SATISFYING CONSCIENCE.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 6144, 2 April 1898, Page 6

SATISFYING CONSCIENCE.

' (Chicago Times-Herald,) " John ! "— " Yes, dear." "Is that you?. You needn't take so much trouble to come in quietly ; I've been awake these three mortal hours. Do you know what time it is?" — "I should say about a quarter after three/ "A pretty time for you to be getting home, isn't it? Where have you been?" — " Over at Mr Fraley's." "Mr Fraley, indeed! I suppose you mean that disreputable 'Bill' Fraley. ,-Who else was there ?"—" Well, my dear, since it interests you so deeply, the other members of the party were Dr Barton, Mr Newkirk and Colonel Hall." " A nice set of ruffians ! What were you doing?" "Having a sociable little chat. The time slipped " " What else did you do ?" " Part of the time we played cards." " Part of the time ! By that I suppose you mean that there were five minutes when you came and before you left that you weren't playing." Acquiescent silence from the direction of John, who all this while had been engaged in disrobing, and now, having made ready for slumber, is loth to carry on the exchange of hostilities to the destruction of sweet repose. " What game were you playing P" "Elizabeth, it was a game familiarly known as draw poker. Now, may I hope that you are satisfied ? I'd like to go to sleep." A brief period of regular breathing followed ; then; in a loud whisper, " John !" No answer. "John!" Another silence, broken only by the sound of respiration from the now unconscious sleeper. "John."— "Huh?" "Wake up. Did you win or lose?"- — " Won, I guess." More silence. This time John clearly got to sleep. A tug at his elbow brought him to his senses. "John, how much did you win? — " Dono. Gimme rest — go to sleep !" " But about how much ?" — John aighed. "As. nearly as I can recollect about 42d015." " Now, aren't you ashamed ! Outrageous! I never should have thought such a thing in the world. Why, John " — "What did you want me to dolose ?" "There's no need trying to treat the natter flippantly. You can just go right jack and return every cent of that money 0 the gentlemen you won it from."— ' But they've gone to bed." "Then the first thing to-morrow morntig." John explained the involved character of ihe pecuniary relationships in which it was ossible, he said, for every man to be a >ser to every one of his opponents. A stum of the spoils was out of the quesion. The argument seemed satisfactory -for several minute 3. Then the prosecuon reopened. "11l forgive you on one condition." — . And never mention the subject again ?" " Yes." — " Name the condition." "That you give me lOdol of that money >r our missionary society, and every cent t the rest of it for some new clothes for lyself." Ten minutes later: — "I guess sdol aght to do for the missionary society. on't you think so, John ?"