THE MAJOR'S POCKET-BOOK.

Press, Volume LX, Issue 11511, 18 February 1903, Page 4

THE MAJOR'S POCKET-BOOK.

Br Qaixr Tsoaacu. "Why don't you tackle Major Milbank for a job?" suggested Tommy Grady's friend. Tommy Grady hadn't a cent—not one cent. And he hadn't a job, either. But he was looking; for one—under the circumstances, a very proper thing to do. Still, to make up for the deficiency Tommy Grady bad a considerable amount of the natural American ability called bluff, , which sometimes works, although more often it does not. And what was quite as much to the point, he was the possessor of a well-cared-for silk hat and frock coat. More people . than a few have been able to make a considerable impression with the aid of these, and if there ever was a man who looked extremely well when all tofged up, that man was Tommy Grady. So far, however, 'hi. efforts bad been in vain, and it was in response to his complaint about his luck that Tommy's friend offered the above suggestion. "You know him, don't you?" continued Tommy's friend. "Know him?" replied Tommy doubtfully. "Why, yes, I do, but what is he? Wheta his business?" "Why, great Scott, man," exclaimed the other, "he just went into office the first of the year—fee's the head of the building department. He ought to have a job-or two on hand." "By George," mused Tommy, "you're right. Til try him on. Maybe——" His friend placed a warning hand on Tommy's arm. "Now, look here, Grady," he remarked, "remember this. Don't you go to Major Milbank with any hard luck story, v. That won't do. Milbank likes successful men— he doesn't give a hang for the other kind. Your clothes ought to pull you through, if you only keep a stiff upper lip." Grady nodded. "When's the best time to see him?" he inquired. "I was just going to tell you that, too," returned the other. "Now, if there's one thing the major likes better than another, it's a bang up dinner at a bang up place. You invite Ihim out some night—you know him well enough for that—and give him ft swell dinner and put up a big, big bluff, and then—strike while the iron's hot I And it's ten to one you'll fetch him, too." Tommy sighed, He shoved his high hat far on the back of his head and ruefully pulled his trousers .pockers inside out. They were empty. "A bang up dinner in a bang up place," he commented sorrowfully. Then his face brightened. "Can you " he suggest*! appealingly. The other man shook his head. "Not a cent. 1" he replied firmly.. "You owe me too much already, Tommy Grady." That evening in the grill room of the very swellest place in town there sat two well dressed men engaged in conversation. , One of them was building superintendent Major John P. Milbank, the other Tommy Grady. The latter was by far the mora diatrnguished looking of the two. Two empty bottles stood between these , men. A fresh one was in the hands) of a waiter in process of being opened. "You see," said Tommy Grady as Major Milbank stretched forth his glass, "it isn't . so much that I haven't got.a good thing . where I am— Tm all right so far as that ( rs; but what I want is to get into pub-. ; work. I want to broaden out, you ( know. And Ta even rather take a job that ( —that don't pay me so well." ( "No, no, young man," broke in the ( major, "never cay that 1 Never say that 1 you'll take * job that won't pay 80 well. : Always stick out for a job that pays better—see? That's the way to talk." . "Well," murmured Tommy, "of course I , could stand that, too, if—if you'"could." i The dinner progressed. Tommy en- . joyed the first square meal that ha had i had in many days. ~.".' i His guest ate and drank prodigiously. He, too, enjoyed himself. * j But dinners cannot last for ever. After . dinner comes the waiter—and the pay check * And they came this time with a van- " geaoce. V When tho waiter laid down at Tommys { plate the small pink reckoning Tommy » hastily picked it up, and, rising, leaned * over towards the major. • "Major," he remarked, 'there's a fellow * down there at the other end who wants * to see me. If you'll excuse me for a * moment—" The major nodded and proceeded . to finish the last bottle of wine. Grady swung down to the end of the 1 room, turned onto the hall, and stepped < up to Am proprietor's little desk. 1 "Molanti," be explained confldentally, i as he leanedover, "seehere, I——'' < After three minutes of explanation on t the part of Tommy Grady, Molanti firmly i shook his head. ' r - , "Meester Grady," ha replied with a « . frown, "it will not do. Tha last time f I told you was the last. I tell you now t it was. You must pay." Ha shrugged ] his shoulders in the face-of protest. "I < care not how," he went on, "but you must i pay, that'a all." , v .1 "Major Milbank," remarked Grady a i few seconds later as he resumed his seat i and lit a cigar, "it's the most peculiar < thing—-" •. . '< He pulled out hk pooketbook, and, hold- i ing it by one end, rapped bis knuckles with < it. Major Milbank was in that genial t frame of mind when any topic of converaa- i tion is an entertaining one. ' "It's the most peculiar thing," con- 1 tinned Tommy, "but do you know ft*, ear- i ried this wallet for some seven jaara— < and more. I bought it seven years ssj last * fall. And it's just as good as new. Where J did I get it? Why, at Tobey's, the bar- 1 ness people on Main street. Where did i you get yours?" The major reached into hk breast pocket andpulled his forth. c "Why, by "George," he exclaimed as he handed it to Tommy, "I bought mine at the same place. Mine's a bit larger, though.'' Tommy examined it critically—of at least ( he seemed to. In reality he was looking at the major. The waiter stood respectfully aside, waiting with a professional insistence for the \ payment of the bill. ] He seemed to be looking at, nothing. In ( fact he was looking at Tommy. ] The major was also looking—but at two ] waiters, two Tommies, and four pocketbooks, all at once, apparently. I "Yes," replied! Tommy, 'they're both 1 very much alike, and both good ones, too. But Tobey keeps a star place, any way." I The better to cxanrM then* he opened J each, and glanced inside, in a casual sort I of way. Then seeing for the first time, apparently, that the waiter was really wait- I ing for once in his life—"Oh, I beg your pardon," exclaimed ha to that functionary, and then-— ' And then—he reached into one of tne ' two pocketbooks—it matters not wMch J one—and drew forth a twenty dollar hML J This he conferred upon the waiter with a * glance that meant: "There's a two dcilar * bill in this for you if you'll only keep it < quiet." J The waiter bowed, and then withdrew. I That'll last you a good five years more, 4 Major," said Tommy Grady, handing back t the major's'wallet. * "And what's in it," thought Tommy t Gradv to himself, "would last me five good months at least." \ Three months elapsed. t t "Major," exclaimed Milbank. secretary j as the major emerged from his private room j one day, a qwwr; thing. ! Here's a j lettsr addreatad to and in it tim*'« j

