The west shore., December 21, 1889, Page 469, Image 19

WEST TIIORK.
" Fifteen year ago," Tom went on, " there was a
firo down in Essex, V you V mo was both there.
An old man was burned up, burned alive ! After the
fire I went away had ter hurry er I'd a gut 1110 neck
stretched. I changed about, follerin' tlio sea V sich,
'11 till I struck the mills. 'Twas there thet 1 learned
about the chemicals. When I was travelin' from
Millbury ter Coldbrook V back after jobs as bleacher,
I run ontor yer sister as lives out ter Kingston. Sho
V me used ter be great friends. Sho likes nic, sho
does, 'n' sometimes we've talked about old times, when
she was a gall 'n' used ter be a strollin' down 'round
Essex point."
What a pitiful travesty on that firmness which had
challenged the admiration of men was revealed in that
unmasking. Almost ludicrous in an exaggerated in
tensity was tlio stare on the gentleman's face. Mis
head was canted sidewiso, his colorless lips separated,
his eyes bo wido open that wrinkles wcro formed across
his brow. With hands so tightly shut that the finger
nails made deep indentations in tho palms, und head
crouched as though expecting a blow, and breath com
ing feverishly, Mr. (Ioldthurst waited.
" I'm most done," said Tom. " Ye burned the
houso, 'n' I had ter clear out fer it. Ye pinted yer fin
ger ter nie V thet settled me. I've ben a follerin' o'
ye since. I'm glad ye've ben lucky, 'cause I was a
goin' ter git ye ter divvy, soino day. If 'twan't fer
tho bunglin' job yer sister done, I wouldn't a said any
thin' 'bout this bus'ness ter night, but I gut a s'priso
tother day. That girl baby was saved from the wreck.
I seed her, 'n' sho had a stono hangin' on tier neck
jist likothoone I brought from Liverpool!"
From his commencement Tom had not once changed
his tone from the jovial growl. At every sentence his
listener appeared to shrink into himself, till at the fin
ish, an old man, bowed and shrivelled, sat in the fur
thest corner.
Tom backed to tho desk, and removing the revol
ver that glistened on one of the shelves, point! Ixith
weapons, and said:
" I've waited a long time, V want ye ter begin ter
nay up ter night. It's an old score, 's I sed, 'n' time
is when somethin' was did 'Unit settlin' it. I ain't
goin' ter press ye. Tho terms 'II be easy, (lin ine two
thousand now, 'n' two thousand a month till it's fixed,
then we'll see what wo can do 'Unit mak in' another
deal. What I want is tho money, V I want it quick!
Ye may eomo ter tho desk, if that's where ye kn- it.
Mr. Ooldthurst unsteadily crossed the room and
fell into tho chair. , ,
" I haven't two thousand dollars," he said, in a o
culiar voice.
" How much hev ye gut?" Tom asked. He was
still grinning.
" Two hundred."
" Well, gin me that. I ain't a gin ter push ye.
I'll eomo agin tennnrrer night. I don't hev nothin
ter do nights." ,
Mr. (ioldthurst seemed hut half jh"
miliar conversational cadence in the vagabond s voice
caused no change in tho set features. He was gnaw
ing his mustache and staring straight in front of him.
"Come!" said Tom, who was growing tired of
standing, "if ye don't want me no longer I II take the
money V go along."
Mr. (ioldthurst roused himself, oened the safe,
took therefrom a package of money, then placed it on
the desk beside him.
" Don't ye go away from here!" said Tom, quickly
catching up the bills.' "If ye do, I'll hev ter appeal
ter the law ter git back me good name. Ml come agin
tcrmorrer night."
" Don't come for a week," said Mr. (Ioldthurst, in
such a strange, hollow voice that Tom stopped in his
backward movement to regard him. "In a week I
can talk with you lxtter.''
" All right," said Tom, 'Til come n week from ter
night," ami he went out.
It would appear that having accumulated this snug
little nest egg, Tom's appetite liocamo whetted to a ra
zor like sharpness. Ho gmsHd the bag, but Instead
of repairing to his Unit no selected himself through
the gate in the dill' walk and directed his steps to
ward the domicile of his partner apprentice. Having
reached the side door, he selected various tool from
the bag and busily essayed to effect an entrance,
For several minutes after Tom left him, Mr. (Iold
thurst leaned on his desk, his eyes fixed on the dicker
ing llame of the lamp, then he arose and paced the
lloor.
" I am so hounded everywhere that my eournge Is
failing me," he muttered. " To have this man come
up now with his proofs, what was It he said about
the baby? I'shaw! ho is a lying, drunken Idiot, 1
must get him out of the way. He comes here to bleed
me."
As ho walked ho neared the table, and his eyes fell
on a (Hirtrait of his daughter. Mechanically he picked
it from the easel and examined the beautiful fneo with
a cold, meaningless stare, then he llushed, and his ryes
glittered.
" May you become so low and degraded, may want
and sullering so follow you, that the coldest ray of
happiness you have known in my house will ho a a
gleam of sunlight into hell,"
So fierce was he as ho threw the picture to tho floor
thnt he shook in every limb. Ho made a few more
turns about the room, then kneeled In-fore the safe.
Taking out a bundle of papers, ho reseated himself at
the desk, but only to stare straight before him.
" I must drive him from my mind," he muttered;
then leaning his head on his hand, "I did well to give
him the money; it will keep him still for a week, ami
whatever is coming to ine, let It 1st gusl or bad, will
come before then."
Nervously ho handled tho package, Although to all
outward appearances it was as he hud left It, a vague
fear osesscd him that it might have been tampered
with. A singular deadening iiressuro was in his head,
ami ho passed his hand rapidly across his brow. In s
half stupid way altogether foreign to him, ho wondered
what he should do if tho paers were gone, It was
lata ami he was getting drowsy. It was cold, also, for
shivers ran through his frame. That very day ho had
read of s man who had taken his own life, s man in
gissl jsisition, who had appropriated money belonging
to others. Tho large tyi of tho article's heading came
kfore him, even though his eyes were so heavy that
they were cloned.
" Dissipation! Vice! Uuln and HululJol '