The Bunsby Papers (second series): Irish Echoes

  CHAPTER IV.

  THE PIECE OF LUCK.

  It so happened that the very truckman who was sent to take Henry'strunks, was our friend Bobolink, who was plying in the vicinity, and asit was his first job, he was anxious enough to get it accomplished;therefore, a few minutes before Sterling came out, he and his protege,Bryan, the Irishman, trotted up to the door.

  "There! away with you up, and get the trunks," said Bobolink; "I'llwait for you here."

  Bryan timidly rung at the bell, and entered. In the meantime, Tom stoodat his horse's head, pulling his ears, and having a little confidentialchat. Taking out his wallet, he investigated its contents.

  "Only fifty cents," he exclaimed, shrugging his shoulders, "and thisjob will make a dollar--that's all the money in the world."

  In putting back his greasy, well-worn wallet, his eye happened to fallupon an object, which made the blood rush with a tremendous boundthrough his frame. Lying close to the curb, just below his feet, was alarge pocket-book.

  "Good gracious!" he exclaimed, "what's that? It looks verylike"--(picking it up hurriedly, and taking a hasty survey of itscontents)--"it is--money--heaps of money--real, good money, and such alot--all fifties and twenties!" And now a crowd of contending thoughtspressed upon his brow. First, he blessed his good luck; then, he cursedthe heaviness of the temptation--he thrust it deep into his bosom;again, he thought he would place it where he found it; at one moment hewould whistle, and endeavor to look unconcerned; at another, he wouldtremble with apprehension. What to do with it, he did not know; but thetempter was too strong; he at last determined to retain it. "It's awindfall," said he to himself; "nobody has seen me take it. Such alarge sum of money could not have been lost by a poor person, andnobody wants it more than I do myself. I'll be hanged if I don't keepit!"

  Just then Bryan emerged from the door, with a most lachrymoseexpression of countenance, and was very much astonished to find thathis stay did not produce an equally woe-begone effect upon Tom.

  "There's no thrunks goin'," said Bryan. "The fellow as was leavin',ain't leavin' yet; because somebody's after leavin' him a lot o' money.

  "Come, jump up, then," cried Bobolink, "and don't be wasting timethere."

  At that moment his eye caught that of Sterling, who, with Travers, hadcommenced a search for the lost pocket-book. Instinct told him in aninstant what their occupation was, and yet he determined to keep themoney.

  "My man," said Travers to Bryan, "did you see anything of a pocket-booknear this door?"

  "Is it me?" replied Bryan. "Do I look as if I'd seen it? I wish I had!"

  "What for? you'd keep it, I suppose?" observed Travers.

  "Bad luck to the keep," replied Bryan; "and to you for thinkin' it! butit's the way of the world--a ragged waistcoat's seldom suspected ofhidin' an honest heart."

  "Come, old friend," said Henry to Sterling, "these men have not seenit, evidently;" and off they went on their fruitless errand, while afeeling of great relief spread itself over Bobolink's heart at theirdeparture.

  "How wild that ould fellow looked," said Bryan.

  "Humbug!" replied Bobolink; "it was only put on to make us give up thepocket-book."

  "Make us give it up?"

  "Yes; that is to say, if we had it. There, don't talk. I'm sick. I'vegot an oppression on my chest, and if I don't get relief, I'll drop inthe street."

  "Indeed, an' somethin's come over ye since mornin', sure enough," saidBryan; "but you've been kind, an' good, an' generous to me, an' may Inever taste glory, but if I could do you any good by takin' half yercomplaint, I'd do it."

  "I dare say you would," replied Tom; "but my constitution's strongenough to carry it all. There, you run home, and tell Polly I'll beback early. I don't want you any more."

  As soon as Bryan was off, Bobolink sat down on his truck, and began toruminate. His first thought was about his wife. "Shall I tell Polly?"thought he. "I've never kept a secret from her yet. But, suppose shewouldn't let me keep it? I shan't say a word about it. I'll hide it fora short time, and then swear I got a prize in the lottery." It suddenlyoccurred to him that he was still on the spot where he had found themoney. "Good Heaven," said he, "why do I linger about here? I must beaway--away anywhere! and yet I feel as though I was leaving my life'shappiness here. Pooh! lots of money will make any one happy." Sosaying, and singing--but with most constrained jollity--one of thesongs which deep bitterness had called up spontaneously from his heart,he drove to the nearest groggery, feeling assured that he shouldrequire an unusual stimulant of liquor, to enable him to fitly bearthis accumulation of good luck, which did not justly belong to him.