The Neihart herald. [volume] (Neihart, Mont.) 1890-1901, 1897-09-25

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"Where's RichdTd?"
less. / can't afford it, for it takes money
to gamble, and I'm not as rich as old
Hammond yet"
"Oh, yes, Dick, dear, and that re.
minds me. Another thing your father
feared was that Mr.. Hammond might
come to know you were a member of the
club. 1t might hurt your prospects in
the bank" she added, not wishing to
frighten the boy with the threat of the
dismissal she felt sure would follow the
revelation.
Dick threw back his head and reared.
For the first time that evening the lines
of care left his brow. Then seeing his
mothers look Of incomprehension he
sobered down, REFRESHING his mirth with
some difficulty.
"Mother," he said at last, things
have changed since father was a boy.
I'm afraid he hardly appreciates how
much. The old terrifying relations be-
tween employer and employee do not
exist now--at least, that is my expert
ence."
"Still if Mr.. Hammond came to
know that you spent your evenings
att
Mother, listen to me a moment. Ju-
Illus Hammond proposed me for men,
bership in the club-my employer. l
should never have thought Of joining if
it hadn't been for him. You remember
my last raise in salary? You thought
it was for merit, of course. and father
thought it was luck. Well, it was
neither-or both, perhaps. Now, this
is confidential and to yourself only. l
wouldn't tell it to any one else. Ham
mond called me into his private office
one afternoon when the bank was closed
and said Saunders, l want you to join
the Athletic club. I'll propose you l
was amazed and told him l couldn't
afford it. Yes, you cam he answered.
I'm going to raise your salary double
the amount of entrance fee and annual.
If you don't join, I'll cut it down. So
l joined. l think I should have been a
fool if l hadn't"
Dick, l never heard of such a thing.
What in the world did he want you to
join for?"
"SlAS InOthCL, Sdlu DlSh, AOOhluS
at his watch, chats a long story.
I'll tell it to you some other evening
l haven't time tonight. / must be off. y
"Oh, Dick, don't go tonight. Please
stay at home for my sake"
Dick smoothed his mothers gray hail
and kissed her on the forehead. Their
he said: Wont tomorrow night do al
well, mother? / can't stay tonight. ]
have an appointment at the club"
Telegraph to them and put it off.
Stay for my sake tonight, Dick. Ineve,
| asked you before"
The look Of anxiety came into hi
} face again.
4 Mother, it is impossible; really it is
Please don't ask me again. Anyhow,
: know it is father who wants me to stay
not you. l presume he's IN the duty
: tack. | think what he has to say will
keep till tomorrow night. If he mus
i work off some of his sentiments OF
i gambling, let him place his effort
where they are needed-let him tackl,
. julie Hammond, but not during bushes
hours.
You surely don't mean to say tina
y q respected business mana banker lik
Mr.. ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS"
. Don't l? Why Hammond's a plum
y ger from %Plungerville, if you know wha
Q that means. From 8 to 3 he is the strict
u est and best business man in the city
If you spoke to him then of the Tru
y Blue Athletic club, he wouldn't kno,
> what you were talking about, but afte
u u 8 O'Clock he'll take any odds you like t
offer, from matching pennies to backin
70 an unknown horse"
IL Mrs. Saunders sighed. 1t was a wicke
world into which her boy had to go t
earn his living, evidently.
's And now, mother, l must really
u off. I'll stay at home tomorrow nigh
IL and take my scolding like a man. Goo
u night"
II He kissed her and hurried away b,
10 fore she could say anything more, lea,
10 ing her sitting there with folded hanG
10 to await, with her customary patien(
"a and just a trife of apprehension, tt
< coming of her husband. There was L
y mistaking the heavy football. Mr.
u Saunders smiled sadly as she heard i
ie remembering that Dick had said ont
lie that, even if he were safe within I'll
10 gates of paradise, the sound of his fl
10 theirs footsteps would make the chill
IL run up his backbone. She had reprove
"a the levity of the remark at the tim
l. but she often thought of it, especial
when she knew there was trouble ahea
is AS there usually was.
ly Where's Richard? Isn't he hon
rd yeti" were the old mans first words.
HE has been home, but he had to
in out again. He had an appointment.
he "Did you tell him I wanted to spea
with him?"
Eyes, and he said he would Sta
or home tomorrow night"
at did he know that | said tonight?'
b? "Im sure that l told him YOU
Don't shuttle, now. He either kne
or did not. Which is it?''
ar Eyes. he knew, but he thought
IS. might not he urgent and he''-
ay THAT will do. Where is his appoin
K ment?"
is LAT the club, I think"