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i ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^V THE £50 CHEQUE "Well?" nskeU Borlaso, as the door <los.-il behind llie cl^Jrk. Shuter remain«d standing. His terror was too great tor liiin lo pretend ho was i,'. ease. He was down wliere a man doesn't care any longer, and he looked i*. But In his eyes, bright with the tear o! anxiety which was eating him up, there came a little hope ns Ihcy rested en the big, confident man bohin;l the table. Borlase and he had boen good friends thi^se three years. The shock Wh.chl'.ad smashed him cjuldn't have af- fected Rorla.se very seriously. Borlase would see him through. But he must know. "Well?' Borlase asked again, and Shut- *« plungpd in. "Old man," he said, "this Deep Mine tusiness has hit me hard.' "I've dropped thirty-seven thousand pounds myself," sal'J [iorlase. "Won't you sit fluwn?" "No," siiifl .<?luiler. He s'- nyed a little and caught Ihf edge of the table. "Better sit down," said liorlasc; and Shuter obeyed the suggestion. He got a sort of comfort in l)elng told to do even S<> small a matter as that, for his mind wa.«- paralysed with troulilo, like the irilnd of a beast in a cage tnal can only 6i.ring aimlessly from side to side, too much frightened, too much ravaged to understand the futility of what it is do- ing. "A cigar?" suid Borlase. "Now, â- wade ahead." •Twenty thousand pounds would pull me through,'' suid Shuter, watching the other s face over the flame of the match. Ho read nothing there, "Old man," he said, as he threw the tTiUtch into the fonder and took the yet uiilit cigar from between his teeth, "it's this way. If I can't get twenty thousand pcunds I'm finished." "You should be worth more than that." "1 am. But I'm si.xty tliou.-.and pounds •dcwn. I can only meet forty thousand pcunds of that if I sell my last stick. What am I to do?" Borlase whistled a little French air through his teeth, and sat regarding Shuter for half n minuli-. "What security can you give me?" he asked at length. Shuter laughed out loud. "Security!" he said. "Yes, security," said Borlase. "My mother's income's in it," said Shuter. "My niece's marriage settlement. M> lodge's f\mds are in it. Sceurityl You're my last straw." Borlase preserved silence. "P'raps you think me mad." Shuter went on. "P'raps I am. I ought to be, I know. It's hard enough foi- me lo come to you like this. But I think your my friend, andâ€" and you put nve on the Deep .Mine." He colored slowly under B<irlase's eye. "Of course, I know you've dropped a lot yourself, old maji," he said, in e.xlen- •ur.tion of his offence. "But Id have sold cut in time, it I hadn't had confidence in the thing. I didn't think you could go wrong. You know how it came down. The t)ottom simply fell out. One day it was shaky ond the next it was scrap." Borlase puffed his cigar. "It's not ruin I funk," continued .Shut- er; "but this means gaol. And the boy's just g-me to Trinity." His voice broke. The big man lay back in his chuir, tlaring at Shuter, smoking slowly, drum- ming: (.n Ihe ^ab!-^ vitli his Pngcr-nails. It.i'io \\;is not ot'i'.'r .vnmd in the room. The hope died out of Shuler's eyes. "y<jr Ciod's sake, Borlase " "I.et me tell you a story," said Borlase, and Shuter had to listen. ".Mx)ut ten years ago," Borlase said, "I was, as you may or may not know, at the very bottom, right in the ooze. I; doesn't matter how I got there any more than it matters how I got out again . But there I was. My entire wordrobe, Shuter, consiittHJ of the dark greenâ€" once blackâ€" jacket, the colton Shirt, the tweed trousers, tiio boots, and the hat in which I stood up. You may have seen a hat just like that, and I re- member that my back hair used to work thi'ough tlie place where t/ie brim and the crown had parted company. Hid you e\ef see the llosh of your knee through a hole in your bags? I thought not. I