\t her\t foot\t on\t the\t buggy step\t and\t was\t about\t to\t climb\t in,\t when\t Brown\t found\t a\t remnant\t of\t his\t voice\t and gasped\tout-- \\\"Please,\tMrs.\tEnderby,\tcall\tthem\tback--I\tam\tvery\tweak;\tI\tcan't\twalk,\tI\tcan't indeed.\\\" \\\"Why,\t dear\t Mr.\t Brown!\t You\t do\t look\t pale;\t I\t am\t ashamed\t of\t myself\t that\t I didn't\t notice\t it\t sooner.\t Come\t back--all\t of\t you!\t Mr.\t Brown\t is\t not\t well.\t Is\t there anything\tI\tcan\tdo\tfor\tyou,\tMr.\tBrown--I'm\treal\tsorry.\tAre\tyou\tin\tpain?\\\" \\\"No,\tmadam,\tonly\tweak;\tI\tam\tnot\tsick,\tbut\tonly\tjust\tweak--lately;\tnot\tlong, but\tjust\tlately.\\\" The\tothers\tcame\tback,\tand\tpoured\tout\ttheir\tsympathies\tand\tcommiserations, and\t were\t full\t of\t self-reproaches\t for\t not\t having\t noticed\t how\t pale\t he\t was.\t And they\tat\tonce\tstruck\tout\ta\tnew\tplan,\tand\tsoon\tagreed\tthat\tit\twas\tby\tfar\tthe\tbest\tof all.\t They\t would\t all\t go\t to\t Nancy\t Taylor's\t house\t and\t see\t to\t Brown's\t needs\t first. He\tcould\tlie\ton\tthe\tsofa\tin\tthe\tparlor,\tand\twhile\tMrs.\tTaylor\tand\tMary\ttook\tcare of\thim\tthe\tother\ttwo\tladies\twould\ttake\tthe\tbuggy\tand\tgo\tand\tget\tone\tof\tthe\tOld People,\tand\tleave\tone\tof\tthemselves\twith\tthe\tother\tone,\tand-- By\tthis\ttime,\twithout\tany\tsolicitation,\tthey\twere\tat\tthe\thorse's\thead\tand\twere beginning\t to\t turn\t him\t around.\t The\t danger\t was\t imminent,\t but\t Brown\t found\t his voice\tagain\tand\tsaved\thimself.\tHe\tsaid-- \\\"But,\t ladies,\t you\t are\t overlooking\t something\t which\t makes\t the\t plan impracticable.\tYou\tsee,\tif\tyou\tbring\tone\tof\tthem\thome,\tand\tone\tremains\tbehind with\tthe\tother,\tthere\twill\tbe\tthree\tpersons\tthere\twhen\tone\tof\tyou\tcomes\tback\tfor that\tother,\tfor\tsome\tone\tmust\tdrive\tthe\tbuggy\tback,\tand\tthree\tcan't\tcome\thome in\tit.\\\" They\t all\t exclaimed,\t \\\"Why,\t sure-ly,\t that\t is\t so!\\\"\t and\t they\t were\t all\t perplexed again.","\\\"Dear,\t dear,\t what\t can\t we\t do?\\\"\t said\t Mrs.\t Glossop;\t \\\"it\t is\t the\t most\t mixed-up thing\t that\t ever\t was.\t The\t fox\t and\t the\t goose\t and\t the\t corn\t and\t things--oh,\t dear, they\tare\tnothing\tto\tit.\\\" They\t sat\t wearily\t down\t once\t more,\t to\t further\t torture\t their\t tormented\t heads for\ta\tplan\tthat\twould\twork.\tPresently\tMary\toffered\ta\tplan;\tit\twas\ther\tfirst\teffort. She\tsaid: \\\"I\t am\t young\t and\t strong,\t and\t am\t refreshed,\t now.\t Take\t Mr.\t Brown\t to\t our house,\tand\tgive\thim\thelp--you\tsee\thow\tplainly\the\tneeds\tit.\tI\t will\tgo\tback\tand take\tcare\tof\tthe\tOld\tPeople;\tI\tcan\tbe\tthere\tin\ttwenty\tminutes.\tYou\tcan\tgo\ton\tand do\t what\t you\t first\t started\t to\t do--wait\t on\t the\t main\t road\t at\t our\t house\t until somebody\tcomes\talong\twith\ta\twagon;\tthen\tsend\tand\tbring\taway\tthe\tthree\tof\tus. You\t won't\t have\t to\t wait\t long;\t the\t farmers\t will\t soon\t be\t coming\t back\t from\t town now.\tI\twill\tkeep\told\tPolly\tpatient\tand\tcheered\tup--the\tcrazy\tone\tdoesn't\tneed\tit.\\\" This\tplan\twas\tdiscussed\tand\taccepted;\tit\tseemed\tthe\tbest\tthat\tcould\tbe\tdone, in\t the\t circumstances,\t and\t the\t Old\t People\t must\t be\t getting\t discouraged\t by\t this time. Brown\t felt\t relieved,\t and\t was\t deeply\t thankful.\t Let\t him\t once\t get\t to\t the\t main road\tand\the\twould\tfind\ta\tway\tto\tescape. Then\tMrs.\tTaylor\tsaid: \\\"The\tevening\tchill\twill\tbe\tcoming\ton,\tpretty\tsoon,\tand\tthose\tpoor\told\tburnt- out\tthings\twill\tneed\tsome\tkind\tof\tcovering.\tTake\tthe\tlap-robe\twith\tyou,\tdear.\\\" \\\"Very\twell,\tMother,\tI\twill.\\\" She\tstepped\tto\tthe\tbuggy\tand\tput\tout\ther\thand\tto\ttake\tit-- \t That\t was\t the\t end\t of\t the\t tale.\t The\t passenger\t who\t told\t it\t said\t that\t when\t he read\t the\t story\t twenty-five\t years\t ago\t in\t a\t train\t he\t was\t interrupted\t at\t that\t point-- the\ttrain\tjumped\toff\ta\tbridge. At\tfirst\twe\tthought\twe\tcould\tfinish\tthe\tstory\tquite\teasily,\tand\twe\tset\tto\twork with\t confidence;\t but\t it\t soon\t began\t to\t appear\t that\t it\t was\t not\t a\t simple\t thing,\t but difficult\t and\t baffling.