Beadle's Half Dime Library, No. 655 — page 15: what you’re looking at

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sa would turn round and that they who were on top would come to the bottom, and they who were on the bottom would come to the top.—It has turned round. It is my day now,” CHAPTER XIV, THE TURNING OF THE TIDE, SEVERAL weeks passed after the date of the collapse of the great wheat bubble, The world of speculation returned to its old level, and the wreck of ruined gamblers wasremoved. ‘Those who had grown rich in the game went into the dangerous business more wildly than ever. And the great whirlpool dragged in ever new rey, and hurled them in ruin on the rocks at its bottom. But the firm of Homer & Wilton took care to keep out of the whirl. They had made their stake out of the broken wheat corner, and had wisely concluded to do only a safe business in the future. As for two other of our main characters, Will Josephs had sufficiently recovered from his wound to enable him to move feebly around his room. His treachery had saved his fortune, but it had ruined more than one of his confederates. The most demoralized of the whole party of plotters was Simon Slink himself. All the life seemed gone out of his dried-up carcass, he was reduced to a shadow of his former self, and he sat like a statue in Lis contracted home, hardly moving even to get the food to keep his miser- able body and soul together. What little money he had retained gradually vanished, Rent day was coming round, but he was stunned to be able to look that far for- ward. Meantime Mr. Burnaud had renewed his old attentions to the widow, Mrs. Wilton. He had not forgotten that they were lovers once, and during the years in which Roger had been mak- ing his fortune, the rich merchant had kept up intimate relations with his old flame. He had more than once proposed to find them better quarters, but to this Roger had seriously objected. He was going to make his own way in the world, and wanted no “‘ lifts,” He and his mother, with his little brother and sister, were now established in a pleasant house on Fifty-fifth street, beautifully furnished, and far beyond the wildest dreams of the boy three years before. ‘‘This isn’t a bad beginning, Mr. Burnaud,” he said, as he welcomed that gentleman to the new home. ‘‘ You haven’t forgot what I told you three years ago?” ‘‘ You're a’perfect terror at making money,” answered the smiling merchant. ‘* Who would have ever thought the boy had it in him, Mrs, Wilton?” ‘*T wouldn’t for one,” replied that lady, who was now a handsome middle-aged woman, with- out a shadow of the old trouble on her face, ‘‘ When I sat, three years ago, in the cold street amid my poor relics of furniture, the world seemed tome atanend. When Roger said then that he would be rich I looked on it as mere child’s prattle,” ‘‘[ said more then,” rejoined Roger, his lips curling bitterly. ‘I made a vow not only that I would be rich, but that I would see old Simon Slink brought to poverty, and reduced to the condition to which he had brought you. The time is coming. His rent is due, and is not paid. 5) revenge shall be complete.” ‘‘Oh, Roger!” cried his mother, holding up her hands. ‘‘ To think of you being so bitter and hard-hearted !” ‘You had better let up on him, Roger,” ad- vised Mr, Burnaud. “T have sworn,” answered Roger, ‘I will keep my oath. | wouldn’t be so bitter but for one thing; but that I can never forgive. When my Mother begged that he would at least not touch my father’s desk, the heartless wretch snatched it up with his own hands, and flung it brutally out of doors, and then called my father a dog. Itisthatfor which he shall atone, to the bitter end.” ‘But think, Roger,” suggested his mother, ‘¢‘H[e has atoned for that. hat one act it was which ruined him, Only for that we would never have found Mr. Homer's papers, and the robber Ss yet have been enjoying his ill-got- n wealth. ar I don’t care for all that,” said Roger stern- ly. ‘‘He is living in my house, and he shall be riven to the wall, as he drove us to the wall.” He took his hat and left the room, to avoid further discussion. Mr. Burnaud looked at the widow, who wore a very distressed face. ‘‘{ can understand Roger’s feelings,” he re- marked. ‘‘ The boy is not hard by nature, but he has been terribly roused.” ‘*T don’t believe in revenge,” answered she. ‘* And yet I hate that old wretch. It is hard to pity a man like him.” The boy walked morosely on, full of ‘bitter thoughts and resolutions. Just then there was not a shadow of*pity in his soul. Yet deeper feelings were working beneath revengeful thoughts, He was not cruel at heart, and was not one to carry revenge to the bitter end. His walk ceased at the office of a real estate agent, ‘‘Has the rent been paid for the rooms on Germon street, occupied by Simon Slink?”’ he asked. The agent consulted his books. ‘*No, sir. It is five days overdue.” ‘*' Very well, sir. Demand it again to-day. If it is not paid-—” ** What shall I do then?” ‘* Take legal measures of ejection. And with- out delay. If he does not pay within the time required by the law set*him and his goods out on the street.” ‘*No grace, sir? He seems to be a poor old man,” ‘* Not a day!” answered Roger, harshly, as he walked from the office. It was a cool autumn day, shortly after the date of this conversation, that ag hurriedly | I will never do a wrong act again!” entered the house, his face full of excite- ment, ‘*Get on your ‘things, mother,” he cried. ‘Quick. I want you to go somewhere with me. And get Tom and Lucy ready, I want the whole family.” ‘¢ What in the world is the matter?” exclaim- ed the good lady, allin a flutter, ‘‘ Where do you want us to 80, Roger? ‘*Never mind, You know I don’t do things without reason. And I’ve gota big reason for this, But I won't tell you what. tt is a sur- Mrs, Wilton asked more questions, but Roger would tell her nothing. Finally, in sheer de- spair, she obeyed him, and got herself and the children ready for the street. Taking the cars they were soon on their wa down-town. Roger was talkative enough. He seemed feverishly so, But he would not talk about the purpose of their journey. Mrs. Wil- ton was ina perfect stew of curiosity ere they had got far on their route. They left the cars far down-town and took a cross-way toward the East River side of the city. ?