Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1886-02-18
THE COOL HAND.

Six years before the date of our story
George Ewalt, an Iowa farmer, having
several thousand dollars of spare capital
to invest, became silent partner in the
dry-goods house of his brother Andrew,
in Philadelphia. He received, of course,
quarterly statements of the affairs of the
firm. In 1865, however. he came to
Philadelphia Unexpectedly and walked
into his brothers office one cool day in
October. Andrew had grown lean,
anxious, gray-haired; he spoke with
measured slowness, dressed with scrupu-
lous neatness. The Iowa man was large
and florid, his voice was loud and
breezy, his clothes hung loosely about
him.
This town life is cramping. cramp-
mgr he thought, discontentedly, eye
ing his brother as they sat together.
II hope you are satisfied with the way
the business has grown?n said Mr.
Ewalt anXiously.
80, yes, certainly glancing careless
ly through the glass door at the long
counters and shelves of goods.
Your investment has paid as much
as you expected, George?"
VERY fair, very fair. But where is
Wally? | came here TO find my own
flesh and blood, man, not to look after
investments"
''Walter?" uneasily. 'He is at his
desk yonder have a great deal of
anxiety about that boy, George
Walter had been his uncle's favorite
when child. The old mans face
clouded
wild, eh? Does he drink gam
ble?n
My son! No, nor' severely. Il
should turn him out of doors if that were
the case. But he has no stability; he is
headlong, reckless, cares nothing for
business. He is utterly worthless, in
word Mr.. Ewalt spoke with the en-
ergy of man who hy long kept
silence. ''He is breaking my heart,
George | mean to train him to take
my place in the house; he ought by this
time to know the business in every de-
tail, but instead of mastering it, he has
joined a baseball club, goes to regattas,
to the theatre, drives fast horse in the
park"
'Oh-o! | see, with a medtative nod.
THAT is he by the window? Fine. man.
Unlocking fellow, Andy. Who is the
young man at the desk near him, dark,
quiet face?"
THAT is my foreman, Leslie Craw-
ford. A thorough man of business. If
Walter had taken him as model,
now
Walter at the moment was whistling
a dancing tune; Il beg your pardon,
Les, you can't count for my racket"
ut does not annoy me- CHANGING
furtiyely toward Mr.. Ewalt's Office to
see if the racket was heard there.
a say, who's that old cove with my
father?n
II really do not know
''Been there an hour and half; saved
me lecture for that space of time.
Wen, I'm off. =
Going to leave the store for the day?"
said Leslie in the peculiar, distinct,
monotonous tone which for some reason
always rasped Walter to incessant i'm
patient Outbursts.
eyes, Tn going to leave it for the
day. | wish it was forever!n
don't like it to-day, eh?n slightly
lifting his smooth eyebrows.
Like it? | never liked it; I'm sitting!
The very smell of the Hannels sickens
me! Do you know, I've been just week
learning the difference between real and
Valenciennes lace. Nice occupation for
big lout like me, > glancing down as
his sturdy body and large hands; I'm
going for horse and I'll scour the river
road before night | must get my
breath"
"What about that livery-stable bill?"
said Leslie in the same tone, without
lifting his eyes from his pen.
flush, L. for heavens sake. What
about all the other bills | owe? God
knows what I'm to do. Snyder threatens
to 90 to father with his.
'What will you do then?"
do? Blow my brains out, reckon!
It's about all the use I'm of-to manure
the earth somewhere. I'm of no account
for anything. | begin to think fathers
right am worthless" The lads eyes
filled He stood with his hands in his
pockets, staring gloomily out of the win
dow.
Leslie carefully wiped his pen and put
it in the rest. ''Use?" he said, reflective
ly. Il don't know. You sing comic
song very well, Walter"
Walter turned flaming on him for
moment, then he burst into q good
humored laugh. YOU'RE a cool hand,
Crawford" he said. II never saw an
animal of your sort, precisely
Your father is reckoning you, said
Leslie, calmly.
Walter walked unwillingly to the Of
fee, knocking down a stool or two on
the way. Instead Of his fathers thin,
austere visage, a flushed, kindly face
met him.
''Why, Wally, boyr'
.'By George" shouted Walter, ''if it
isn't Uncle Grizzly himself!' flinging
his arms about the old mans neck and
kissing him. regardless of the specta-
tors.
Grizzly? The scamp hasn't forgot
ten the old joke. WE'LL well! stand off
a bit, boy, till get fair look! The
same honest, ugly phiz. Neither Of us
ever were beautiesr'
Mr. Ewalt watched the two men walk
off together, arm-in-arm, laughing
Ugly? Not at all Walter is a remark
ably handsome boy" he thought.
Leslie Crawford touched him on the
arm. II have just heard, sir, of another
/ ucDJ OI w dltcI , 10 OIL tSk, ic Sdlu
The kindly light went out of Mr..
| Ewalt's face. Every well. The end
must come soon" After a moments
pause he said coldly, Il thank you for
your watch over him, Mr.. Crawford, |
will not forget it-and when the time
! comes
mo, sir. There can come no time for
payment. Mine has been labor of
friendship for your son."
Friendship" muttered Mr.. Ewalt
bitterly as Leslie walked away. THAT
man knows that he will take Walters
| place in the store, and that, soon. He
desires ii. But as for friendship-P"
Walter and his uncle strolled through
the city, took supper, and were as happy
as two boys together But when Walter
was alone again the load of care rolled
back on him.
He hardly knew how he had plunged
into debt He was careless, reckless,
mad for excitement, the hot blood surg
ed through his veins. But he had not
meant to be vicious IF anybody had
ever held out helping hand ! might
have made man after all, y he thought
as he lay tossing on his bed that night
III mother only had ived.n
From his father he had only heard
peevish, singing sarcasms, and the
daily command to '.go and learn some
thing of cotton and dress goods.
.a..ll IL, ,-;J +basa 1al4e