\t This\t was\t on\t account\t of\t Brown's\t character--great generosity\tand\tkindliness,\tbut\tcomplicated\twith\tunusual\tshyness\tand\tdiffidence, particularly\tin\tthe\tpresence\tof\tladies.\tThere\twas\this\tlove\tfor\tMary,\tin\ta\thopeful state\t but\t not\t yet\t secure--just\t in\t a\t condition,\t indeed,\t where\t its\t affair\t must\t be handled\twith\tgreat\ttact,\tand\tno\tmistakes\tmade,\tno\toffense\tgiven.\tAnd\tthere\twas the\tmother--wavering,\thalf\twilling--by\tadroit\tand\tflawless\tdiplomacy\tto\tbe\twon","over,\t now,\t or\t perhaps\t never\t at\t all.\t Also,\t there\t were\t the\t helpless\t Old\t People yonder\tin\tthe\twoods\twaiting--their\tfate\tand\tBrown's\thappiness\tto\tbe\tdetermined by\t what\t Brown\t should\t do\t within\t the\t next\t two\t seconds.\t Mary\t was\t reaching\t for the\tlap-robe;\tBrown\tmust\tdecide--there\twas\tno\ttime\tto\tbe\tlost. Of\t course\t none\t but\t a\t happy\t ending\t of\t the\t story\t would\t be\t accepted\t by\t the jury;\t the\t finish\t must\t find\t Brown\t in\t high\t credit\t with\t the\t ladies,\t his\t behavior without\t blemish,\t his\t modesty\t unwounded,\t his\t character\t for\t self-sacrifice maintained,\tthe\tOld\tPeople\trescued\tthrough\thim,\ttheir\t benefactor,\tall\tthe\tparty proud\tof\thim,\thappy\tin\thim,\this\tpraises\ton\tall\ttheir\ttongues. We\t tried\t to\t arrange\t this,\t but\t it\t was\t beset\t with\t persistent\t and\t irreconcilable difficulties.\t We\t saw\t that\t Brown's\t shyness\t would\t not\t allow\t him\t to\t give\t up\t the lap-robe.\t This\t would\t offend\t Mary\t and\t her\t mother;\t and\t it\t would\t surprise\t the other\t ladies,\t partly\t because\t this\t stinginess\t toward\t the\t suffering\t Old\t People would\t be\t out\t of\t character\t with\t Brown,\t and\t partly\t because\t he\t was\t a\t special Providence\t and\t could\t not\t properly\t act\t so.\t If\t asked\t to\t explain\t his\t conduct,\t his shyness\twould\tnot\tallow\thim\tto\ttell\tthe\ttruth,\tand\tlack\tof\tinvention\tand\tpractice would\tfind\thim\tincapable\tof\tcontriving\ta\tlie\tthat\twould\twash.\tWe\tworked\tat\tthe troublesome\tproblem\tuntil\tthree\tin\tthe\tmorning. Meantime\t Mary\t was\t still\t reaching\t for\t the\t lap-robe.\t We\t gave\t it\t up,\t and decided\t to\t let\t her\t continue\t to\t reach.\t It\t is\t the\t reader's\t privilege\t to\t determine\t for himself\thow\tthe\tthing\tcame\tout. From\tFOLLOWING\tTHE\tEQUATOR,\t1897","THE\tMAN\tTHAT\tCORRUPTED HADLEYBURG 1 IT\tWAS\tmany\tyears\tago.\tHadleyburg\twas\tthe\tmost\thonest\tand\tupright\ttown in\t all\t the\t region\t around\t about.\t It\t had\t kept\t that\t reputation\t unsmirched\t during three\t generations,\t and\t was\t prouder\t of\t it\t than\t of\t any\t other\t of\t its\t possessions.\t It was\t so\t proud\t of\t it,\t and\t so\t anxious\t to\t insure\t its\t perpetuation,\t that\t it\t began\t to teach\t the\t principles\t of\t honest\t dealing\t to\t its\t babies\t in\t the\t cradle,\t and\t made\t the like\t teachings\t the\t staple\t of\t their\t culture\t thenceforward\t through\t all\t the\t years devoted\t to\t their\t education.\t Also,\t throughout\t the\t formative\t years\t temptations were\t kept\t out\t of\t the\t way\t of\t the\t young\t people,\t so\t that\t their\t honesty\t could\t have every\t chance\t to\t harden\t and\t solidify,\t and\t become\t a\t part\t of\t their\t very\t bone.\t The neighboring\t towns\t were\t jealous\t of\t this\t honorable\t supremacy,\t and\t affected\t to sneer\t at\t Hadleyburg's\t pride\t in\t it\t and\t call\t it\t vanity;\t but\t all\t the\t same\t they\t were obliged\t to\t acknowledge\t that\t Hadleyburg\t was\t in\t reality\t an\t incorruptible\t town; and\tif\tpressed\tthey\twould\talso\tacknowledge\tthat\tthe\tmere\tfact\tthat\ta\tyoung\tman hailed\t from\t Hadleyburg\t was\t all\t the\t recommendation\t he\t needed\t when\t he\t went forth\tfrom\this\tnatal\ttown\tto\tseek\tfor\tresponsible\temployment. But\t at\t last,\t in\t the\t drift\t of\t time,\t Hadleyburg\t had\t the\t ill\t luck\t to\t offend\t a passing\t stranger--possibly\t without\t knowing\t it,\t certainly\t without\t caring,\t for Hadleyburg\t was\t sufficient\t unto\t itself,\t and\t cared\t not\t a\t rap\t for\t strangers\t or\t their opinions.