did. I saw it every time 1 kxjked down- wards, and it made mo ashamed, as it I'd been stark naketi on the siroe. My Jacket wiis of a rather ex|HMisive olpuca. II may have been nwuic originally tor the summer wear of a business man. If you have ever worn such a garment, you will rec<^iKnize that at its best it is ill-litted for keeping out the wind. Mine was well ventilated, t<xi. "I was sitting, thus clad. .Tlxiut two c'cKick of a fresh winter moening on one of Itie btMichcs by the railings of the Green Pork. It was my purixxe. with the kind permission of Ihe police, to snatch a tew hours' refreshing sleep. The wind was strong from the north-east, but I'm not the man to complain of a little fresh air, and there had bo<>n no rain tor over an hour. In spile of all these mer- cies I was in a thoroughly naughty tem- per, and, if you will credit it, ns I rat on that damp bench I was ready to cuiue and swear with vexation. There are some people, Shuter, who are never sat- teflcd. "A man came out of one of the clubs opposite me and crossed over to where 1 was sitting. He walked juist me quick- ly niKl glanced tor a moment in my dir- ection. Then he stopped and cnuw back to my side and stood looking ut me. He wore a soft Ilonibnrg ha' and a good ser- viceable overcoat. His l-.nnds were thrust deep in his pockets and he had a fat cigar telween las teeth. 1 have had several ol those very cigars since. They are the be.'Jt In his club, and he ne\er smokes any oihsc. I didn't know that at the lime; but I met him, Shuter, later on at a City Banquet, and he froze on to me, and, ns I recognized him, I accepted hie invitation to dinner next evening. And we became great puis. He didn't remeni- 1 er me, though. No, by Jove, he didn't remember met "He stood, as I say, looking down at me as if f were some new Least, and I stared up at him defiantly, for, although I'd been In the gutter some time then, I t.adn't got used to the insolence of the rich. He took the weed out of his mouth, and said, in a silky voice: " '.Vly friend, you seem to be dowti on your lu:k.' "I tliought he might give me some men- ry if I was civil to him, so 1 said 1 was. I even cailcir h'm 'sir.' "'Vou don't l,:ok as if you'd much of a balance at (i)ult's.' he remarked. "I could have struck him lo the ground. But I said '.No, I have not.' .SImter, when tlu hunger fiend has you in hts grip you'll iKke a good deal from a man who smokes cigars that smell like that one did. " 'Vou haven't been making out many ctequfs lately?' says he, with a simiier. I began lo wonder what on earth he waa driving at, with his Cxjutts's and liis Clieques. " 'You haven't got such a thing as that fifly-ixjund cheque on yon. I suppose?' h'-- asked, and then it suddenly llaslied upon me what he wanlid." "Let me go!" said Shuter suddenly. Borlase held up his hand. "You've got to hear my story through," ho said. .\nd Shuter sank back in his chair and glared haired at him for the rest of the tale. "You remember, Shuter, just about that time one of the magazines had devised Q rather clever scheme of advertising. U sent out a lot of men with ten-pound biuiknoles and mentioned the fact. Any- one who hit on one of these johnnies and asked him. 'Have you got that ten- ("ound note?' got it given liiin in exchange tor his signed receipt. Ttien the maga- zine published the lucky man's name and address. London went a little mad over it, and everyone was asking overy- bi dy else if they had got that ten-ix)und note, and was saying v. hat a clever d' dge it was. Well, us you know, when one of these magazine publishers goes a-i good a one as that. liLs rivals simply have to go one better; so in a very few days this daily was giving away gold watches, and that monthly was promot- ing its circulation by the gratuitous offer of diamond-rings, and at last here was a weekly plunging heavily with Hfty- pcund cheques. I had heard of those things, of course. Down in the mud we had talked the matter over, and some had tried desperately tor the prizes; bul they all seemed to be won by people who lived in Brixton and llnmp.stead and had plenty of money already. 