“Young man, sit down,” said the old man, coming back to his chair.  “I want to talk to you for a few minutes.  Your uncle was a peculiarly vindictive man.  What he considered a wrong he neither forgot nor forgave.  His son pleaded with him not to put in that final clause.  He offered even to share with you.  Your uncle swore he would leave it all to the stablemen first.  This journey was forced upon me, or I should not have taken it.  This is my advice to you:  Accept the check, in the privacy of your room tear it up, or light a cigar with it; that’s about all it’s worth.  You will feel no little satisfaction in lighting a cigar with it, that is, if you are anything like me.  Think of it! a thousand dollars to light your cigar.  It is an opportunity not to be missed.  When you grow old you will say to your grandchildren:  ’Once I lit a cigar with a thousand-dollar check.’  The oldest inhabitant will be silenced forever; it may become history.  And then, too, if there are spirits, as Scripture says there are, your uncle’s will writhe at the performance.  I trust that you will forgive me my part in the matter.  I have taken a fancy to you, and if you will accept my friendship I shall be happy to accept yours.  Your uncle’s revenge will not be a marker to the restitution his son will make.”

“Restitution?—­his son?”

“Yes.  To my sincere regret he is an invalid who may or may not live the year out.  He has already made a will, in which he leaves all to you.  The will is in my safe at home.  I return to-night, so I may not see you again in this world of sin and tribulation.”  The merry twinkle had returned to his eyes.  “I am very old.”

“It is worth all the trouble to have met you,” said I.  “You should have made the jolt very easy.”

So we shook hands, and he gave me a cigar, around which was wrapped the check.  He winked.  Then he laughed, and I joined him, though my laughter resembled mirth less than it did the cackle of a hen which was disturbed over the future of her brood.

I left him and went down into the wine room and ordered a stiff brandy and soda.  When that disappeared I ordered another.  I rattled the ice in the glass.  “Ha, ha, ha!” I roared, as the events of the past twenty-four hours recurred to me.  There must have been a suicidal accent to my laughter, for the bartender looked at me with some concern.  I called for another brandy and shot the soda into it myself.  I watched the foam evaporate, “Ha, ha, ha!”

“Hard luck?” the bartender asked sympathetically.

“Yes,” said I. I seemed to be speaking to several bartenders who looked at me with several varieties of compassion.

“Have another on me,” said the bartender.