Middletown transcript., 1897-06-12
the gentleman he bad come to see. He
promptly put down his gnn and took
OFF his cap.

0us 0AAs D0tu u0AaiO WAtn t" aAADH
engaging smile. "I only done that a
a bluff. It amt loaded. sir. 'cos I cam
| open the chamber, sirI But I wante
ITO see you awful badI''
The bankers face softened into
smile.
"Come in here," be said, and Jami
triumphantly followed him in,
'sNow sit down, my boy" said thu
gentleman, kindly, s'and tell what al
this is about a mortgage -
Then that remar kable aptitude Q
James Possetrs, which is now push
ing him SO rapidly to the front, the
capability of getting right down t.
business, showed itself for the frs
time. He didn't stammer or stutter Oh
get confused ,or. .behaveas If he had neVe
seen bank before because his mind fo
the time was bent upon one thing only
He didn't even take the chair pointed
out to him. To the bankers utter
amazement he threw aside his cart
ridge belt and pistol, and then his small
ragged jacket and pulled up his shirt
sleeve. With q frightened lip and every
little muscle quivering with tension he
displayed to the bankers admiring gaze
a little lump of flesh which, for polite.
ness we will call biceps.
'sFeel that, strip he said.
: Mechanically the bankers fingers
pressed that plucky little knot, but bis
eyes did not see it. He was looking a
Jamie, and studying his eyes.
"He's not crazy" he thought. "He
seems remarkably bright boy"
"Well," be said aloud. 'That's all
right. The development is not ponder
GUS. but time will improve it,"
''Hit me thereI' cried Jamie, and be
stuck out brave little chest as far as
you want to-"
The banker made benevolent feint
to strike a mighty blow, and nodded
his satisfaction with Jim's sustenance
of it. The boy started to roll up his
trouser leg, but the gentleman motion
ed him to- stop.
sit is unnecessary he said. 81 am
perfectly satisfied you are sound in wind
and limb. Now, if | may inquire with.
out an unseemly abruptness, what is it
you waDt2"
Jamie drew deep breath, and stood
sturdily facing the banker.
"Bolivar's good horse," he said,
with dash into the depths of the sub
ject.
"And you've got mortgage on him.
an dad can't pay the interest, an the
horse'll be sold, for my nanny told
me SO; an tie farms ruined, cause Of
the rains spelling the crops, am dad
won't be able to go on for another
year cause nanny told me SO; an'with
Bolivar, he might make out freighting
for the new irrigation company, an
now he can't. SO dad don't know what
to do, SO dads desprit, awful desprit,
cause he don't love me no more, an
tell me things same's he used to do; an
there amt no food in the house, an
mammy's sick, an'-an'-"
He pulled himself up and dashed
away what Tom Bowling himself would
have called manly tear" The banker
looked at him with interest. but never
spoke. Jim went on: +.
''Mammy says-you ask her-I'm
good as two men about the .house, an
dad says I know near as much as be
does-you ask him, an you say Pm
sound in wind and limb, so-''
"Well. well, my son" said the gen.
tleman, softly, as jamie looked like
breaking down again. $50 on, I am
interested. 1 didn't know things were
SO bad. Whose boy are youP ! think
your father has a fine son."
"So,' said Jamie, with burst, "take
me as a mortgage, an let dad keep
Boliyari,'
What happened Immediately after
Jamie perhaps could not recollect in
exactness, but he found himself sitting
on the bankers knees and telling that
gentleman every detail of the horrible
struggle the family had been going
through to force living from the new
land. ~
"And Mr.. Possett thinks me his en-
emy2n, the man said gently, after q
while. "Jamie, you're q bright boy.
and pll tell you something without
mentioning names. I donG hold these
mortgages. but the bank holds deposits
Of money from many men about here
who have to be paid a good interest. 1
am-the bank is-only an agent and the
real owner of the mortgage is very
close neighbor of yours, a farmer him.
self: have to do my duth that Is,
do the best for my customers Interest. .
ssMatthewsln whispered jamie, with
horror, "Then-then-you can't take
me. an I've got to go to MatthewsI''
ST guess not.D said the gentleman.
"This is only a branch bank, and I'm
lawyer, too, jamie, in Matthew'S
employ, SO | think can settle things.
Tell your father I'll be over in the
morning and talk over matters, and in
the meantime I'll accept your offer,
and Bolivar is safs.n
you're my security now, and Pm
going to take the greatest care of you.
Do you know what widower is,
sonny2',
"Yes, sir.n said Jamie softly.
sim a widower, Jamie. and had q
little son who's dead, too.''
He pressed the boys hand; Jamie
pressed it zealously in return and rode
off into the night.
The banker was as good as his word.
He called next day. Bolivar was saw
ed. and 50 was Mr.. Possstt's farm, and