"If you are employing a lawyer," he said, after a pause, "I don'tunderstand why you came to me for advice."
"I thought you might be interested in the matter," said Luke,significantly.
"Why should I be interested in your affairs? I have so many things tothink of that really I can't take hold of anything new."
"I will tell you, sir. You are the man who received money in trustfrom my dying father. I look to you to restore it with interest."
"How dare you insinuate any such thing?" demanded Browning, furiously."Do you mean to extort money by threats?"
"No, sir, I only ask for justice."
"There is nothing to connect me with the matter. According to yourletter it was a Thomas Butler who received the money you refer to."
"True, and your name at that time was Thomas Butler."
Mr. Browning turned livid. The net seemed to be closing about him.
"What proof have you of this ridiculous assertion?" he demanded.
"The testimony of one who knew you then and now--Mr. King, who keeps acigar stand at the Prairie Hotel."
"Ha! traitor!" ejaculated Browning, apostrophizing the absent King.
"This is a conspiracy!" he said. "King has put you up to this. He is adiscreditable tramp whom I befriended when in dire need. This is myreward for it."
"I have nothing to do with that, Mr. Browning. Mr. King is ready tohelp me with his testimony. My lawyer has advised me to call upon you,and to say this: If you will pay over the ten thousand dollars withinterest I will engage in my mother's name to keep the matter fromgetting before the public."
"And if I don't agree to this?"
"Mr. Jordan is instructed to bring suit against you."
Drops of perspiration gathered on the brow of Mr. Browning. This wouldnever do. The suit, even if unsuccessful, would blast his reputationas a philanthropist, and his prospects as a politician.
"I will see Mr. Jordan," he said.
"Very well, sir. Then I wish you good-morning."
Within two days Thomas Browning had paid over to the lawyer for hisyoung client the full sum demanded, and Luke left Milwaukee with thehappy consciousness that his mother was now beyond the reach ofpoverty.
CHAPTER XLII
CONCLUSION
Felicie reflected over Harold's dishonest suggestion, and concluded toadopt it. She meant to charge Harold with the second robbery, and tobrazen it out if necessary. Accordingly, one day she stole into Mrs.Merton's sitting room, and with the keys supplied by Harold succeededin opening the drawer. Inside, greatly to her surprise, she saw theidentical pocketbook which it had been understood was taken at thetime of the first robbery. She was holding it in her hand, when aslight noise led her to look up swiftly.
To her dismay she saw the old lady, whom she had supposed out of thehouse, regarding her sternly.
"What does this mean, Felicie?" demanded Mrs. Merton.
"I--I found these keys and was trying them to see if any of them hadbeen used at the time your money was stolen."
"Do you know who took my money on that occasion?" continued the oldlady.
"Yes, I do," answered Felicie, swiftly deciding to tell the truth.
"Who was it?"
"Your nephew Harold," answered Felicie, glibly.
"You know this?"
"I saw him open the drawer. I was looking through a crack of thedoor."
"And you never told me of this?"
"I didn't want to expose him. He begged me not to do so."
"That is singular. He warned me yesterday that he suspected you ofbeing the thief, and that he had reason to think you were planning asecond robbery."
"He did?" said Felicie, with flashing eyes.
"Yes; what have you to say to it?"
"That he put me up to it, and gave me these keys to help me in doingit. Of course, he expected to share the money."
This last statement was untrue, but Felicie was determined to berevenged upon her treacherous ally.
"And you accepted?"
"Yes," said Felicie, seeing no way of escape. "I am poor, and thoughtyou wouldn't miss the money."
"My nephew accused Luke Walton of being the thief."
"It is untrue. He wanted to divert suspicion from himself. Besides, hehates Luke."
"Do you?"
"No; I think him much better than Harold."
"So do I. Where did my nephew get his gold watch?"
"It was bought with the money he stole from the drawer."