-Wherever are you taking me?” she cried. ‘* Why, it’s our old street!” exclaimed little Tom, in a glee of delight. ‘‘Look, mamma, There’s the steps I tumbled off of and bloodied my nose. And there’s the candy-shop where I used to a sourballs,”’ Mrs. Wilton looked at her grave-faced son, a new light coming upon her face. She began to see through the mystery. There was her old home, where she had passed so many happy and so many sad hours. To her surprise, it looked as it did at her last recollec- tion, A heapof furniture incumbered the pave- ment, and men were engaged in carrying other pieces out of the house, She looked at Roger with a pitiful face. ‘‘Come on, mother,” he said, ‘‘ The world has turned round since those oid days. Then you were triumphed over by a heartless villain. It is your turn to triumph to-day.” There was a group of neighbors on the street, watching the ejectment. Several of them Mrs. Wilton recognized. They had been present at that similar scene three years before. They recognized her with a cry of congratula- / tion. “Tt does one’s eyes good to see you, Mrs, Wilton,” exclaimed a buxom dame. *‘ Ill-not forget the day you were turned out of house and home, Sure the old rascal that turned you out is trying it hisself to-day. We had pity for you, but we’ve got none for him. Come and loat over the villain that’s got his deserts at t,” They turned the corner of the heap of house- hold “goods. There, in the midst of them, as Mrs. Wilton had sat with her children on that past’occasion, sot Simon Slink, the very owe of woe-begone despair. and hopeless sery. Huismed completely dazed with his misfor- tunes, his eyes were fixed helplessly on the und, and his fingers were working uneasily, ike @ man who has nearly lost his mind, Plucky Paul, the Boy Speculator. I } (rrr CC LLL LLL LLL LL LL ALLL LLL LL LLL LLL LLL LLL DALAL LALLA 15 ‘‘ Took at him, mother! Look at him, Tom and Lucy,” said Roger, impressively. ‘* That is what | brought you here for to-day. I vowed ou should see your enemy in the state in which 1esaw you. There he is, My vow is accom- plished. Simon Slink, the heartless money- rabber—the sordid miser—the detestable vil- ain—has got his deserts.” Mrs. Wilton looked on the hopeless wretch with a momentary feeling of triumph. Thea his utter imbecility roused a sense of pity im her heart, and she turned her eyes sadly erty. « | ‘* This is too much, Roger,” she said. ‘‘ You have driven him too far.” ‘* Not a whit,” answered Roger, sternly. These woréds seemed to rouse the old scoundrel. He raised his head feebly, and lifted his eyes te see who stood before him. This movement was followed by a suddem change. His face grew suddenly reddened, a look of fright came into his bleared eyes, he thrust out his hands as if to repel a phantom. ‘¢ Avaunt!” he yelled, in a tone of terror. * Avaunt, you ghosts! Why are you here from the dead to glare on me? Away! It is my wicked past come back on me! My wicked vast! Ah! the wrong, the wrong, the cruel deeds I have done!” ‘*PDo you repent them?” demanded Roger, with a change of face. ‘‘Do you repent the heartless deed you did here, three years ago?” ‘*Bitterly! Bitterly! Lam a changed man! ‘*Come, mother,” said Roger. ‘‘My vow is accomplished. And it has done good work if it has cured Simon Slink of his avarice. Come, I sow: want you to look longer on this sorry sight.’ Loger led his mother city | from the scene. There were tears in the good lady’s eyes. And Roger’s face had grown wonderfully softened. Its bitter sternness had disappeared. While Mrs. Wilton stopped to speak with sey- eral of her old neighbors who accosted her, Ro- ger had a short conversation with one of the men present,a sturdy carman of his old ac- quaintance, And the family had hardly left the scene ere this carman brought up his car, and began to load into it the ejected furniture. Simon looked up at him without a word. ‘‘* What are you after?’ asked one of the neighbors. ‘“Tve got my orders,” answered the man. ‘* The boy’s got a heart, though it’s my notion it’s wasted on old Slink.” The furniture loaded, the old man was placed on the seat with the driver. He yieldedas help- lessly as if he had been a log of wood, instead of human flesh and blood. ‘*T have had my revenge,” remarked Roger, that night, to Mr. Burnaud, ‘‘I will never make such a vow again.” ‘¢T am glad you took pity on the old wretch at last,” and the warm - hearted merchant squeezed Roger’s hand. ‘‘ What have you done with him?” ‘‘Sent him to a small country place over in Jersey,” answered Roger. “‘He can keep his good resolutions better among birds and trees than among men. I willsee that he does not come to want,” ‘“You have a noble soul, after all, my boy. And that is more than I at one time thought.” A few words more, and we must take leave of the characters with whom we have so long kept company. Five years have passed since the event just recorded. Edward Homer and Roger Vilton are stillin partnership as stock brokers, and are nm: adding to their wealth. rp el ‘et lives with his mother, though it is said that e will soon havea home of his own, as heis deeply in love with a beautiful maiden of his native city, whom he has known for years. And the story goes that the widow wi!l not be left long solitary, but that Roger’s marriage will soon be followed by the union of Mr, Bur naud and his old love. As for Tom and Lucy they already regard the kind-hearted merchant in the lightof a father. Old Simon lives in his country home, far hap- pier than he had ever been in his wolf-den in the city. And there seems to have been a radical change in his character. Roger’s compassion went to the depths of the old miser’s soul, and stirred up there the seeds of good that bad lain ey for years. But he is rape og and must soon Nive away, Folks say grown too good to live long. THE,END.