Ceredo advance. [volume] (Ceredo, W. Va.) 1885-1939, 1891-11-25
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$SMz2I Story dwe1t,eQ Life
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CHAPTER XIV.
HARRY PEARsoS's FRIEND.


those benevolent gentlemen found in
almost every western town, who make
Ii their business to accommodate"
people with short time loans on chattel
security. His Office was in n double up
stairs room, and when John Green en-
tered he found n dozen or more men
sitting in row along one side of the
first room, which was evidently n wait
ing-room, and Harry motioned him to
take seat at the lower end of the row.
Presently door connecting the two
rooms opened and couple of men
came out. One of the men was plainly
the friend" while the other John
knew to be farmer, and he rightly
judged that he had been getting an
accommodation. The farmer depart
ed, and the friend" signed the man Mt
the head of the row TO come to the next
room.
The friends" name was Mills, and IL
was by no means an inappropriate
name either, for he was n grinder"
and resembled the mills of the gods,
insomuch that he ground the grist that
came to him exceedingly fine. The
reader, however, will learn more of this
by and by. 1t is our business at present
TO follow John Green.
Doing business with Erastus Mills.
the money-lender, was like doing bust
ness with the Touring mills-each Gus
toner had to await his turn; so John.
from his position at the foot of the row,
position which he did not hold long,
however, since other anxious borrow
ers rapidly fled in, had plenty of
time to watch the proceedings
and observe the workings of
the place. Looking along up the
line of waiting men, John thought he
had never seen sadder lot of faces in
all his life than these men presented
Somehow they impressed him with the
thought that they were victims awaiting
a terrible doom, and he was unable
after the lapse of few minutes TO dis
associate them in his thoughts from a
string of condemned culprits who were
awaiting their turns to be led out and
guillotined by Mills, the executioner.
John saw that the men were chiefly
farmers like himself, and he knew that
like him they had come there as the last
resort to raise money to buy bread for
their families, and even in his own
deep distress he pitied them. They
were sight well calculated to touch
the heart and claim the sympathy
of any human being. Their sun
bronzed features, swarthy and deep
lined, told only too plainly the
story of their sufferings while
the restless rowing of their eyes and
the uneasy moving of their limbs be-
trayed all too well the anxiety of their
minds. They were thinking of their
loved ones at home-of the wives and
children clothed in rags and pinched
with hunger, and of the wolf that
lowered about their thresholds. and
the picture was forbidding enough to
make their hearts quake. They real
lied how dearly they would be required
TO pay for Mills accommodation,
but even this dearly bought favor
this longed for and prayed for robbery
was by no means assured them. Mills
was particular about his security, and
even ut the eXorbitant rates of interest
he charged man must put up choice
chattels TO secure ever so small an lad
vance," and these men, knowing that,
trembled with anxious fear lest they
should be turned away empty handed
After the lapse of near an hour. dur
ing which time Green had studied the
faces of his companions. and drew pic
lures of this ones and that ones condi-
ton, he made bold to break the death
like silence and engage the man next
him in conversation.
'My friend" he began, "our business
here is evidently the same. came TO
try to get some money on my farm chat
tells, and | judge that is the object OF
all these men.
81 guess it is" replied the man John
had addressed. THAT is my object, at
least"
''Do you know" asked John, amy
thing Of this man and his methods of
doing business?"
''No, only from report"
what does report say of him?"
at don't say anything good, my
friend. nor anything calculated to tickle
Us poor devils who have TO come TO him
for favors,' as he calls them. It SAYS
ne has no mercy on his customers,
charges them outrageouslv for little
money, loans only for thirty or sixty
days and II payments are not met
promptly 10 the day your property goes
ut any sort OF sacrifice TO pay the debt. &"
cts shame and an outrage" said
John.
Yes replied the other, "it's worse
than that. It's legalized robbery. Our
laws permit this man TO come here like
a vulture 90 feed off our misfortunes
There is nothing 20 restrain his avarice
nor law 90 hold him in check. and his
charges are governed by our necessities
lie knows that we are compelled 20 bor-
row, and that in our present straits we
arc glad % jump at any kind Of terms
and make any sacrifice. and he is not
slow 10 avail himself Of that ADVANTAGE
and the terms he makes US are such as
Sbylock made with the jew. II is a
shame and an outrage indeed. my
friend but IL is useless for us Co aObt
against II. There is no law 90 protect
MS, and we have no reason 10 hope TINT
there ever viii be. Laws are made 20
foster and protect the interests Of the
wealthy, and our interests arc NO.
taken into consideration. Convre.- is
always passing laws 90 protect THIS in.
terest or that. and appropriatinr money
10 foster and encourage this or that i'm
dDstry; but did you ever know Of the
farmers interest being considcrcd?"
mo. said John. II never did,