ADRIFT IN THE WILDS.



themselves these three personages, consisting of Tim
O'Rooney, Elwood Brandon and Howard Lawrence.
The first was a burly, good-natured Irishman, and the
two latter were cousins, their ages differing by less than
i month, and both being in their sixteenth year.
  The financial storm that swept over the country in
18-, toppling down merchants and banking-houses
like so many ten-pins, carried with it in the general
wreck and ruin, that of Brandon, Herman  Co., and the
senior partner, Sylvanus Brandon, returned to his home
in Brooklyn, New York, one evening worse than pen-
niless. While he was meditating, dejected and gloomy,
as to the means by which he was to keep the wolf from
the door, his clerk brought him a letter which had been
overlooked in the afternoon's mail, postmarked, " San
Francisco, Cal." At once he recognized the bold,
handsome superscription as that of his kind-hearted
brother-in-law, Thomas Lawrence. His heart beat
with a strong hope as he broke the envelope, and his
eyes glistened ere he had read one-half.
  In short, it stated that M1r. Lawrence had established
himself successfully in business, and was doing so well
that he felt the imperative need of a partner, and ended
by urging Mr. Brandon to accept the position. The
bankrupt merchant laid the epistle in his lap, removed
his spectacles and looked smilingly toward his wife. They
held a long discussion, and both decided to accept the
offer at once, as there was no other recourse left to
them.
  It was evident from the letter that Mr. Lawrence had



6