neglected. Inside of ten minutes eight firemen was ready for the
hospital; a good citizen took the Major and Majoress in for the
night, and all that was left of our promisin' business enterprise
was a small heap of wood ashes and a very bad smell.

"'Well,' says I, 'shake, Hadds; it's all over.'

"He grabbed my hand, weepin'.

"'No, it ain't, Scraggsy, Old Man Rocks,' says he. 'You stood by
me noble, and I'll do the same by you.' He fumbled in his pocket.
'I've saved a complete equipment from the wreck,' says he, and with
that he hauls out a couple of decks of cards and a box of poker
chips. 'All is lost save honor, Zeke," says he, 'but I reckon we
can raise a dollar or two on that.'

"I was so moved in my feelin's I could only shake his manly hand.

"When I could speak, says I, 'We'll rise like a couple of them
Fenian birds from the ashes, pard.'

"And hope springin' eternal once more in our chests, we took a
little drink at Jimmy's place and went to bed happy."




V

THE MOURNFUL NUMBER