The Scheme Worked.

Otago Witness, Issue 2509, 16 April 1902, Page 71

The Scheme Worked.

'I UX I'I'.EU'IIEK AXU THE PENH EXT. The following siory h;i c the merit of being a trtio one, and Has eiucted in New Zta land : A well-known, and populai preacher lounged hixurknisly in his easy chair by a comfortable drawing-room fire. He had recently acquired tome local fame by reason of hib vigoious speeches on loyally and Ins militant patriotism, and Ik«ai very well •>ati--ned with -natters in geiiPral a-> they stood. The train of thought that rattled through hi 3 buty brain wan ludely moo tracked by <i Mgorous pull at the d'-or-bell, followed ? few seconds later by a "Someone wi-hes to .see you, mi," fiom a domestic- v. ho had an swered the siiniinon". In te-ipon*-e to a cordial "Come in'" a tali, .-hubby-gentee! looking man entcicd the room He was not at all bad loakme. and liau a somewhat Bohemian air about him. The clergyman tried to ncall where ho had sect, that old brown ivenoat, with the frayed astrachan fur collar, those worn rrouser bottoms, arid ditto boct°. The preacher noted aJI tlu-> in About two s-econdi by the watch. Meanwhile the visitor stood in the cKorway. One hand vat thiu<-r deeply into a capacioui pocket, or what did duty for one. the othei ncrvousK fingeied a rakish -looking Buffalo Bill hat. "Good evening, Mr Tcnaly ! I s uppo:p you don't remember me" The- preac-ht r honestly cci'lV-scct that if did not, but gucs'i-d he would rcctifj tl-f omission next time. "I have come to have a quiet chat v, lih £° UAU A S*I — kt fou, dau't mind,, ihat is A " he

added quickly as ho noticed a slight frown on the brow of Mr Textly. j " Xot at all, my friend, not at all. Pray be seated." j The stranger obeyed, and by" way of pre- ] liminary his host turned the gas up a shade higher and gave the fire a superfluous prod with the tongs. Meanwhile the odour of sanctity was slowly but surely gninj: way to one of stale whisky, which the clerical nostrils were not slow to detect. j " Well, my man. what is it you wished to consult me about?" inquired Mr Textly. " Well, sir. you see, it's this way, sir," began the newcomer. "Me and my pal have had a run of bad luck lately, rank bad luck, and we're right down on our upper?." A glance at his feet confirmed this latter statement. " I am very sorry to hear you say that, my friend. Perhaps things are not so black as they seem," said Mr Textly, soothingly. "' Just hold on a. bit, mister," replied his guest, with a theatrical wave of his hand. "I've just come out of quod, yer know." The tongs dropped to the fender with emphasis, and Mr Textly gasped out, "You don't say so!" "Fact, sir, all the same. Some fowls got stolen some-how or other, and my pal got jugged for it, and I got a month for being a vag. just about the same time, and I tell you I feel my position very keenly, sir," and the weary-look-ing stranger drew his coat sleeve wearily across his features. The preacher gave a husky, dry cough, but before he could interpose a word of comfort the stranger recovered himself with energy, and for a moment appeared to be listening intently. Jumping to his feet, he rattled on, volubly : "Yes, sir, I have come to you to confess my deap penitence for my sins, and to ask for your guidance and sympathy. Yes, sir-r, I've been a bad egg, sir, I am sorry to say." He dropped back into his chair and buried his penitent head in his thin hands, just as the parable of the Prodigal Son made itself ready for another airing. Now, here was a chance that would have brought home a fat collection and a volley of "Amens" at a Salvation Army meeting, and naturally enough it was not long ere pieacher and penitent were praying for forgiveness, and shortly after the penitent departed after warmly thanking the preacher for his spiritual aid, and ns he stepped out into the cool air of night may have been heard to whistle softly, " Wait till the clouds roll by." In the meantime his pal had not been idle, and when they again met matters did not look as black as before " The scheme worked all right, then?" said tho penitent, with an air of approval. " O yes. The parson was too busy with you to have any time for me," replied his pal, as he exhibited the fruits of his. evening's labour. "By gum ! I'm dry ; ain't you?" In the morning the Rev. Mr Textly discovered that his .hen-roost had been_robbed during the previous night, and admitted «o f tly to himself that tho joke was against him.