\tStill,\tit\twould\thave\tbeen\twell\tto\tmake\tan\texception\tin\tthis\tone's\tcase, for\t he\t was\t a\t bitter\t man\t and\t revengeful.\t All\t through\t his\t wanderings\t during\t a whole\tyear\the\tkept\this\tinjury\tin\tmind,\tand\tgave\tall\this\tleisure\tmoments\tto\ttrying to\tinvent\ta\tcompensating\tsatisfaction\tfor\tit.\tHe\tcontrived\tmany\tplans,\tand\tall\tof them\t were\t good,\t but\t none\t of\t them\t was\t quite\t sweeping\t enough;\t the\t poorest\t of them\twould\thurt\ta\tgreat\tmany\tindividuals,\tbut\twhat\the\twanted\twas\ta\tplan\twhich would\t comprehend\t the\t entire\t town,\t and\t not\t let\t so\t much\t as\t one\t person\t escape unhurt.\tAt\tlast\the\thad\ta\tfortunate\tidea,\tand\twhen\tit\tfell\tinto\this\tbrain\tit\tlit\tup\this whole\thead\twith\tan\tevil\tjoy.\tHe\tbegan\tto\tform\ta\tplan\tat\tonce,\tsaying\tto\thimself, \\\"That\tis\tthe\tthing\tto\tdo--I\twill\tcorrupt\tthe\ttown.\\\" Six\tmonths\tlater\the\twent\tto\tHadleyburg,\tand\tarrived\tin\ta\tbuggy\tat\tthe\thouse","of\tthe\told\tcashier\tof\tthe\tbank\tabout\tten\tat\tnight.\tHe\tgot\ta\tsack\tout\tof\tthe\tbuggy, shouldered\tit,\tand\tstaggered\twith\tit\tthrough\tthe\tcottage\tyard,\tand\tknocked\tat\tthe door.\tA\twoman's\tvoice\tsaid\t\\\"Come\tin,\\\"\tand\the\tentered,\tand\tset\this\tsack\tbehind the\t stove\t in\t the\t parlor,\t saying\t politely\t to\t the\t old\t lady\t who\t sat\t reading\t the Missionary\tHerald\tby\tthe\tlamp: \\\"Pray\tkeep\tyour\tseat,\tmadam,\tI\twill\tnot\tdisturb\tyou.\tThere--now\tit\tis\tpretty well\t concealed;\t one\t would\t hardly\t know\t it\t was\t there.\t Can\t I\t see\t your\t husband\t a moment,\tmadam?\\\" No,\the\twas\tgone\tto\tBrixton,\tand\tmight\tnot\treturn\tbefore\tmorning. \\\"Very\twell,\tmadam,\tit\tis\tno\tmatter.\tI\tmerely\twanted\tto\tleave\tthat\tsack\tin\this care,\t to\t be\t delivered\t to\t the\t rightful\t owner\t when\t he\t shall\t be\t found.\t I\t am\t a stranger;\the\tdoes\tnot\tknow\tme;\tI\tam\tmerely\tpassing\tthrough\tthe\ttown\tto-night\tto discharge\t a\t matter\t which\t has\t been\t long\t in\t my\t mind.\t My\t errand\t is\t now completed,\tand\tI\tgo\tpleased\tand\ta\tlittle\tproud,\tand\tyou\twill\tnever\tsee\tme\tagain. There\tis\ta\tpaper\tattached\tto\tthe\tsack\twhich\twill\texplain\teverything.\tGood\tnight, madam.\\\" The\t old\t lady\t was\t afraid\t of\t the\t mysterious\t big\t stranger,\t and\t was\t glad\t to\t see him\t go.\t But\t her\t curiosity\t was\t roused,\t and\t she\t went\t straight\t to\t the\t sack\t and brought\taway\tthe\tpaper.\tIt\tbegan\tas\tfollows: TO\tBE\tPUBLISHED; or,\tthe\tright\tman\tsought\tout\tby\tprivate\tinquiry--either\twill\tanswer.\tThis sack\tcontains\tgold\tcoin\tweighing\ta\thundred\tand\tsixty\tpounds\tfour\tounces-- \\\"Mercy\ton\tus,\tand\tthe\tdoor\tnot\tlocked!\\\" Mrs.\tRichards\tflew\tto\tit\tall\tin\ta\ttremble\tand\tlocked\tit,\tthen\tpulled\tdown\tthe window-shades\t and\t stood\t frightened,\t worried,\t and\t wondering\t if\t there\t was anything\telse\tshe\tcould\tdo\ttoward\tmaking\therself\tand\tthe\tmoney\tmore\tsafe.\tShe listened\t awhile\t for\t burglars,\t then\t surrendered\t to\t curiosity\t and\t went\t back\t to\t the lamp\tand\tfinished\treading\tthe\tpaper: I\t am\t a\t foreigner,\t and\t am\t presently\t going\t back\t to\t my\t own\t country,\t to remain\t there\t permanently.\t I\t am\t grateful\t to\t America\t for\t what\t I\t have received\tat\ther\thands\tduring\tmy\tlong\tstay\tunder\ther\tflag;\tand\tto\tone\tof\ther citizens--a\t citizen\t of\t Hadleyburg--I\t am\t especially\t grateful\t for\t a\t great","kindness\t done\t me\t a\t year\t or\t two\t ago.\t Two\t great\t kindnesses,\t in\t fact.\t I\t will explain.\tI\twas\ta\tgambler.\tI\tsay\tI\twas.\tI\twas\ta\truined\tgambler.\tI\tarrived\tin this\t village\t at\t night,\t hungry\t and\t without\t a\t penny.\t I\t asked\t for\t help--in\t the dark;\tI\twas\tashamed\tto\tbeg\tin\tthe\tlight.