Who's Who?

4 COPVHlQHti I8ST DVTOE ArfrHOB (Cnntiuued.) CHAPTER. V. MY FIRST DAY, All this occurred on a Wednesday night in May. Harold engaged passage on one of the outgoing steamers f or Saturday, to remaiu away a yearv daring whicb time I was to be to all intents and purposes Harold, instead of Harmon, O. Westcott. Much of the interrening time was spent by liim in preparing me, so far as he could, to f ace and dispose of the matters likely to come before me. Of necesgity there would be many little things which he forgot. In those cases I must depend upon my owu wit and ingeuuity. "There will be any number of persons after money. They will insist that I promised them. ■ I may have given some of them encouragement. but every distinct promise has been kept. You ■will know how to dispose of them." "Iihinkso." "If they becomc nbstreperous, throw them out, for somo of them were not present at the debut of yourself and Mr. Mortimcr and may not be aware of your capacity as a bouucer. My appearance is not calculated io strike terror to the ordinary heart, and you look just like me." I smiled, clearly fóreseéing the nature of some of the coming interviews. A few days later I was alone in the handsome bachelor apartments long occupied by my friend, who had been so careful of his disguise in going aboard the steamer that he was sure no one suspected or dreamed of the truth. He took another name, as a matter of course, though the change was not great, being H. O. Walcott. He promised to write me monthly and to hold himself ready to give me whatever counsel I might need. Since I was fully satisfied of tbe insincerity of many of the clubmen, I took no pains to keep upon friendly terms with them. When they called to congratúlate me over the astounding manner in which I knocked out the famous pugilist, I gave them to understaud that I knew the trick they tried upon me and that no gentleman would have been guilty of anything of that nature. This caused a coldness between me and aliumber of the leading members, especially when I expressed a wisli (o try the same feat upon any and all of them. I was as offlsh as they and held my head as high in air. "Who the deuce is this fellow?" I asked, holding the card in my hand, on I which was engraved the name "Sam Johnson." I ordered the servant to show him in, and he quickly appeared, with a loud clearing of his throat and an overwhelming manner. He was large, flashily dressed, with dyed hair, side whiskers and mustache, an immense watch chain, slightly bald, and with the unmistakable marks of dissipation and fast living on his pimply countenance. He strode hastily across the apartment and extended his fat hand with great effusion. I allowed him to take mine, but did not return the pressure. "I hope you're well. By the horned spoon, I never saw you look better!" he exclaimed, as if the discovery caused his whole being to hubble with delight. ' 'I am well, but no better than usual. Why did you cali to see me?' ' He flushed under this chilling greeting, but quickly rallied. "I've good news for you - the best of news. ' ' "What is it?" "We've floated the Qneen. She "is safe." "I didn't know that sne naa úeen in any danger. ' ' "Haw, haw, hawl As jolly as ever, eh, Harold, my boy? This mine is in the richest part of Colorado; 50 peoplewere after it; had to play my points mighty fine, but I played 'em and won - I chred 'em all. ' ' "Well, what of it?" "That gives yon the chance of your life. You'll come in on the ground floor. You'll triple your ïnoney inside of six weeks, for things are booming. " "Howmueh did yon expect meto put into this hole in the ground?" "Why, what yon said - $20,000." "I have made up my miud not to put 20 cents into it." "But, good heaveus, you promised!" ie exolaimed, aghast and angry. "I made no promise. I told you I would think it over. I have done so, and you have heard my conclusión." I was self flatteredby noting that this random shaft hit the mark exactly. "I s'pose that's trae, but them words was is good as a piximise. " " I' don 't regard them as sneh. It is usoless to waste time. I look upon the whole thing as aswindle, and you don't get a penny from me. ' ' "By , but Iwill have it!" toared my caller, his face purple, as he rose rom his chair. "You can't treat me ;hat way aud intímate as much as I'm a swindler. " I don t intímate ít; I say it. Yon are a scamp, and if you had yotir deserts would be behind prison bars. If you do not lcave at once, I'Il throvr yon out." This was too inuch, and tht; inf uriated rogun made for me. But he did not reach me. I had no ight or wish to harm him. So I merely ammed biin.down so hard ou the floor ;hat it must have loosened several of lis teeth. Then I opened tbc door aud flung him through. ' ' Uo in p3i : He went. ''I don 't think Sam Johnson will cver give Harold nmch trouble af ter this, for even if I was gentle witfa him ho discovered that I was Iris inaster - Helio! Come in!" The knock was so timid that I hardly heard it. The door " as gautty pushed inward, acd a womau stood before me. She was plaiiily drtüsed, bnt neat aud clean looking, with pinched face that told oí much sufferiug. A wan smile lit np her conntenance as she salutcd me, and she stood trenibliug and apprebondive. My heart went ont to her at once. Possibly I was wrong, bnt I believed that whatever she represeuted herself to be that she was. "Sit down, "I said kindly, pointing to a chair. "Did you walk uj; stairs?" "Yes, sir. There is a Hew boy running the elevator today. ' ' "What of it? Didn't Itellyou always to take the elevator? What is it made for if not for ladies? If the boy makes any objection, let