ly, "he was a man
ez hed suffered. All that he loved--wife, fammerly, friends--had gone
back on him. He tried to make light of it afore folks; but with me,
being a poor gal, he let himself out. I never told anybody this. I don't
know why he told ME; I don't know," continued Peg, with a sniffle, "why
he wanted to make me unhappy too. But he made me promise, that, if he
left me his fortune, I'd NEVER, NEVER--so help me God!--never share it
with any man or woman that I LOVED; I didn't think it would be hard to
keep that promise then, Mr. Hamlin; for I was very poor, and hedn't a
friend nor a living bein' that was kind to me, but HIM."

"But you've as good as broken your promise already," said Hamlin.
"You've given Jack money, as I know."

"Only what I made myself. Listen to me, Mr. Hamlin. When Jack proposed
to me, I offered him about what I kalkilated I could earn myself. When
he went away, and was sick and in trouble, I came here and took this
hotel. I knew that by hard work I could make it pay. Don't laugh at me,
please. I DID work hard, and DID make it pay--without takin' one cent of
the fortin'. And all I made, workin' by night and day, I gave to him. I
did, Mr. Hamlin. I ain't so hard to him as you think, though I might be
kinder, I know."

Mr. Hamlin rose, deliberately resumed his coat, watch, hat, and
overcoat. When he was completely dressed again, he turned to Peg. "Do
you mean to say that you've been givin' all the money you made here to
this A 1 first-class cherubim?"

"Yes; but he didn't know where I got it. O Mr. Hamlin! he didn't know
that."

"Do I understand you, that he's bin buckin agin Faro with the money that
you raised on hash? And YOU makin' the hash?"

"But he didn't know that, he wouldn't hev took it if I'd told him."

"No, he'd hev died fust!" said Mr. Hamlin gravely. "Why, he's that
sensitive--is Jack Folinsbee--that it nearly kills him to take money
even of ME. But where does this angel reside when he isn't fightin' the
tiger, and is, so to speak, visible to the naked eye?"

"He--he--stops here," said Peg, with an awkward blush.

"I see. Might I ask the number of his room--or should I be a--disturbing
him in his meditations?" continued Jack Hamlin, with grave politeness.

"Oh! then you'll promise? And you'll talk to him, and make HIM promise?"

"Of course," said Hamlin quietly.

"And you'll remember he's sick--very sick? His room's No. 44, at the end
of the hall. Perhaps I'd better g