\tI\tbegged\tof\tthe\tright\tman.\tHe\tgave me\ttwenty\tdollars--that\tis\tto\tsay,\the\tgave\tme\tlife,\tas\tI\tconsidered\tit.\tHe\talso gave\t me\t fortune;\t for\t out\t of\t that\t money\t I\t have\t made\t myself\t rich\t at\t the gaming-table.\t And\t finally,\t a\t remark\t which\t he\t made\t to\t me\t has\t remained with\t me\t to\t this\t day,\t and\t has\t at\t last\t conquered\t me;\t and\t in\t conquering\t has saved\t the\t remnant\t of\t my\t morals;\t I\t shall\t gamble\t no\t more.\t Now\t I\t have\t no idea\twho\tthat\tman\twas,\tbut\tI\twant\thim\tfound,\tand\tI\twant\thim\tto\thave\tthis money,\t to\t give\t away,\t throw\t away,\t or\t keep,\t as\t he\t pleases.\t It\t is\t merely\t my way\t of\t testifying\t my\t gratitude\t to\t him.\t If\t I\t could\t stay,\t I\t would\t find\t him myself;\t but\t no\t matter,\t he\t will\t be\t found.\t This\t is\t an\t honest\t town,\t an incorruptible\ttown,\tand\tI\tknow\tI\tcan\ttrust\tit\twithout\tfear.\tThis\tman\tcan\tbe identified\tby\tthe\tremark\twhich\the\tmade\tto\tme;\tI\tfeel\tpersuaded\tthat\the\twill remember\tit. And\tnow\tmy\tplan\tis\tthis:\tIf\tyou\tprefer\tto\tconduct\tthe\tinquiry\tprivately, do\tso.\tTell\tthe\tcontents\tof\tthis\tpresent\twriting\tto\tany\tone\twho\tis\tlikely\tto\tbe the\tright\tman.\tIf\the\tshall\tanswer,\t'I\tam\tthe\tman;\tthe\tremark\tI\tmade\twas\tso- and-so,'\tapply\tthe\ttest--to\twit:\topen\tthe\tsack,\tand\tin\tit\tyou\twill\tfind\ta\tsealed envelope\tcontaining\tthat\tremark.\tIf\tthe\tremark\tmentioned\tby\tthe\tcandidate tallies\twith\t it,\tgive\thim\tthe\t money,\tand\task\tno\tfurther\t questions,\tfor\the\tis certainly\tthe\tright\tman. But\tif\tyou\tshall\tprefer\ta\tpublic\tinquiry,\tthen\tpublish\tthis\tpresent\twriting in\tthe\t local\t paper--with\t these\tinstructions\tadded,\t to\twit:\tThirty\tdays\tfrom now,\t let\t the\t candidate\t appear\t at\t the\t town-hall\t at\t eight\t in\t the\t evening (Friday),\t and\t hand\t his\t remark,\t in\t a\t sealed\t envelope,\t to\t the\t Rev.\t Mr. Burgess\t (if\t he\t will\t be\t kind\t enough\t to\t act);\t and\t let\t Mr.\t Burgess\t there\t and then\tdestroy\tthe\tseals\tof\tthe\tsack,\topen\tit,\tand\tsee\tif\tthe\tremark\tis\tcorrect;\tif correct,\t let\t the\t money\t be\t delivered\t with\t my\t sincere\t gratitude,\t to\t my benefactor\tthus\tidentified. Mrs.\tRichards\tsat\tdown,\tgently\tquivering\twith\texcitement,\tand\twas\tsoon\tlost in\t thinkings--after\t this\t pattern:\t \\\"What\t a\t strange\t thing\t it\t is!\t .\t .\t .\t And\t what\t a fortune\tfor\tthat\tkind\tman\twho\tset\this\tbread\tafloat\tupon\tthe\twaters!\t.\t.\t.\tIf\tit\thad only\t been\t my\t husband\t that\t did\t it!--for\t we\t are\t so\t poor,\t so\t old\t and\t poor!\t .\t .\t .\\\" Then,\t with\t a\t sigh--\\\"But\t it\t was\t not\t my\t Edward;\t no,\t it\t was\t not\t he\t that\t gave\t a","stranger\t twenty\t dollars.\t It\t is\t pity,\t too;\t I\t see\t it\t now.\t .\t .\t .\\\"\t Then,\t with\t a\t shudder-- \\\"But\t it\t is\t gambler's\t money!\t the\t wages\t of\t sin:\t we\t couldn't\t take\t it;\t we\t couldn't touch\tit.\tI\tdon't\tlike\tto\tbe\tnear\tit;\tit\tseems\ta\tdefilement.\\\"\tShe\tmoved\tto\ta\tfarther chair.\t .\t .\t .\t \\\"I\t wish\t Edward\t would\t come\t and\t take\t it\t to\t the\t bank;\t a\t burglar\t might come\tat\tany\tmoment;\tit\tis\tdreadful\tto\tbe\there\tall\talone\twith\tit.\\\" At\televen\tMr.\tRichards\tarrived,\tand\twhile\this\twife\twas\tsaying,\t\\\"I\tam\tso\tglad you've\tcome!\\\"\the\twas\tsaying,\t\\\"I'm\t so\ttired--tired\tclear\tout;\tit\tis\tdreadful\t to\tbe poor,\t and\t have\t to\t make\t these\t dismal\t journeys\t at\t my\t time\t of\t life.\t Always\t at\t the grind,\tgrind,\tgrind,\ton\ta\tsalary--another\tman's\tslave,\tand\the\tsitting\tat\thome\tin\this slippers,\trich\tand\tcomfortable.\\\" \\\"I\t am\t so\t sorry\t for\t you,\t Edward,\t you\t know\t that;\t but\t be\t comforted:\t we\t have our\tlivelihood;\twe\thave\tour\tgood\tname--\\\" \\\"Yes,\t Mary,\t and\t that\t is\t everything.\t Don't\t mind\t my\t talk--it's\t just\t a\t moment's irritation\tand\tdoesn't\tmean\tanything.