me know, and I will have hira discharged. " "Ye have always been kind to ns, Mr. Westcott. What wonlcl jVIike and me do if itwere not for yergoodness?" "Pshaw, there are pleuiy better than I, only yon haven't fcund tliprn!" "Nor any one else, " she suid, with flash of her Irish wit, This was one of the cases of which had been informed by Harold. Mrs Murphy was a poor, industvious woman who had buried two children and had a husband in the last stages of consump tion. Harold had investigated her story and found her a worthy woman. "Why have yon been so long in cali ing, Mrs. Murphy?" "Well, sir, the money which ye were kind enough to give me whin I carne a fortnight since has kept poor Mike n comfortable as could be, and, with the ■washing (hat I had, there was no neet of trispassing on ycr goodness, foi which hiven wil] rewaid ye. " "Nonsense! You mustn't wait nnti yon 're penniless, and -why sbould yon wear yourself out with work when Mike needs your attentiou? Let me see - i was $20 I handed you two weeks ago. ' "Excuse me, it was twinty-fivi;. " "Very well. Here's $60"- "God bliss ye!" shefaltered, the tears filling her eyes. "None of that. You know I don't like it. ïi you run short, come wheuever yon ueed more, and, Mrs. Murphy,": added severely, "if you don't wish to off end me, always take the elevator. " I rose and accompanied her to the ele vator, ringiug sharply. When the boy carne up, I said: "Tom, when this lady comes to cali on me, bring her up iu tlic elevator. Do yn onderstand?" "Yes, sir, but I'm afeard" - "Shut up, or Til cuff yonr earsl Step in, Mrs. Murphy. Goodby!" I Jaid my hand iu a fatherly way ou her shoulder to help her. Before I coulc remove it she impnlsively caught an( kissed it. At the same moment a hot tear flroppcd on the back of my hand. And when I sank in a cbair in my room - I'm not ashamed to own it - there were tears in my own eyes. "ïhat pays me for all else, no matter what comes. If. a man with wealth know how to get the best good bnt of il there would be no suoh thing as ennui iu this world." I had no intention of staying in my rooms. It was a radiant day, with just enough coolness in the golden sunshine to roake it an ideal onefor au outing. I went to the stable where Harold kept his horse and had him saddled for a rido in the park. It may bave been fancy on my part, but there was something in the manner of Jack that made me half suspect he was not fully aatisfled with me. It could not be, however, that his senses were so mach sharper than those of mankind, and I dienrissed the thought as I vanlted into the saddle and cantered off. The pony had been standing so long in tlie etable that he was fracturas and caused me some concern, but after a brisk ride along the roadway he calmed down and bocame as tractable as a child's animal. I continually encountered persons who salnted me and whom, of course, I saluted in return. "Harold certainly bas a large number of lady acquaintances, " I thought as I raised iny hat for the twentieth time. "Ho gave me little information about "Wliy líate yon becn so long in ccOXing, Mrs. Mwvhy?" them, and I'm afraid I shall encounter eome breakers before I'm Ihrough. If mattere get too hot 111 take a run out of the city for a timo - Helio!" i A scorcher shot by me on his wheel as if challenging a race with one of the policemen wbo was certain soon to discover him. My horse shied a little, but not dangerously so. Just aliead of me was a carriage, with the driver on top holding the reins over two spirited auimals. The sudden bnrst of the cyclist so startled them that they plnnged off at headlong speed. The driver tugged at the lines, bnt for the time they were betond control. A scream from within the vr' howed the terror of the occu., ;.nd the next thing I saw waf voman that had opened the door ; was trying to leap out, while some else, evidently a female, resohately pi vented her. I spurred Jack forward and drew i. beside the vehicle. -uou't jump, madam I" I called. 'Yon will be killed. Keep yonr seat, 5iid we'll check the team in a few min.ttes. ' ' "Mother, don't you hear him?" called ihe one who was holding back the other. "Keep your seat. It is Harold. He will save us!" I had to spur Jack to his best beforé I covikl place myself within reach of the heada of the terrifled team, but I did it at last, mul, vhi]! thus occnpied, saw a ïnouut'fd policeroan hearing down upon us. VVitb liis help I was sure all would end wellj provided the inother could' be restrnincd. Eeaching forward, I seized the bridle rein of the near horse. In the exeitement of the moment I forgof. my strength and drew back so furiously that the strap suapped, and the team coutinued their wild flight without the slightest check. I now determined to ride in front and round to the opposite side, so as to grasp the otlicr rein, rcniem bering uot to break it. the devil got into Jack just then, and he refused to obey me. He shied to the i-igbt and carne within a hair of nnseating me. I was so enraged that I twistcd his head back and dug the spurs into his flanks. He whinnied vvith pain and became frantic. ' 'Confound yon I" I muttered. "I have a great mind to kill you! If it were uot for those in tfaecarriage, Iwoulddoit!" At that moment tlie form of aman flew through the air, striking the roadway as if hurled frorn a catapult, It was the coachmmi, flung with frightful force from his seat, while the team dashed madly on, with tin' strength of the flanghter who was clutcbing her mother's dress evidently faihng, for the figure of the eider was pai'tly through the open door and gathering hcrsclf for the fatal leap. (Continued next week).