Schwalliger, who, among other things, was something of an actor, told
his story trembling, incoherently, while the operator looked on aghast.
Schwalliger demanded protection. He had been robbed. He had bet his
eighty-five dollars against the operator's forty, and when he had
accidentally picked out the right shell the operator had grabbed his
money and attempted to escape. He wanted his money. He had eighty-five
dollars, he said. "He had fo' fiveth, fo' tenth, and five five-dollar
gold-pieceth, an' he wanted them."

The policeman was thorough. He made his search at once. It was even as
Schwalliger had said. The money was on the gambler even as the Negro had
said. Well, there was nothing but justice to be done. The officers
returned the eighty-five dollars to Schwalliger, and out of an unusual
access of clemency bade the operator begone or they would run him in.

When he had gone, Schwalliger turned and winked slowly at the minions of
the law, and went quietly into a corner with them, and there was the
sound of the shuffling of silken paper. Later on he found the old man
and returned him his ten, and went back to don his Jacob's coat.

Who shall say that Schwalliger was not a true philanthropist?

_Fourteen_

THE INTERFERENCE OF PATSY ANN

Patsy Ann Meriweather would have told you that her father, or more
properly her "pappy," was a "widover," and she would have added in her
sad little voice, with her mournful eyes upon you, that her mother had
"bin daid fu' nigh onto fou' yeahs." Then you could have wept for Patsy,
for her years were only thirteen now, and since the passing away of her
mother she had been the little mother for her four younger brothers and
sisters, as well as her father's house-keeper.

But Patsy Ann never complained; she was quite willing to be all that she
had been until such time as Isaac and Dora, Cassie and little John
should be old enough to care for themselves, and also to lighten some of
her domestic burdens. She had never reckoned upon any other manner of
release. In fact her youthful mind was not able to contemplate the
possibility of any other manner of change. But the good women of
Patsy's neighbourhood were not the ones to let her remain in this
deplorable state of ignorance. She was to be enlightened as to other
changes that might take place in her condition, and of the unspeakable
horrors that would transpire with them.

It was upon the occasion that little John had take