\tKiss\tme--there,\tit's\tall\tgone\tnow,\tand\tI\tam not\tcomplaining\tany\tmore.\tWhat\thave\tyou\tbeen\tgetting?\tWhat's\tin\tthe\tsack?\\\" Then\this\twife\ttold\thim\tthe\tgreat\tsecret.\tIt\tdazed\thim\tfor\ta\tmoment;\tthen\the said: \\\"It\t weighs\t a\t hundred\t and\t sixty\t pounds?\t Why,\t Mary,\t it's\t forty\t thousand dollars--think\t of\t it--a\t whole\t fortune!\t Not\t ten\t men\t in\t this\t village\t are\t worth\t that much.\tGive\tme\tthe\tpaper.\\\" He\tskimmed\tthrough\tit\tand\tsaid: \\\"Isn't\tit\tan\tadventure!\tWhy,\tit's\ta\tromance;\tit's\tlike\tthe\timpossible\tthings\tone reads\t about\t in\t books,\t and\t never\t sees\t in\t life.\\\"\t He\t was\t well\t stirred\t up\t now; cheerful,\t even\t gleeful.\t He\t tapped\t his\t old\t wife\t on\t the\t cheek,\t and\t said, humorously,\t \\\"Why,\t we're\t rich,\t Mary,\t rich;\t all\t we've\t got\t to\t do\t is\t to\t bury\t the money\t and\t burn\t the\t papers.\t If\t the\t gambler\t ever\t comes\t to\t inquire,\t we'll\t merely look\tcoldly\tupon\thim\tand\tsay:\t'What\tis\tthis\tnonsense\tyou\tare\ttalking!\tWe\thave never\t heard\t of\t you\t and\t your\t sack\t of\t gold\t before';\t and\t then\t he\t would\t look foolish,\tand--\\\" \\\"And\tin\tthe\tmean\ttime,\twhile\tyou\tare\trunning\ton\twith\tyour\tjokes,\tthe\tmoney is\tstill\there,\tand\tit\tis\tfast\tgetting\talong\ttoward\tburglar-time.\\\" \\\"True.\tVery\twell,\twhat\tshall\twe\tdo--make\tthe\tinquiry\tprivate?\tNo,\tnot\tthat;\tit would\tspoil\tthe\tromance.\tThe\tpublic\tmethod\tis\tbetter.\tThink\twhat\ta\tnoise\tit\twill make!\t And\t it\t will\t make\t all\t the\t other\t towns\t jealous;\t for\t no\t stranger\t would\t trust such\ta\tthing\tto\tany\ttown\tbut\tHadleyburg,\tand\tthey\tknow\tit.\tIt's\ta\tgreat\tcard\tfor us.\tI\tmust\tget\tto\tthe\tprinting-office\tnow,\tor\tI\tshall\tbe\ttoo\tlate.\\\" \\\"But\tstop--stop--don't\tleave\tme\there\talone\twith\tit,\tEdward!\\\"","But\t he\t was\t gone.\t For\t only\t a\t little\t while,\t however.\t Not\t far\t from\t his\t own house\the\tmet\tthe\teditor-proprietor\tof\tthe\tpaper,\tand\tgave\thim\tthe\tdocument,\tand said,\t\\\"Here\tis\ta\tgood\tthing\tfor\tyou,\tCox--put\tit\tin.\\\" \\\"It\tmay\tbe\ttoo\tlate,\tMr.\tRichards,\tbut\tI'll\tsee.\\\" At\thome\tagain\the\tand\this\twife\tsat\tdown\tto\ttalk\tthe\tcharming\tmystery\tover; they\t were\t in\t no\t condition\t for\t sleep.\t The\t first\t question\t was,\t Who\t could\t the citizen\thave\tbeen\twho\tgave\tthe\tstranger\tthe\ttwenty\tdollars?\tIt\tseemed\ta\tsimple one;\tboth\tanswered\tit\tin\tthe\tsame\tbreath: \\\"Barclay\tGoodson.\\\" \\\"Yes,\\\"\t said\t Richards,\t \\\"he\t could\t have\t done\t it,\t and\t it\t would\t have\t been\t like him,\tbut\tthere's\tnot\tanother\tin\tthe\ttown.\\\" \\\"Everybody\t will\t grant\t that,\t Edward--grant\t it\t privately,\t anyway.\t For\t six months,\tnow,\tthe\tvillage\thas\tbeen\tits\town\tproper\tself\tonce\tmore--honest,\tnarrow, self-righteous,\tand\tstingy.\\\" \\\"It\t is\t what\t he\t always\t called\t it,\t to\t the\t day\t of\t his\t death--said\t it\t right\t out publicly,\ttoo.\\\" \\\"Yes,\tand\the\twas\thated\tfor\tit.\\\" \\\"Oh,\tof\tcourse;\tbut\the\tdidn't\tcare.\tI\treckon\the\twas\tthe\tbest-hated\tman\tamong us,\texcept\tthe\tReverend\tBurgess.\\\" \\\"Well,\t Burgess\t deserves\t it--he\t will\t never\t get\t another\t congregation\t here. Mean\tas\tthe\ttown\tis,\tit\tknows\thow\tto\testimate\thim.\tEdward,\tdoesn't\tit\tseem\todd that\tthe\tstranger\tshould\tappoint\tBurgess\tto\tdeliver\tthe\tmoney?\\\" \\\"Well,\tyes--it\tdoes.\tThat\tis--that\tis--\\\" \\\"Why\tso\tmuch\tthat-is-ing?\tWould\tyou\tselect\thim?\\\" \\\"Mary,\tmaybe\tthe\tstranger\tknows\thim\tbetter\tthan\tthis\tvillage\tdoes.\\\" \\\"Much\tthat\twould\thelp\tBurgess!\\\" The\t husband\t seemed\t perplexed\t for\t an\t answer;\t the\t wife\t kept\t a\t steady\t eye upon\t him,\t and\t waited.\t Finally\t Richards\t said,\t with\t the\t hesitancy\t of\t one\t who\t is making\ta\tstatement\twhich\tis\tlikely\tto\tencounter\tdoubt: \\\"Mary,\tBurgess\tis\tnot\ta\tbad\tman.\\\" His\twife\twas\tcertainly\tsurprised. \\\"Nonsense!\\\"\tshe\texclaimed. \\\"He\t is\t not\t a\t bad\t man.