"So I supposed. Well, Felicie, you can go, but I think you had betterhand me that bunch of keys."
"Shall you report me to Mrs. Tracy?"
"I have not decided. For the present we will both keep this mattersecret."
Luke's absence was, of course, noticed by Mrs. Tracy.
"Have you discharged Luke Walton?" she asked, hopefully. "I observe hehas not come here for the last two or three days."
"He has gone out of the city--on business."
"I am surprised that you should trust that boy to such an extent."
At this moment a telegraph messenger rang the bell, and a telegram wasbrought up to Mrs. Merton.
It ran thus:
To MRS. MERTON, ---- Prairie Avenue, Chicago:
I have recovered all my mother's money with interest. Mr. Powell isalso successful. Will return this evening.
LUKE WALTON,
"Read it if you like, Louisa," said the old lady, smiling withsatisfaction.
"What does it mean?"
"That Luke has recovered over ten thousand dollars, of which hismother had been defrauded. It was Warner who put him on the track ofthe man who wrongfully held the money."
"Indeed!" said Mrs. Tracy, spitefully. "Then the least he can do is toreturn the money he took from you."
"He never took any, Louisa."
"Who did, then?"
"Your son, Harold."
"Who has been telling lies about my poor boy?" exclaimed Mrs. Tracy,angrily.
"A person who saw him unlocking the drawer."
"Has Luke Walton been telling falsehoods about my son?"
"No; it was quite another person. I have other proof also, and haveknown for some time who the real thief was. If Harold claims that Ihave done him injustice, send him to me."
After an interview with Harold, Mrs. Tracy was obliged to believe,much against her will, that he was the guilty one and not the boy sheso much detested. This did not prepossess her any more in favor ofLuke Walton, whom she regarded as the rival and enemy of her son.
It was a joyful coming home for Luke. He removed at once to a niceneighborhood, and ceased to be a Chicago newsboy. He did not lose thefriendship of Mrs. Merton, who is understood to have put him down fora large legacy in her will, and still employs him to transact much ofher business. Next year she proposes to establish her nephew, WarnerPowell, and Luke in a commission business, under the style of
POWELL & WALTON
she furnishing the capital.
The house on Prairie Avenue is closed. Mrs. Tracy is married again, toa man whose intemperate habits promise her little happiness. Haroldseems unwilling to settle down to business, but has developed a tastefor dress and the amusements of a young man about town. He thinks hewill eventually be provided for by Mrs. Merton, but in this he will bemistaken, as she has decided to leave much the larger part of herwealth to charitable institutions after remembering her nephew, WarnerPowell, handsomely.
Ambrose Kean never repeated the mistake he had made. Still more, bydiligent economy he saved up the sum advanced him by Mrs. Merton, andhe offered it to her. She accepted it, but returned it many times overto his mother. Her patronage brought him another advantage; it led hisemployer to increase his salary, which is now double that which heformerly received.
Felicie lost her position, but speedily secured another, where it isto be hoped she will be more circumspect in her conduct.
Thomas Browning, after all, lost the nomination which he craved--andmuch of his wealth is gone. He d
abbled in foolish speculation, and isnow comparatively a poor man. Through the agency of Jack King, thestory of his breach of trust was whispered about, and the shamphilanthropist is better understood and less respected by hisfellow-citizens.
His nephew, Stephen Webb, has been obliged to buckle down to hard workat ten dollars a week, and feels that his path is indeed thorny.
Luke Walton is not puffed up by his unexpected and remarkable success.He never fails to recognize kindly, and help, if there is need, theold associates of his humbler days, and never tries to conceal thefact that he was once a Chicago newsboy.
THE END.
[Graphic decoration: Cherub with tethered birds (upside down)]
WHITE HOUSE INCIDENTS.
Trying the "Greens" on Jake.
A deputation of bankers were one day introduced to the President bythe Secretary of the Treasury. One of the party, Mr. P---- of Chelsea,Mass., took occasion to refer to the severity of the tax laid byCongress upon State Banks.