'This last paper, though, had been very tricky, putting its cheques in the cuslody of all sorts of unlikely-looking people â€" women dres&od up like old bodies up for Ihe Oaks, or dowji-at-heel-l<xiking fellows like myself. This chap in the Homburg hut. 1 thought, was trying me. By Heav- en, he had come to Ihe wrong shop! "I could have killed him for his mis- tnke, bul I thought he might give mc six- ponce if I could keep him talking a n)in- utv or two, so I simply suid, with a grin, 'Have you got it yourself?' "He laughed merrily, and dived Into his breast-|x)cket. "'Yes,' says he, 'I have. Would you like It?" J'l nearly fainted where I sat. Fifty poundsâ€" he was going to give he fifty ptmids. Do you understand, Shuter? Ho was going to give me new clothes and t<^>od, and a hot baLll and a clean shirt and lohacco, and a chance to make some money again. I had made my first pile en a smaller l.iegirmlng. "1 said, 'You're jesting.' " '.Not a bit,' snys he, llshing out an en- veloise. 'Here it is.' And ho pulled it <uit. 'I've been trying to plant it all day, but nc one's asked me for it. Thought it'd be more handy to jou than to niosl, eh?' "I was very nearly crying with happi- ness. I tried lo master my voice lo Ihank him, but he cut me short. " 'No Ihank.s, n<» thanks, my man! Sign this receipt and put down your address, it you've got one.' "I took the piece of paper he held out to me. II was a typewrillen receipt for fifty pounds, acknowledging that it had been gained under the conditions men- tioned in 'Watherspoon's Weekly.' He gave me a pocket-pon. and I signed my name, writing on the top of ttie bench. Then 1 said, 'Do you waul my address in tull'?' "He said he did, so I wrote 'London under my name. He read it, and laughed again. â- 'Like a club guest's address, eh? Hero's the boodle.' "It was an order-cheque tor fifly pounds on the Oxford Street branch of tlie Orcat N<irtlK'm Bunk, signed William Wather- sixxm, and at Ihe top was typewritten, '.\ecMUiit of the Kitly-pound C'.liequc C'om- pctilion.' It was dated two days pre- viously. He ruled in my name on it, and then he suid: "'Pi'Csciil 11 to-morrow morning after ten. They won't have notice of your nyme till then. GiHidnightl' " 'I beg your pardon,' 1 cried, 'but could you udvauce me a couple of shillings. I must confess I could eat something, and ; could do wtih a bed lo-night. " 'Nil,' he said, 'I'll sec you hanged first! Haven't you got your chefiiK?. Hci'e's fcuriTi'nce for you, though. By Jove, your face just now was worth it!' "He dealt out four pennies into my palm. I longed to throw them in hi<i teeth, bul 1 hud stronger longings than It'al. I thanked him instead. "'OiXKl-night,' he said ygain; 'sleep well!' 'Then he walked away quickly, and I could hear him laughing to hhiiself »s he wont west along Piccadilly. "I weighcil in my mind Hie resFcclive advantages of food and shelter. I could- n't have both. After careful considera- [ lion I decided that, as I had gone with- out anytliing to eat for only twenty-four hours, I would stand it for another nine. Bul I had lo get out of Ihe wind. I was always a luxurious dog, Shuter, and love tr sleep warm and soft. " It don't matter much where I spent the night. It was somewhere in the n. ghborhood of King's Cross Station, and my bed was as good as my circum- stances permitted. What with the trains and other things I didn't steep very much; I simply lay warm, and told niy- seli what I was going U) do with thai money. First of all I devised a little menu tor the breakfast lo which I would sit down about ten-fifteen a.m., in a lil- tlH Swiss reslaurunt not ll'ifc minutes' walk from the bank. Thei-e was an ome- lette in il and some hoi coffee and French bread and good butter. I knew just the kind of cigar I should buy in the tobacconist's opposite the bunk, and I knew just how I should lean back in ttial little i-eslaurant and smoke it. I o\en anticipated the trouble I should have !