\t I\t know.\t The\t whole\t of\t his\t unpopularity\t had\t its foundation\tin\tthat\tone\tthing--the\tthing\tthat\tmade\tso\tmuch\tnoise.\\\" \\\"That\t'one\tthing,'\tindeed!\tAs\tif\tthat\t'one\tthing'\twasn't\tenough,\tall\tby\titself.\\\" \\\"Plenty.\tPlenty.\tOnly\the\twasn't\tguilty\tof\tit.\\\" \\\"How\tyou\ttalk!\tNot\tguilty\tof\tit!\tEverybody\tknows\the\twas\tguilty.\\\"","\\\"Mary,\tI\tgive\tyou\tmy\tword--he\twas\tinnocent.\\\" \\\"I\tcan't\tbelieve\tit,\tand\tI\tdon't.\tHow\tdo\tyou\tknow?\\\" \\\"It\tis\ta\tconfession.\tI\tam\tashamed,\tbut\tI\twill\tmake\tit.\tI\twas\tthe\tonly\tman\twho knew\t he\t was\t innocent.\t I\t could\t have\t saved\t him,\t and--and--well,\t you\t know\t how the\t town\t was\t wrought\t up--I\t hadn't\t the\t pluck\t to\t do\t it.\t It\t would\t have\t turned everybody\t against\t me.\t I\t felt\t mean,\t ever\t so\t mean;\t but\t I\t didn't\t dare;\t I\t hadn't\t the manliness\tto\tface\tthat.\\\" Mary\t looked\t troubled,\t and\t for\t a\t while\t was\t silent.\t Then\t she\t said, stammeringly: \\\"I--I\t don't\t think\t it\t would\t have\t done\t for\t you\t to--to--\t One\t mustn't--er--public opinion--one\t has\t to\t be\t so\t careful--so--\\\"\t It\t was\t a\t difficult\t road,\t and\t she\t got mired;\tbut\tafter\ta\tlittle\tshe\tgot\tstarted\tagain.\t\\\"It\twas\ta\tgreat\tpity,\tbut--\tWhy,\twe couldn't\tafford\tit,\tEdward--we\tcouldn't\tindeed.\tOh,\tI\twouldn't\thave\thad\tyou\tdo\tit for\tanything!\\\" \\\"It\twould\thave\tlost\tus\tthe\tgood\twill\tof\tso\tmany\tpeople,\tMary;\tand\tthen--and then--\\\" \\\"What\ttroubles\tme\tnow\tis,\twhat\the\tthinks\tof\tus,\tEdward.\\\" \\\"He?\tHe\tdoesn't\tsuspect\tthat\tI\tcould\thave\tsaved\thim.\\\" \\\"Oh,\\\"\t exclaimed\t the\t wife,\t in\t a\t tone\t of\t relief,\t \\\"I\t am\t glad\t of\t that!\t As\t long\t as he\t doesn't\t know\t that\t you\t could\t have\t saved\t him,\t he--he--well,\t that\t makes\t it\t a great\tdeal\tbetter.\tWhy,\tI\tmight\thave\tknown\the\tdidn't\tknow,\tbecause\the\tis\talways trying\tto\tbe\tfriendly\twith\tus,\tas\tlittle\tencouragement\tas\twe\tgive\thim.\tMore\tthan once\tpeople\thave\ttwitted\tme\twith\tit.\tThere's\tthe\tWilsons,\tand\tthe\tWilcoxes,\tand the\t Harknesses,\t they\t take\t a\t mean\t pleasure\t in\t saying,\t 'Your\t friend\t Burgess,' because\tthey\tknow\tit\tpesters\tme.\tI\twish\the\twouldn't\tpersist\tin\tliking\tus\tso;\tI\tcan't think\twhy\the\tkeeps\tit\tup.\\\" \\\"I\t can\t explain\t it.\t It's\t another\t confession.\t When\t the\t thing\t was\t new\t and\t hot, and\tthe\ttown\tmade\ta\tplan\tto\tride\thim\ton\ta\trail,\tmy\tconscience\thurt\tme\tso\tthat\tI couldn't\tstand\tit,\tand\tI\twent\tprivately\tand\tgave\thim\tnotice,\tand\the\tgot\tout\tof\tthe town\tand\tstaid\tout\ttill\tit\twas\tsafe\tto\tcome\tback.\\\" \\\"Edward!\tIf\tthe\ttown\thad\tfound\tit\tout--\\\" \\\"Don't!\tIt\tscares\tme\tyet,\tto\tthink\tof\tit.\tI\trepented\tof\tit\tthe\tminute\tit\twas\tdone; and\t I\t was\t even\t afraid\t to\t tell\t you,\t lest\t your\t face\t might\t betray\t it\t to\t somebody.\t I didn't\tsleep\tany\tthat\tnight,\tfor\tworrying.\tBut\tafter\ta\tfew\tdays\tI\tsaw\tthat\tno\tone was\t going\t to\t suspect\t me,\t and\t after\t that\t I\t got\t to\t feeling\t glad\t I\t did\t it.\t And\t I\t feel glad\tyet,\tMary--glad\tthrough\tand\tthrough.\\\" \\\"So\t do\t I,\t now,\t for\t it\t would\t have\t been\t a\t dreadful\t way\t to\t treat\t him.\t Yes,\t I'm","glad;\tfor\treally\tyou\tdid\towe\thim\tthat,\tyou\tknow.\tBut,\tEdward,\tsuppose\tit\tshould come\tout\tyet,\tsome\tday!\\\" \\\"It\twon't.\\\" \\\"Why?\\\" \\\"Because\teverybody\tthinks\tit\twas\tGoodson.\\\" \\\"Of\tcourse\tthey\twould!\\\" \\\"Certainly.\t And\t of\t course\t he\t didn't\t care.\t They\t persuaded\t poor\t old Sawlsberry\tto\tgo\tand\tcharge\tit\ton\thim,\tand\the\twent\tblustering\tover\tthere\tand\tdid it.\tGoodson\tlooked\thim\tover,\tlike\tas\tif\the\twas\thunting\tfor\ta\tplace\ton\thim\tthat\the could\tdespise\tthe\tmost,\tthen\the\tsays,\t'So\tyou\tare\tthe\tCommittee\tof\tInquiry,\tare you?'\t Sawlsberry\t said\t that\t was\t about\t what\t he\t was.\t 'Hm.