Waterbury evening Democrat. [volume] (Waterbury, Conn.) 1887-1895, 1891-10-03
Her Fathers Victim.
BY THos. P. MoNTFoRT.


been a close observer, capable of read
ing the human countcnance, he surely
would have seen something in the ex-
preston of Scraggs' face and eyes to
have warned him against future
danger. But as it was John saw
nothing.
''Mr Scraggs,' John said when the
salutations were over, 81 have come to
you for little further accommodation;
as you call it, and in this instance will
term it an accommodation myself
even though dearly bought. l have
come to that point where must have
money from some source, even If
have to steal it, and l want to know
if you couldn't possibly make slight
advance on my loan. The farm is I'M
doubtedly perfectly good for more than
double what is now on it, and you
could surely let me have fifty dollars
more, at least. Come, Scraggs, can't
you do it under the circumstances"
Scraggs made no reply further than
to shake his head slowly in the mega
tive. "Scraggs," said John, sit is
matter of life and death. l must have
money or my wife will die, and you
must let me have it. You must, do you
hear? I can't got it anywhere else, and
you must let me have it"
It was a long time before Scraggs
spoke, and then he delivered his words
slowly, and there was tinge of sadness
in his voice so foreign to him that it
sounded strange even to his own ears.
''Mr. Green" said he, 81 sympathize
with you, and were it in my power to
aid you with loan I'd do it gladly.
But it is not. You know that the money
control is eastern capital, and l have
rules to govern rne-rules that are not
of my making, and dare not overstep
them or vary from them in the least.
have had other petitions such as yours
from the settlers of the plains, and in the
hope of being able to accomplish some
thing for those people, have written
to the company whose money l have,
having the true state of affairs open to
them, and begging them to make more
liberal terms so that these unfortunate
people might have a chance to live
through these close times"
At this point Scraggs happened to
glance up and his eyes met those OF
Pearson. The latter was scowling and
looking daggers and shaking his head
angrily at Scraggs, but the agent paid
no attention to these gestures, and went
on:
81 have exhausted every means in
the effort to induce these capitalists to
show a liberal spirit to the settlers, but
it has been all in vain. They say adj
vance no more money under any cir
cumstances, and that ends the matter
for me- 1 would let you have the mon
ey, Green, if l could, and I'd be glad
to do it, but my hands are tied, and I
can do nothing"
Gould you let me have some on my
team and agricultural implements?'
| Green asked.
Couldn't do that even," Scraggs re-
piled, with another slow shaking of his
| head.
mot even a very small amount?"
John persisted.
"No, not a dollar"
"Thcn, what in the name of God am
1 to do? Must my wife die of want be
fore my eyes, and my daughter and my
self starve? Surely there must be some
way to avoid that Surely all mankind
are not brutal"
| And the tears came to Johns eyes
strong man that he was, and his voice
trembled and his form shook. Ever
Scraggs was touched by the sad spec
tacle the poor man presented and HI
felt anxious to do something for him
After the lapse of minute, during
which the agent did some serious think
ing, he looked up and said:
Green, 1 pity you, and'an the poo
settlers who are SO situated, and I wis
I had the power to help you all. But
haven't I am not rich. Far from il
3 l have some means, it is true, but it
nearly all in real-estate, and in thes
times it is impossible to get it out
Your case, though, is a little harde
than any know of, and l feel that 20
must have help, so I'll tell you wha
I'll do. I'll do my best to get in
little money from some source, and
you'll come here again day after t.
'r morrow I'll let you have some. Sa
N nothing about this offer, though, for
ar it was to get out that had made it
Is YOU, would be overrun with impo
If tunities from a hundred others. Kee
1T it quiet, and come day after to-mo
row."
At this point Harry Pearson left tt
office, and Green arose, and, pressir
Scraggs hand, thanked him again al
again for his offered aid.
"Mr. Scraggs," he said, 81 have mi
III judged you in the past, and I feel that
owe you an apology for it."
That's all right, Green" scraggs r
piled, 'all right. 1 am not saint
any means, but guess if the truth WI
- known would not be considered alt
gether as bad as some people think
; am. However, that is neither here n
there Come back as tell you and 1
see what can do for you"
The reader may be inclined to To-
upon Scraggs as changed creatul
and decide that he has undergone
change of heart or something of tn
or sort, but such is not the case. He
TO Scraggs still-the same in heart a
principle that he has always been. I
truth about Scraggs is, he never was
I, bad as he seemed. Like great ma
other successful business men, he lznt
- how to look out for his own intere
and made it point to turn every d
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