Little Falls transcript. [volume] (Little Falls, Morrison County, Minn.) 1876-1894, 1884-01-18
!. PLYMOUTH ROCK.


/ j, PLYMOUTH ROCK. ......-
+ BY MARION HARLAND. $3.50,
There was nothing in the aspect of She
place to show that murder had been
done there. The time was ten O'Clock
on keen, breezy, brilliantly clear. Jan
nary morning; the place handsomely
furnished business Office. On rich rus
in the middle of the floor stood Ply.
mouth Strongsmillionaire and manufac-
turer, portly, and ford, looking up al
his felloW-coloquist with kindly smile
that softened the hard, gray eyes and
made his rugged lineage almost comely
The man ON whose shoulder his: hand
lay was ofsuch different mould that one
wondered, involuntarily. ut the intimacy
implied by their relative position and
the speakers tone and words
"You know"--he said "kneaew," in a
nasal drawl-'I would do ''most any
thing for you, my dear fellow. I'd let
you have twice as much, quick as wink,
Of I'd one mite o faith in the concern.
It's all wild-ca am moenshine from top
to bottom. An I mus say, Pin s'prised
you lend your name fur to ballast sech
an egg-sheIl. That's The way good men
help on public corruption-a: handlin'
things they hed1l't orter tech with a
pair O tongs."
/: A FESTIVE movement en- the part of
the listener shook the hand from it's
resting place. P|ymouthStrong clutched
his friends arm with such force as to
bring the averted face into view.
"Rafe Field! you Mu't argoing to bear
malice against me for the first time I've
said mo- to- YOU in thiety-fve years?
You know I've stood. by you through
thick an thin. When I've hada dollar
in my pocket you've been welcome to
half of it, eff you felt the usesof it. But
cant 60 ag'inst my conscience; man
, much as s. love love you. Ed no'idee you'd
Ralph Fielt buttoned his gloves care
fully, then his overcoat, up to his chin,
spoke quietly and in q lower tone than
was his habit, and he, was never abrupt
or loud. "Heaven forbid that should
force your conscience, Mr.. Strong. AS
to my bearing malice-gentlemen do not
use such terms in business conversation.
Your refusal to lend me the sum ! wish
to borrow upon excellent security u.s.
serious embarrassment, which is not
mi igated by your protestations of indy
ing friendshi p. / suppose that the
treachery Of Judas bore as heavily upon
his friend as If he hadt not kissed while
he betrayed Him. Good morningW It
was cruel speech, sharpened to finer
point by the slight, contemptuous smile;
driven home by the contrast between
his refined intonations, and his compan-
ions provincial dialect. Mr.. Field
raised his hat in pu1lctilious courtesy at
the last words, and lett the room.
Plymouth Strong stools rooted to the
floor; his jaw dropped and his complex
ion q livid mulberry, for minute after
the door closed Then he got back his
breath with 8 hoarse gasp, put up his
hand to pull his collar away from the
turgid throat. All. that was evil and
coarse in him cuu,e 10 the surface with
the scowl that distorted his visage, the
curse he shut in behind the grinding
teeth. He struck his call-belf with a
venseful clang. A, clerk appeared.
elf MIR. Field ever calls here agin,
stop him in the outside ofice-d'ye
hear? l don't want to see him agin-
never! Them's my orders, what moth
in won't never changed! You ken go!"
This was friendship that died vio-
lent death with Raj ph Fields s,lave
"Good morning" He was very angry,
more wounded than offended, and
more disappointed 1haneither. He had
hoped to advance his fortunes by invest
ment in the stock offered him on dat
teripg terms, and he: would not have be-
lieveu any man if he had foretold that
Plym. Strong would not only refuse him
favor but presume to lecture him upon
business ethics.
'No wonder he lost his, temper! Who
could have done otherwise in the cir
cumstance?" =,
Nevertheless, he awoke next day to
find that his wrath had burned itself out
into cold ashes. He had insulted a we'll
meaning TREND, sneeredS at: one who did
not know how to recriminate in kind.
It was unchristian and ungentlemanly.
II 1eel as if had kicked a faithful New
foundland for trying to hinder one from
taking a surf-hath," he said to his hum
bic self. Breakfast over he went straight
down to the 'fS'trong Mills" "You be-
haved like g. man-I like brute. / am
here to ask your pardon!'' was the form
ula in his mind, in bestowing a kindly
salutation upon the clerk who left his
desk at his approach. 49,
II am afraid-that is Mr.. Strong is par
ticularly engaged just now, Mr.. Field"
stammered the young mar, shamefaced-
~.
"Ah! Never mindt I can wait a, few
minutes" said the unsuspecting peni-
tent, picking up morning paper. In
twenty minutes he looked up Impatient
~. 80 May treubleyou to see if Mr..
Strong ls till busv?" The clerk obeued
reluctantly, returned uncomfortable. II
am very so ~. sir, but Mr.. Strong. will
be engaged all the forenoonp'
'"Does he know who is here?"
Eyes, siry' ~ -. U.s..
MIR. Field smiled a regretful, centrite
CLEAN. Never nindl I'll write line
at your desK if you will allow meI' His
.;wn business needed his kattention, but
this splinter must be pulled out OF his
mind before he could settle to anything
Use, so he WrOte:H - <.....- g.
DEARO OH FRIEND do not blame youto1
refusing to see me before you know now
heartily 3asha ell I anf OF my behavior be
YOU Yesterday; [ cone to you to-day for
the express purpose of asking your pardon,
NV only hope, in the recollection of my
contelnpti Bile conduct and language, IS that
our friendship is too well seasoned to dc
more than bend under the strain / have lard
upon It. i was in fault athroughout. Wen'i
. YOU see me long enough to shake hands
and to let me hear yon SAY; that you Tor.
Owe nep Shall we not make up in the
sid boy fashion, x On and g never could
I hold heat ag ! inst one another, Plym! B
AS ever afftsctionateiy yours. RsFE.
|s III three minutes the carer brcugh1
j letter to him, sealed ut lot add dressed
With q misty smile IN his yes, he tore
Ii open. ii is note drop ped out. It haa
been read before q line and q half was y