\t Do\t they\t require particulars,\tor\tdo\tyou\treckon\ta\tkind\tof\ta\tgeneral\tanswer\twill\tdo?'\t'If\tthey\trequire particulars,\tI\twill\tcome\tback,\tMr.\tGoodson;\tI\twill\ttake\tthe\tgeneral\tanswer\tfirst.' 'Very\twell,\tthen,\ttell\tthem\tto\tgo\tto\thell--I\treckon\tthat's\tgeneral\tenough.\tAnd\tI'll give\t you\t some\t advice,\t Sawlsberry;\t when\t you\t come\t back\t for\t the\t particulars, fetch\ta\tbasket\tto\tcarry\tthe\trelics\tof\tyourself\thome\tin.'\\\" \\\"Just\tlike\tGoodson;\tit's\tgot\tall\tthe\tmarks.\tHe\thad\tonly\tone\tvanity:\the\tthought he\tcould\tgive\tadvice\tbetter\tthan\tany\tother\tperson.\\\" \\\"It\tsettled\tthe\tbusiness,\tand\tsaved\tus,\tMary.\tThe\tsubject\twas\tdropped.\\\" \\\"Bless\tyou,\tI'm\tnot\tdoubting\tthat.\\\" Then\t they\t took\t up\t the\t gold-sack\t mystery\t again,\t with\t strong\t interest.\t Soon the\t conversation\t began\t to\t suffer\t breaks--interruptions\t caused\t by\t absorbed thinkings.\t The\t breaks\t grew\t more\t and\t more\t frequent.\t At\t last\t Richards\t lost himself\twholly\tin\tthought.\tHe\tsat\tlong,\tgazing\tvacantly\tat\tthe\tfloor,\tand\tby\tand by\t he\t began\t to\t punctuate\t his\t thoughts\t with\t little\t nervous\t movements\t of\t his hands\tthat\tseemed\tto\tindicate\tvexation.\tMeantime\this\twife\ttoo\thad\trelapsed\tinto a\t thoughtful\t silence,\t and\t her\t movements\t were\t beginning\t to\t show\t a\t troubled discomfort.\t Finally\t Richards\t got\t up\t and\t strode\t aimlessly\t about\t the\t room, plowing\this\thands\tthrough\this\thair,\tmuch\tas\ta\tsomnambulist\tmight\tdo\twho\twas having\ta\tbad\tdream.\tThen\the\tseemed\tto\tarrive\tat\ta\tdefinite\tpurpose;\tand\twithout a\t word\t he\t put\t on\t his\t hat\t and\t passed\t quickly\t out\t of\t the\t house.\t His\t wife\t sat brooding,\t with\t a\t drawn\t face,\t and\t did\t not\t seem\t to\t be\t aware\t that\t she\t was\t alone. Now\tand\tthen\tshe\tmurmured,\t\\\"Lead\tus\tnot\tinto\tt--\t.\t.\t.\tbut--but--we\tare\tso\tpoor, so\t poor!\t .\t .\t .\t Lead\t us\t not\t into\t .\t .\t .\t Ah,\t who\t would\t be\t hurt\t by\t it?--and\t no\t one would\t ever\t know.\t .\t .\t .\t Lead\t us\t .\t .\t .\\\"\t The\t voice\t died\t out\t in\t mumblings.\t After\t a little\tshe\tglanced\tup\tand\tmuttered\tin\ta\thalf-frightened,\thalf-glad\tway: \\\"He\t is\t gone!\t But,\t oh\t dear,\t he\t may\t be\t too\t late--too\t late.\t .\t .\t .\t Maybe\t not--","maybe\t there\t is\t still\t time.\\\"\t She\t rose\t and\t stood\t thinking,\t nervously\t clasping\t and unclasping\t her\t hands.\t A\t slight\t shudder\t shook\t her\t frame,\t and\t she\t said,\t out\t of\t a dry\t throat,\t \\\"God\t forgive\t me--it's\t awful\t to\t think\t such\t things--but\t .\t .\t .\t Lord,\t how we\tare\tmade--how\tstrangely\twe\tare\tmade!\\\" She\tturned\tthe\tlight\tlow,\tand\tslipped\tstealthily\tover\tand\tkneeled\tdown\tby\tthe sack\t and\t felt\t of\t its\t ridgy\t sides\t with\t her\t hands,\t and\t fondled\t them\t lovingly;\t and there\twas\ta\tgloating\tlight\tin\ther\tpoor\told\teyes.\tShe\tfell\tinto\tfits\tof\tabsence;\tand came\thalf\tout\tof\tthem\tat\ttimes\tto\tmutter,\t\\\"If\twe\thad\tonly\twaited!--oh,\tif\twe\thad only\twaited\ta\tlittle,\tand\tnot\tbeen\tin\tsuch\ta\thurry!\\\" Meantime\tCox\thad\tgone\thome\tfrom\this\toffice\tand\ttold\this\twife\tall\tabout\tthe strange\tthing\tthat\thad\thappened,\tand\tthey\thad\ttalked\tit\tover\teagerly,\tand\tguessed that\t the\t late\t Goodson\t was\t the\t only\t man\t in\t the\t town\t who\t could\t have\t helped\t a suffering\tstranger\twith\tso\tnoble\ta\tsum\tas\ttwenty\tdollars.\tThen\tthere\twas\ta\tpause, and\t the\t two\t became\t thoughtful\t and\t silent.\t And\t by\t and\t by\t nervous\t and\t fidgety. At\tlast\tthe\twife\tsaid,\tas\tif\tto\therself: \\\"Nobody\tknows\tthis\tsecret\tbut\tthe\tRichardses\t.\t.\t.\tand\tus\t.\t.\t.\tnobody.\\\" The\thusband\tcame\tout\tof\this\tthinkings\twith\ta\tslight\tstart,\tand\tgazed\twistfully at\t his\t wife,\t whose\t face\t was\t become\t very\t pale;\t then\t he\t hesitatingly\t rose,\t and glanced\t furtively\t at\t his\t hat,\t then\t at\t his\t wife--a\t sort\t of\t mute\t inquiry.