{' first with Ihe lillle fat man, who kept the place, about going in at all, and 1 siiiiled to myself as I saw his bai;k bend d<iuble when I should pull out a list full ( f gold to .show him. Then I thought of the best place to go and get a decent suit of reach-nio-dowrs and some fresh linen and a wenthon'roof hat and boots, and I reckoned that when I had got all I wanted I should have about forty-five pounds to start life again. "I slayjd in the do.sshouse as long as I could and tlien went right off lo Oxford Street and mouchi;d up and down the streels near the bank till it should be time to get my money. I tielieve I acl- up.lly blesseii that cheque man for only giving me enough for a bed. I told my- self that I should have spoiled my appe- tile with stodgy bread at a coffee-stall the night before. But that omelette be- gan to seem prodigiously attractive. 'Ten o'cloe'k came round somehow, and I went inl»j the bank with a bursting heart, .\inong other sensations I was ashamed of that cut in the knee of my breeches. The cashier looked at me dcubltully, as ; u :;an imagine, and lo;d me to cieur out. He'd nolhmg for me, hi> said. "Shuler, I was so happy thai I jested with him. '"Oh, yes, you have,' says I, 'you've got lifty pounds.' "I took out the cheque and endorsed it with a hand which trembled most ridi- culously. Then • threw it across the counter to the cashier. That's all right, 1 think,' I said; and I winked at the fel- low out of pure good •luturc. "He picked it up and glanced at it. 'What's all this?' he asked. "'Why,' I said, 'it's the flfly-poimd chetpie compelilion. Haven't they sent in my name yd!' My heart sank a liille, tor 1 thought my breakfast was going to to put off for a few minutes. I 'What's your game'?' asked the cash- ier 'We've no one of Itial name on our t)Ool(s and no account of that name either.' " 'Oh, non.sense!' I cried. The fifly- pound cheque competition in "Wather- s|X)On's Weekly," you know. Don't try any of your tricks on with me.' "'You'd better come in and see the manager." he said. 'â-  '.\ll right,' said I. quite pleased. 'He'll know all ut>oul it.' II seemed to me rea- sonable that a cheque like this shouldn't b.! cashed without some safeguards. "He led the way into Ihe room of Ihe manager, who tooked up in some sur- prise at seeing a seetly tramp like me coming in. "'Dear me. Pullet,' ho cried, 'what's this, what's this?' '• 'This perstm's got some story obout a tMly-ixiund cheque coniiK!lilion, sir,' replied the cashier. 'I don't know what he's talking about. lie seems ijcrfectly hciiost. He'd have Ixjlled if it had been a plant.' •"What's vour tale?' said the manager. "I told him Ihe whole story, and the ca.shler showed him the cheque. "'\ery .sorry,' said the manager, 'but you've been had. It's a hoax; do you ur.dersland? Walherspoon doesn't bank here, and we've no account of any sort. \\ hat a shabby trick, though, to play on n |v)or devil like you.' Thai's whut the linnk manager Ihoiight of il. You can imagine how I looked at il; as he finished I turned turtleâ€" tainted bang off acro.ss the lable. "They put jnme brnndy down my throat, and I came rounil, and then they were. 1 must say, very kind. The man- ager said he had never heard of a crueller thing. The cashier said that the man was a rullinn. The conmil.ssionairo, who had been called, said he was blowod. I was iilteily knoeked out, and I I'oineni- bored I'd no business there, and I got up to clear. 'Then the manager dived into his pock- et and forked out ten shillings. 'Look here.' says ho, 'I believe your story, and I'm thundering sorry for you. Pullet, hand mo my lial.' He pul the Ion shillings into it and handed il lo the cashier. 