"Now," said Mr. Lincoln, "that reminds me of a circumstance that tookplace in a neighborhood where I lived when I was a boy. In the springof the year the farmers were very fond of a dish which they calledgreens, though the fashionable name for it now-a-days is spinach, Ibelieve. One day after dinner, a large family were taken very ill. Thedoctor was called in, who attributed it to the greens, of which allhad frequently partaken. Living in the family was a half-witted boynamed Jake. On a subsequent occasion, when greens had been gatheredfor dinner, the head of the house said:
"'Now, boys, before running any further risk in this thing, we willfirst try them on Jake, If he stands it, we are all right.'
"And just so, I suppose," said Mr. Lincoln, "Congress thought it wouldtry this tax on State Banks!"
A Story Which Lincoln Told the Preachers.
A year or more before Mr. Lincoln's death, a delegation of clergymenwaited upon him in reference to the appointment of the army chaplainsThe delegation consisted of a Presbyterian, a Baptist, and anEpiscopal clergyman. They stated that the character of many of thechaplains was notoriously bad, and they had come to urge upon thePresident the necessity of more discretion in these appointments.
"But, gentlemen," said the President, "that is a matter which theGovernment has nothing to do with; the chaplains are chosen by theregiments."
Not satisfied with this, the clergymen pressed, in turn, a change inthe system. Mr. Lincoln heard them through without remark, and thensaid, "Without any disrespect, gentlemen, I will tell you a 'littlestory.'
"Once, in Springfield, I was going off on a short journey, and reachedthe depot a little ahead of time. Leaning against the fence justoutside the depot was a little darkey boy, whom I knew, named 'Dick,'busily digging with his toe in a mud-puddle. As I came up, I said,'Dick, what are you about?'
"'Making a church,' said he.
"'A church,' said I; 'what do you mean?'
"'Why, yes,' said Dick, pointing with his toe, 'don't you see there isthe shape of it; there's the steps and front door--here the pews,where the folks set--and there's the pulpit.
"Yes, I see,' said I; 'but why don't you make a minister?
"'Laws,' answered Dick, with a grin, 'I hain't got mud enough.'"
How Lincoln Stood Up for the Word "Sugar-Coated."
Mr. Defrees, the Government printer, states, that, when one of thePresident's message was being printed, he was a good deal disturbed bythe use of the term "sugar-coated," and finally went to Mr. Lincolnabout it. Their relations to each other being of the most intimatecharacter, he told the President frankly, that he ought to rememberthat a message to Congress was a different affair from a speech at amass meeting in Illinois; that the messages became a part of history,and should be written accordingly.
"What is the matter now?" inquired the President.
"Why," said Mr. Defrees, "you have used an undignified expression inthe message;" and then, reading the paragraph aloud, he added, I wouldalter the structure of that if I were you."
"Defrees," replied Mr. Lincoln, "that word expresses exactly my idea,and I am not going to change it. The time will never come in thiscountry when the people won't know exactly what 'sugar-coated' means."
On a subsequent occasion, Mr. Defrees states that a certain sentenceof another message was very awkwardly constructed. Calling thePresident's attention to it in the proof-copy, the latter acknowledgedthe force of the objection raised, and said, "Go home, Defrees, andsee if you can better it."
The next day Mr. Defrees took into him his amendment. Mr. Lincoln methim by saying:
"Seward found the same fault that you did, and he has been rewritingthe paragraph, also." Then, reading Mr. Defrees' version, he said, "Ibelieve you have beaten Seward; but, 'I jings,' I think I can beat youboth." Then, taking up his pen, he wrote the sentence as it wasfinally printed.
Lincoln's Advice to a Prominent Bachelor.
