Equal To The Emergency

Kot wany yours ago, tn'u b renchmen - one wealthy aud in posse.ssion of ivady cash, and the othcr poor und penuilesa- occupiod by chance the same room in a subui ban hotel. In thu luoi'üing the "seedy" one uroso first, took froin Lin pocket a pistol, und holding it to hisown forehead, and tmukiug against the door, ezolaifned t liis hórrifigd cömpa ion: " It is my lust desperate resort; I am pemiilesa und tirad of life; give me 500 francs or I will instantly blow out my brains, and you will bo arrested as a rnurderer : Tiie other lodger tound bimself the hero of an unpleasant domiuion, but the eogency of his cornpunion's argument struck liim "eold." He quietly urept to bis pantalooiiB, handed over the ainount, and the other vainoosed, after loekiuü the door on the outsidu Hearing of this, ano! her Frenchman, of very savage aspect, one night tried to room wilh a all, raw-botied gentleuian from Arkansas, w!ïo h-.id beeu ratherfree vvith his money duricg the day, andevi denlly had raore bthind, Next morn ing, "Pike" awakeuing, discovered hii room-mate stiiuding over him, wirh a pistol kveled at his own head, and cvidently qnaking with agitalion. " What tho deuco are you standing thar for in thecold?" said Pike, propping hiinscli' on bis elboiv and coollv surveying the Gaul. " I am desperfite ! " was the reply. - ''You give me ooe hundred dollars, or I will blow out my brain I " " Well, then, blow and bo darnedl" replied Pike, turuiug over. " Bote you will be arrested for ze murder 1 " persisted the Gaul, earnestlv. ' En, what's that?" eaid Pike; " oh, I see ! " and suddenly drawing a revolver and a five pound bowio froia under his pillow, he sat upright. " A man may as well be hung for a i sheep as a lannb," he coolly reniarked ; and, at the word, he slarted for tho Gaul ; but the latter was too nimble; the "hoss-piritol," iuuocent of lead, exploded iu the air, and with one fruutio leap our little Freachman was standing in his nightrobu at the foot of the stau-case - a prooi that what may suit oue latitude will not aunwer for another.