\t Mrs.\t Cox swallowed\tonce\tor\ttwice,\twith\ther\thand\tat\ther\tthroat,\tthen\tin\tplace\tof\tspeech\tshe nodded\ther\thead.\tIn\ta\tmoment\tshe\twas\talone,\tand\tmumbling\tto\therself. And\tnow\tRichards\tand\tCox\twere\thurrying\tthrough\tthe\tdeserted\tstreets,\tfrom opposite\tdirections.\tThey\tmet,\tpanting,\tat\tthe\tfoot\tof\tthe\tprinting-office\tstairs;\tby the\tnight\tlight\tthere\tthey\tread\teach\tother's\tface.\tCox\twhispered: \\\"Nobody\tknows\tabout\tthis\tbut\tus?\\\" The\twhispered\tanswer\twas, \\\"Not\ta\tsoul--on\thonor,\tnot\ta\tsoul!\\\" \\\"If\tit\tisn't\ttoo\tlate\tto--\\\" The\t men\t were\t starting\t up-stairs;\t at\t this\t moment\t they\t were\t overtaken\t by\t a boy,\tand\tCox\tasked: \\\"Is\tthat\tyou,\tJohnny?\\\" \\\"Yes,\tsir.\\\" \\\"You\tneedn't\tship\tthe\tearly\tmail--nor\tany\tmail;\twait\ttill\tI\ttell\tyou.\\\" \\\"It's\talready\tgone,\tsir.\\\" \\\"Gone?\\\"\tIt\thad\tthe\tsound\tof\tan\tunspeakable\tdisappointment\tin\tit. \\\"Yes,\t sir.\t Time-table\t for\t Brixton\t and\t all\t the\t towns\t beyond\t changed\t to-day, sir--had\tto\tget\tthe\tpapers\tin\ttwenty\tminutes\tearlier\tthan\tcommon.\tI\thad\tto\trush;","if\tI\thad\tbeen\ttwo\tminutes\tlater--\\\" The\t men\t turned\t and\t walked\t slowly\t away,\t not\t waiting\t to\t hear\t the\t rest. Neither\tof\tthem\tspoke\tduring\tten\tminutes;\tthen\tCox\tsaid,\tin\ta\tvexed\ttone: \\\"What\tpossessed\tyou\tto\tbe\tin\tsuch\ta\thurry,\tI\tcan't\tmake\tout.\\\" The\tanswer\twas\thumble\tenough: \\\"I\tsee\tit\tnow,\tbut\tsomehow\tI\tnever\tthought,\tyou\tknow,\tuntil\tit\twas\ttoo\tlate. But\tthe\tnext\ttime--\\\" \\\"Next\ttime\tbe\thanged!\tIt\twon't\tcome\tin\ta\tthousand\tyears.\\\" Then\t the\t friends\t separated\t without\t a\t good\t night,\t and\t dragged\t themselves home\twith\tthe\tgait\tof\tmortally\tstricken\tmen.\tAt\ttheir\thomes\ttheir\twives\tsprang up\t with\t an\t eager\t \\\"Well?\\\"--then\t saw\t the\t answer\t with\t their\t eyes\t and\t sank\t down sorrowing,\twithout\twaiting\tfor\tit\tto\tcome\tin\twords.\tIn\tboth\thouses\ta\tdiscussion followed\t of\t a\t heated\t sort--a\t new\t thing;\t there\t had\t been\t discussions\t before,\t but not\t heated\t ones,\t not\t ungentle\t ones.\t The\t discussions\t to-night\t were\t a\t sort\t of seeming\tplagiarisms\tof\teach\tother.\tMrs.\tRichards\tsaid, \\\"If\t you\t had\t only\t waited,\t Edward--if\t you\t had\t only\t stopped\t to\t think;\t but\t no, you\tmust\trun\tstraight\tto\tthe\tprinting-office\tand\tspread\tit\tall\tover\tthe\tworld.\\\" \\\"It\tsaid\tpublish\tit.\\\" \\\"That\tis\tnothing;\tit\talso\tsaid\tdo\tit\tprivately,\tif\tyou\tliked.\tThere,\tnow--is\tthat true,\tor\tnot?\\\" \\\"Why,\t yes--yes,\t it\t is\t true;\t but\t when\t I\t thought\t what\t stir\t it\t would\t make,\t and what\ta\tcompliment\tit\twas\tto\tHadleyburg\tthat\ta\tstranger\tshould\ttrust\tit\tso--\\\" \\\"Oh,\t certainly,\t I\t know\t all\t that;\t but\t if\t you\t had\t only\t stopped\t to\t think,\t you would\thave\tseen\tthat\tyou\tcouldn't\tfind\tthe\tright\tman,\tbecause\the\tis\tin\this\tgrave, and\thasn't\tleft\tchick\tnor\tchild\tnor\trelation\tbehind\thim;\tand\tas\tlong\tas\tthe\tmoney went\tto\tsomebody\tthat\tawfully\tneeded\tit,\tand\tnobody\twould\tbe\thurt\tby\tit,\tand-- and--\\\" She\tbroke\tdown,\tcrying.\tHer\thusband\ttried\tto\tthink\tof\tsome\tcomforting\tthing to\tsay,\tand\tpresently\tcame\tout\twith\tthis: \\\"But\t after\t all,\t Mary,\t it\t must\t be\t for\t the\t best--it\t must\t be;\t we\t know\t that.\t And we\tmust\tremember\tthat\tit\twas\tso\tordered--\\\" \\\"Ordered!\tOh,\teverything's\tordered,\twhen\ta\tperson\thas\tto\tfind\tsome\tway\tout when\t he\t has\t been\t stupid.\t Just\t the\t same,\t it\t was\t ordered\t that\t the\t money\t should come\tto\tus\tin\tthis\tspecial\tway,\tand\tit\twas\tyou\tthat\tmust\ttake\tit\ton\tyourself\tto\tgo meddling\t with\t the\t designs\t of\t Providence--and\t who\t gave\t you\t the\t right?\t It\t was wicked,\t that\t is\t what\t it\t was--just\t blasphemous\t presumption,\t and\t no\t more becoming\tto\ta\tmeek\tand\thumble\tprofessor\tof--\\\""]
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