Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1901-10-02

satisfied and the senator's son pale,
repentant and following old Newt
around like whipped dog. Old Har-
bine actually grew younger and gayer
as the days grew into weeks and the
weeks into months and his boy showed
no signs Of "a relapse.
"By Jehosaphat Newt" he swore at
his friend one night. I'm bowed IL
/ don't believe you've cured the whelp.
You got to take something just to give
me chance to show how l appreciate
what you've done. Why, mother was
breaking her heart over Dick. / never
showed how his doings hurt me, but
they were just killing me. You're
poor, Newt, and you're getting old
don't deny it-you'll have to quit this
blessed newspaper business pretty
soon, and I'll bet you haven't saved a
hundred dollars. Come, Newt, be fair
with me. Let me loan you at least a
few thousand? Eth? Or say, better
yet, take that house and lot up in N
street. l don't want it, and it'll net
you two thousand per. What d'you
say?"
But Newt would only abuse old Har
bine for his pains and turn the talk
into string Of "joshing." The senator
however, was so serious in his deter
mination to do something for Newt
that the dispute between them grew
acute and almost bitter. Newt was
getting old. Nobody knew whether he
had saved anything, but everybody
knew that the time for his retirement
was at hand. AS months went by and
old Harbine's sOlicitude about reward
ing him waxed more earnest and per-
sistent poor Nevis powers Of resist
ance began to wane. The senator saw
it and was glad. The two old friends
became inseparable. Terrapin suppers
and bouts with innumerable mint
juleps became continuous. Spring was
merging into summer when the old
correspondent yielded finally to the
tempter.
Senator" began Newt one night as
they sat on the hotel balcony, 1--WE
made up my mind to take that reward
you insist on giving me-"
"God bless you, old man." chuckled
Harbine, tinkling the ice In his big
glass
"Pm not going half way about it Ell
ther," resumed Stuart, looking up with
an evident effort to muster his courage.
"Im going to hit you hard. I'm
"Fire away, you old fraud?' laughed
the senator. "You know well I'd give
you the shirt off my back"
"Tm going to retire at the end o, the
year" continued Newt, land TmSnOt
going to work any more. r.
Bully boy! Go ahead" laughed Har-
bine.
SIN fact, expect to pass the rest of
my life in ease-fishing, in fact"
THAT'S the stuff How much'n 1t
cost year to keep an old hermit like
you in terrapin. mint and bourbon?
Let Ter go, Newt"
"Never mind what it'll cost" Here
Newt swallowed the lump in his throat,
coughed a few times and let go the
thunderbolt:
81 want that Meek reel O. yourn.
"Newt," bawled the senator, getting
pale-''Newt. you don't mean it?"
"But do mean it. Are you going to
make it good?"
ooh, Newt" groaned old Harbine,
"don't get SO grasping! Take the house
In n street It's worth nearly ten thou
sand"
"Nope," drawled the memorable Stu
art. mo real estate for me. I'd rather
have that reel than half O. Capitol hill.
Do l get it,"
The senator strobe up and down the
balcony a dozen times in moody 81
lence. Once he paused before Newt as
if to utter further protestations. He
finished his julep, made another, tin
killed. a faint knell with the ice in his
glass and fairly groaned:
"It's yours. Chicago Record Herald.