afterward learned what great things the morrow
had in store for him. And, in spite of all precedent, he confessed to
the oblivion of "the insensate clod," devoid of dream or premonition,
until nine the next morning, when he awoke with a start. With the
awakening came a realizing sense of his situation in all its most
disheartening phases. His course of the night before now seemed to him
the height of idiocy. He reproached himself in no measured terms for
having neglected to write to Pert as promised in his telegram. "I
ought to have a guardian appointed to look after me," he grumbled to
himself. "Think of my blowing myself for wine and the show, with
starvation staring me in the face; and then to think of that poor
little girl expecting a letter, and not getting it."

He was interrupted by a knock at the door. "A letter for you, Mr.
Campbell," said the servant. Taking it from her he recognized the
well-known writing of his beloved. He put the letter in his pocket,
and, grabbing his hat, started down the stairs. "I 'm too late for
breakfast here," he exclaimed; "I 'll go next door to the 'beanery' and
get a roll and a cup of coffee. I 've got to play 'em close to my vest
now," he sighed. "A dime is nothing when you 've got it, but it 's
bigger than a mountain when you have n't; and it won 't be long before
I have n't at this rate."

Seated on a little round stool at the corner in the "beanery," he gave
his order, and then opened and commenced to read his letter. A
newspaper clipping dropped to the floor; he picked it up mechanically,
continuing his reading as he did so. Suddenly he began to glance from
one to the other rapidly. An instant later he jumped to his feet, and
rushed to the window for a better light. It could n't be true--it
simply could n't! Yes, yes, it must be; for here was a notice from the
public administrator in Baltimore, advertising for him as an heir of
Giles Edward Campbell, deceased, who died intestate, etc., etc., and
Judge Martin, so Pert said in the letter, had had an inquiry regarding
him, with the statement that the only knowledge the authorities had of
such a person was based upon a letter found among the effects of the
deceased, headed "Eastman Hotel, Hot Springs," beginning "My dear
Uncle," and signed "Your affectionate nephew, Edward Campbell." The
clerk at the Eastman, when applied to, had reported a memorandum left
by Checkers, that any mail which might come for him be