Barre evening telegram. (Barre, Vt.) 1898-19??, 1901-05-07


must give it up"
But see herev' Rankin spoke rough
ly, and the cOarseness In him began to
show through the veneer Of his out
ward politeness. "There are two par.
ties to a contract. What If | say that
l will not 60 back on my contract?
What then?"
ut makes no difference. l can't car
ry the paper any more"
But you've made B contract with
me to carry the papers. and you are
legally bound by your written word.
l can hold you to it,
Edward was silent u minute. He did
not know enough about the law in the
case to know whether Rankin was tell
ing the truth or not. AT last he said
slowly:
"Will you let me see the contract"
Rankin hestated, but he knew that
Blake had copy in his own room. He
opened drawer In his desk and threw
the paper on the table.
"There's no time mentioned here"
said Edward, reading the clause aloud.
II promise to carry the papers for SO
much a week and to keep up the regu-
lar list Of subscribers, but the agree
ment leaves 1t open for you or me to
dissolve the contract without naming
any time"
1t was true, for Rankin In drawing
up the paper had in his own mind re-
served the right to secure the services
Of another carrier if at any time he
could get one at cheaper rate.
Anyway, you are under moral obli-
cations to keep your promise" said
Rankin, using an argument he never
would have thought OF with another
student.
"lm not under any moral obligations
to continue lying"
"Who's done any lying, I'd like to
know" exclaimed Rankin savagely.
"I've done all the talking, and I'm will
ing to stand the responsibility"
| Edward made no reply. After com
| ing back to the table from walk over
| to the window Rankin eXclaimed
at will put me in a hole with the pa
make them believe that the route Is
sold again to another party? They're
| suspicious of me down there now. If
| you quit now, it means no end of both
| err for me. What do you want to be so
mighty particular for? We've got the
thing started now, and you haven't had
to tell any actual lies about it. You're
getting good wages and no harm done.
What's the use Of knocking the bust
ness all over? Probably before winter
Is over | can make it 81 a week. Its
the best route in the city by all odds,
and you never can get another"
Pm sorry about the whole matter"
replied Edward slowly. Your trouble
in it is caused by the deceit that lies at
| the bottom of the whole business.
don't know that | am responsible for
that. The only thing | regret is my
connection with it at all. I'm willing
to hand back the money on the week S
work."
He laid the money on the table, and
Rankin contemptuously struck it off
on to the floor. Edward stood as still
as before.
you can pick up your money; !
don't want it,"
Edward still remained in the same
place and said nothing. Rankin after
his passionate gesture and exclamation
walked over to the window again
Willis and a crowd of students We're
just returning from the ladies' hall
AS they came noisly up the steps,
singing Edward walked to the door.
| saying as he opened it:
1--we made up my mind not to carry
the papers another day. It's the only
course | can take. OF course will
hand you the subscription lists as made
up to date"
Say, come back minutev' Rankin
spoke in quieter tone, and Edward
closed the door and stood with his back
to it. He could hear Willis 60 into the
singing alternately.
won't you carry the route until l
can find another renter? It's not an
easy matter to transfer the route now
that the terms SO far along and the
fellows all have secured some regular
work."
Edward hesitated in real perplexity.
He did not have any faith in Rankin's
sincerity and did not know how long
he would probably put him off and pre-.
tend that he could not find any one
else to take the route. On the other
hand, now that he had made up his
mind to give up the business. Edward
felt that every day added to his COM
pliance with an untruth. Should be
keep on lying merely to help Rankin
find another poor student who would
enter into the same compact to de-
ceive? His answer, when he finally
gave it, was determined by that last
consideration. The accommodation to
Rankin simply meant transferring the
same course Of deceit to some one else.
mo; won't carry the paper another
day." he said doggedly.
'"Then you can 90 to the devilr' said
Rankin, with burst of profanity.
UI'vo hnon m him olroa1vU rnpIiod