Upon the betrothal of the Prince of Wales to the Princess Alexandra,Queen Victoria sent a letter to each of the European sovereigns, andalso to President Lincoln, announcing the fact. Lord Lyons, herambassador at Washington,--a "bachelor," by the way,--requested anaudience of Mr. Lincoln, that he might present this important documentin person. At the time appointed he was received at the White House,in company with Mr. Seward.
"May it please your Excellency," said Lord Lyons, "I hold in my handan autograph letter from my royal mistress, Queen Victoria, which Ihave been commanded to present to your Excellency. In it she informsyour Excellency that her son, his Royal Highness the Prince of Wales,is about to contract a matrimonial alliance with her Royal Highnessthe Princess Alexandra of Denmark."
After continuing in this strain for a few minutes, Lord Lyons tenderedthe letter to the President and awaited his reply. It was short,simple, and expressive, and consisted simply of the words:
"Lord Lyons, go thou and do likewise."
It is doubtful if an English ambassador was ever addressed in thismanner before, and it would be interesting to learn what success hemet with in putting the reply in diplomatic language when he reportedit to her Majesty.
[Illustration of carriage on forested road.]
Mr. Lincoln and the Bashful Boys.
The President and a friend were standing upon the threshold of thedoor under the portico of the White House, awaiting the coachman, whena letter was put into his hand. While he was reading this, people werepassing, as is customary, up and down the promenade, which leadsthrough the grounds of the War Department, crossing, of course, theportico. Attention was attracted to an approaching party, apparently acountryman, plainly dressed, with his wife and two little boys, whohad evidently been straying about, looking at the places of publicinterest in the city. As they reached the portico the father, who wasin advance, caught sight of the tall figure of Mr. Lincoln, absorbedin his letter. His wife and the little boys were ascending the steps.
The man stopped suddenly, put out his hand with a "hush" to hisfamily, and, after a moment's gaze, he bent down and whispered tothem, "There is the President!" Then leaving them, he slowly made acircuit around Mr. Lincoln, watching him intently all the while.
At this point, having finished his letter, the President turned andsaid: "Well, we will not wait any longer for the carriage; it won'thurt you and me to walk down."
The countryman here approached very diffidently, and asked if he mightbe allowed to take the President by the hand; after which, "Would heextend the same privilege to his wife and little boys?"
Mr. Lincoln, good-naturedly, approached the latter, who had remainedwhere they were stopped, and, reaching down, said a kind word to thebashful little fellows, who shrank close up to their mother, and didnot reply. This simple act filled the father's cup full.
"The Lord is with you, Mr. President," he said, reverently; and then,hesitating a moment, he added, with strong emphasis, "and the people,too, sir; and the people, too!"
A few moments later Mr. Lincoln remarked to his friend: "Great menhave various estimates. When Daniel W
ebster made his tour through theWest years ago, he visited Springfield among other places, where greatpreparations had been made to receive him. As the procession was goingthrough the town, a barefooted little darkey boy pulled the sleeve ofa man named T., and asked:
"'What the folks were all doing down the street?'
"'Why, Jack,' was the reply, 'the biggest man in the world iscoming.'
"Now, there lived in Springfield a man by the name of G----, a verycorpulent man. Jack darted off down the street, but presentlyreturned, with a very disappointed air.
"'Well, did you see him?' inquired T.
"'Yees,' returned Jack; 'but laws, he ain't half as big as old G.'."
An Irish Soldier Who Wanted Something Stronger Than Soda Water.
Upon Mr. Lincoln's return to Washington, after the capture ofRichmond, a member of the Cabinet asked him if it would be proper topermit Jacob Thompson to slip through Maine in disguise, and embarkfrom Portland. The President, as usual, was disposed to be merciful,and to permit the arch-rebel to pass unmolested, but the Secretaryurged that he should be arrested as a traitor. "By permitting him toescape the penalties of treason," persistently remarked the Secretary,"you sanction it." "Well," replied Mr. Lincoln, "let me tell you astory.