Plane and Plank; or, The Mishaps of a Mechanic

half a tumbler of whiskey, and appeared to be prepared, to his o

inspired. In a word, I'm prepared for the consideration of th

o hear it, sir; I

ve a name, doubtless. Do you h

r. Farringford. You

Individual named Fa

t goes. Phil may stand for Philip, P

or Philip wi

ng. If he were, he would blush to own his brother. But no matter; th

chin upon his trembling hands, and fixed his gaze upon me. He was a

n you met opposite the Pla

, in a word, I don't kno

money I had, except thirty ce

abit of speaking the truth; or rather

I am willing to go a point farther, and say

you had nearly a hundred dollars," said he, with his tipsy solemnity, which was amusing. "

not sir. I

ender years obtain nearly a hundred dollars? In

enses till I could get into business and pay my way. I expect my friends will be in St. Louis in a few days,

re robbed of nearly a hundred dollars by this man, Lynch, of whom I know no good thing, except t

his man, Mr. Farr

be seen, almost any night

lp me get my

he dignity of a gentleman

favor, and promote the end

an you address. Whatever I may seem to be, no man can say that Edward

ive me back my money, I will

he best I can for you; not for the sake of the money, but to subserve the ends of justi

eed, I shall call upon the poli

ll return the money rather th

d, as it occurred to me that I should never see it if it

hat he should pay it over to m

surance from me that this is the end of the

ll be paid to you. Stop!" excl

matter, Mr.

siness i

ro

r be, able to say that Edward Farringford st

k it would b

unding a felony,"

rong for me to get my money if I could. Mr. Farringford asked me when, where, and in wha

I will see Lynch. I will charge him with the base deed, and be governed, in my

and I had some hope that he would be successful. Having disposed of the important part of my business with my seedy companion, I was rather curious to know more about him. I almo

arful calamity. I actually trembled when I thought of it, when I considered that, at the opening of this singular man's lips, I might be told who and what my father was, and whether my parent

if you please," I interposed; a

usiness fini

told that you were former

old yo

uld like to ask you something about those ste

some of my old captains are still on the river, and I can get you

any more, sir," I

ssity of my b

d back to the table where I sat. Such a wreck of a man I had never seen. Though his step was unsteady, h

a bad habit, my boy. Never take any whiskey, Philip: in a word, never begin to drink liquor, and you will never have to leave off; for it is a gr

if I were you,

liquor, and drinking all you could get, than you could leave off eatin

eave off, sir; I h

y it is to a man whose nerves are shaken, only to be steadied by this liquid fire; whose stomach, chilled and frozen, can only

ad, I saw that he had been weeping. His eyes were filled with

op of whiskey, wine, or even ale,-not the tenth part of a drop

I neve

ery night, and pray that Almighty God will help you, and save you from the curse. Don't trifle with it,

ept so bitterly, that the little table danced u

on in St. Louis. I could have pointed you to a dozen steamers, on the Missouri and Mississippi, which were all mine. I could have presented you to my wife, the most beautiful and accomplished woman in the c

and the gabble of men warmed by their cups into unusual hilarity, so that no one appeared to notice Farringford, though he uttered his impressive warnings in a

, Mr. Farringford?" I as

Philip, like yours. He was named after my brother, who died ten

own toper wa