nothing but a twenty dollar bill, slip of paper with nothing on it but Words 'Conscience money.' What do tost")' "sfl make of that!" „-,;' -&9 The major took it and looked it over. '*|? v*gß "Give it up," lie replied, "except," bi« "\*B added joyfully, "that I'm twenty dollar*; fU to the good. I can't make it out, Vas/'"'sS Schoick, but I'm not particular about «**> '*, ing questions. I'll take tlie good the godsX.*'f provide. <7?J "By the way,*' he continued, 'Tm go. ing out to lunch with Tommy Gradyv .'-JYou've met hint}' ' The secretary scratched his head. ~\-j% "Why," went on the major, "you ought % to know him. He's the head of our *•*>.%> cord room." "~=i "Oh," replied the secretary, "Thomas.;-;! Jefferson Grady, Record Cterk—to sure. .Why, I just handed him a cheque yesterday for hk three months' salary. Of ">jj! course 1 know him." r • %yj| "Three months' salary," mustd the chief, - "say, look a here, where's miner* "*4\ "You forget," returned the secretory with. **■. a smile, "you drew yours in advance soma t* s * months ago. By "the way, major," asked as the other 'started out, "what tun* L'fj will you be back?" . s'jr "Back I" replied the major. "Back! v* What, me with twenty dollars in my pocket, ■£'. and Grady with his three months' salary, .+: Back! Say, we won't be home till mom. ,}fi ing. What else could you expect?" f~"j