'Take that round Ihe bank, Pullel," lie said, 'and tell om about this poor chap. I've no doubt they'll add something lo it.' "Pullel pul in a shilling and wonl round among Ihe other clerks. Some of them told him lo go lo the denoo. bul others forked out like men, and hetwoen them they made up the nianagci's ten shillings io .seventeen shillings and toiir- ponec. There was a young chap paying .n some cash mI the counter, anil he asked whut the lial was g<iing round tor. The other cnshiiM' told him. and he .said he'd made a good thing <uit of the Natj<inal, njid he'd coiiliihule! And ho did; a whole sf \ereign! .'So that I got my breakfast, after all, yon «ii\" Borlase t<M)k a Iresh cigar, for lh<' fii-st had gone out dining Iho tale. "And 1 ko|il Ihe eliomic," he said, "lo remind mo of Iheir kindnes.s. and <if other things." Tlun he op;.-:Kd a I'r w r in !h.' lab c and look out an inxel'iDi-. From it he I Try a Seasonable Diet and Give Your Stomach a Chance. Shredded Wheat with Strawberries will be found wholesome, appetizing and much more nutritious than meat ; also with raspberries, peaches and other fresh fruits. £t Will Tone Up 'Voor Uver and Stomaob. Sold by all grocers WHEAT PANGO For Neuralgia, Headache, Rheumatism, Pain, Etc. 50 CEiNTS. ALL DRUGGISTS, OR The Pango Company, Toronto WHOLKSALI LVIMAN BnOS. 4 CO., Toronto and MonlreaJ; LYMAN KNOX * CLARKSON, Toronlo; NATIONAL DHL'G CO., Lotidon. A. J. PATTISON & CO., 33 Scott St., TORONTO. Phons Main 131I INVESTIV3ENT BONDS. Stocks bought and sold on all exchanges for cash or margin. Cobalt orders executed for cash. CORRESPONDENCE INVITED. MANUFACTURERS INTENDINU TO LOCATE IN TORONTO WILL FIND Ideal Manufacturing Premises IN TRUTH BUILDINQ Flats 2,000 to 10,000 Square Feet Each LOWEST RENTALS, INCLUDING Steam Power, Heat, Electric Light Fire Sprinkler System, Lowest Insurance. Most Central Location. Four Large Freight Elevators. S. Frank Wilson & Sons, 7;]-8i Adelaide St., West THE- [ardef Citv Cold lines LIMITED (No Personal Liability) Authorized Capital, - $4,000,000.00 DIRECTORS. Arthur Dinnis, Contrnctor, Prcsri<!CTit. A.S. Wigm'ire, .\Ip'. HoliU'-s Electric imd Protecttcn Co.,V:oc-Pre»l(lont. Frod. Aniislrong. G nlracti)i', Sec.-Tpea.'.uicT. F. H. HtTlxTl, Arch let. J. C. »iltby, Contractor. George Duthie, Sr., Contiaclor. J. H. Tighe, Minar. BANKERS. The Crown Bank. Toronto^ AIDITOR. Honry B.irber, Toronto. The property consist^ of 28 4li-aci"e Claims immediately adjoining th» now famous II.\RRI.S MA.WVEI.L, and upon U-.e same aniounl'of devclop- m<'nt .should piove rqually iis Kood. IfO.OOO shares sac now off'Teii t-i ttie public at 15 ccnte per share. Do not lose this GOLDEN OHl'OnTUNITY ol inventing in one of t.'ic nnjut prom- ising pixipei'tles in the di.vlrKl. K< r full pajtcuUirs apply to HEHRY F. DARRELL, - FISCAL AGENT, No. 8 Colborne Street, Toronto. drew a <Tunipled clicquc. lie leaned <iv. r and spread il out CHri'Tiilly in fmnl of Stiulor. "IV) yon rerognize it?" Iio a'<Ued. Sliulor nuilli'red an inaudible reply as \\<' roachi'd blindly for his hat. "Slop a ininnle,'' said Borla.'o. "!'>•â-  .sionelliinii c:sp to sliow yon." Me look iiw'. n ,seei iiil onvet:ipe ami laid il, un- oi.i'nfil on the Inlilo. "I.<K)k iniside," he .said. Shntor iHifn.>-lt;'nctl it ni'Tlianically, and foinul in il a M'l-ond itieiiiu'. II was pa''" -it.t 'o W" %i-ii«t for forty lhou.si:nd pounds, and wr.s signed "John IBorlase." " 'No.' said S^huler. as he droppi'd it .m the lable. "Vou shan't get any mora fun <iul of me. Not that wav.'' "ir.s all ii;;lil." said Borlase". "Pick II \ip. I'm not plagiarising." "\^^^ you swear " began Shuter, as Il • gralitx'd at the thing." "You're a cad and a Iwast, .Shuter," said Borlase: "lait your boy's a nice hoy." Then he rang Ihe liell. and said lo ihe cWik wlio answered it; ".Sliow Mr .SInUer out." â€" London .Viis- wers.