The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1901-01-02

strong tea. want to take 1t here
in my room. have something on my
mind; nothing to trouble you, Mary.
but I must be here alone for q little
while"
With something between a gasp and
a sob the wife went down stairs. Pres
emily she returned with the cup of
tea.
THANK you, Mary" ne said In a
tone so kindly that his wife looked
at him in surprise. "Now, dear. YOU
see I am all right. Won't you please
get Tom to hitch up and drive around
TO Simmons, the carpenter and tell
him I want to see him Immediately?
In fact, tell him to bring Simmons
with him." He pulled out his watch.
II must have him here within the
netx half hour"
Five minutes later he could hear the
sound of the departing coach, show
| ing that the coachman had sped upon
| his errand. Mr.. Greene again touched
| the bell, and one of his daughters
responded.
Edith, / want to send down to the
widow Grogan's. You know she Is
one of my tenants. Can't one of you
girls go down and bring her up? It's
only ten minutes walk, and l must
| see her this evening"
why, papa" said the daughter,
land so late?"
"Oh," said the merchant, tits only Z
O'Clock. You go, Edith, and win
make 1t up to you. You can take the
street car and be down there in a
twinkling." And to her astonishment,
he kissed her. Such a thing had hard
ly happened since the girls were
babies.
1t was well within the half hour
when Tom drove up before the door,
and Carpenter Simmons mounted the
steps. He was shown up to the mer-
chants room.
Come in, Simmons; come in"' said
Mr.. Greene with show of anima-
ton.
II came. Mr.. Greene. but I haven't
the slightest idea----''
mo matter, no matter. Sit down."
said the other. "The fact is, Sim
| mons, behaved like a hog TO you this
afternoon, and / ann deeply sorry for
it. 1 want you to understand that
Simmons. You have been a good Gus
| toner of mine, and I've never lost q
cent by your trade, and to have spoken
to you as / did was too mean for any
thing, and l want to apologize"
"Oh, Mr.. Greene" protested the car
penter. don't say a word"
But I insist" said Greene stoutly.
"If a man acts like q hog, he must
apologize; he has no right to act So
You said that had the meanest
soul"
mir. Greene" cried the carpenter
nervously, II regretted it the moment
I said it. ] declare I did. 1t was a
cruel thing"
cit was true" said Greene, "every
word. know it. l have the meanest
soul, and you told the truth. Sit
down"
The visitor sat down in amazement
"Now, here is an order" continued
| Greene, writing at desk that stood
| in the corner of the room. Half will
give you whatever lumber you want
Hereafter you can have that privil-
ege. You are an honest man."
You don't mean 1t! You don't mean
it, Mr.. Greene" cried the carpenter
starting up. why it's like picking me
| up out of the gutter. / was ruined if
l didn't get that lumber. You've
saved me. You've saved my busi-
ness
Not another word" said Mr.
Greene, Here, simmons. here's the
order. Good night, and whenever you
want any more lumber come and see
me-"
Still muttering his thanks. and
| greatly astonished at the turn affairs
had taken, the carpenter withdrew.
The luthber merchant stood for a
minute With a strange smile on his
| face AS he heard the footsteps die
away, his eye fell upon the little figure
| in its nook, and 1t seemed to him
| although it might only have been inn
agination-that it had grown a shade
| whittier.
A. little later the widow Grogan was
| brought in by Edith. The widow, who
| was accompanied by her little daugh-
| ter of seven, showed a tear-stained
| face. She had evidently been antici-
| pating some new misfortune as the re-
| suit Of this summons from her land
| lord.
| Now" said Edith reassuringly, you
| just step right in, and papa will see
| you"
"Ah Mrs. Grogan," said the mer-
/ chant. II am glad you've come"
"Oh, Mr.. Greene" began the widow
| in piteous tones. "if it's the rint, / told
the agent that / would thry to have it
| for him next month. I've done the
best I could: but it's the hard times
we've had"
Has that rascally agent of mine
been bothering you, Mrs. Grogan."
"Indade the man only wanted your
rint, sor, an l told him"
Never mind what you told him,
Mrs. Grogan. SO this is Molly, is it..
Little Molly. How old is she?"
'Siven. sor. Speak to the jintleman.
Molly, dear"
Now, Molly" and he produced a sill
Yer coin from his vest pocket, Il am
going to give this to your mother, and
she is going to buy you the biggest red
apple YOU ever saw. Mind you do il.
Mrs. Grogan. Now. about that rent.
How long have you been-iiving in that
| house of mine?"
| s''l1leven years, sor."
! why, II seems to me that you have
been pretty steady tenant"
II got this notice day before yister-
day, sor," and she handed him a notice
of disposseEsion.
The lumber merchant scowled. "And
this" he muttered, "is done in my
name. All the hardships that are in
flicted upon these poor souls, who have
paid rent for eleven years, have to
stand sponsor for"
| Now, Mrs. Grogan," he said, turn
ng to the widow, who was wiping her
eyes with a corner of her dress, II am
going to give you note to the agent,