The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1901-10-22
) Grit That ~
! Was In Him,
\ BY WILLIAM WENpHAM
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Copyright, 1901, by Authors syndicate)

! infamous bills, but they are the last.
Tomorrow will advertise your shame
to the world and warn all men that
! will never again pay debt that you
! contract. Not one dollar of mine will
ever go into your hands" So spoke
Godfrey Whitford to his only son and
heir, Earl.
"Where would you suggest that I
go?" suggested Earl in his lazy drawl,
crossing his arts tocratic legs and lean
! ing back in the chair. "As you know,
the present state of my finances does
not permit of trip abroad nor a
suite at the Union"
The old man flashed one blazing
glance at the younger from his keen
gray eyes and the square jaw became
more set than was usual.
"You may go where you please. Per-
{ haps the dsreputable companions
with whom you have chosen to consort
can make some appropriate sngges-
tons"
''In other words, / may go to the
devil" remarked Earl.
"Exactly-'or where you please" re-
piled the other. "Good day."
1t was the climax of a long season
of wild oats by the boy, and which had
been borne with more or less impa-
tient1y by the hard-headed millionaire.
lie had long realized that Earl was
going rather a swift pace and was
spending more money than was good
for young man, but he had re-
fected that his son had been brought
up in an atmosphere of wealth and
luxury and he did not wonder that he
did not know the value of money. He
had hoped all along that he would set
tie down after his college days and take
hold of his business with him. But
when he returned from few months
trip abroad and was faced with bills
run by Earl during his absence he was
appalled,. The bills ran high into four
figures, and the boy began to show
signs of dissipation. There had been
stormy scene, and Godfrey Whitford
had laid down the ultimatum.
This had been but four months be-
fore, and now again came another
batch of bills-only this time they
were all combined in one loan from
money-ender, and the total exceeded
the amount that had so scandalzed The
old man upon his return from Eu-
rope.
Earl Whitford. after calming his
nerves with series of cocktails, took
account of stock and sized up he pos
IT resulted in his calling on
a favorite uncle, and laying the case
before him. His uncle gave him good
dressing down, and plenty of good ad-
vice, and ended by letting him have a
thousand dollars.
The papers the next day gave the
city two distinct shocks. Society read
In the morning issue that Earl Whit
ford had been disowned and disinherit-
ed by his father, and that Godfrey
Whtford would NO longer be respon-
sible for any debts he contracted. The
evening issue related in Big headlines
the story Of the most se1lsat onal kill
Ing in the history of the local race
track, which shilling" had been ac.
complishcd by Earl Whitford, who had
appeared on the track with thousand
dollars which he placed on a "thirty-
to-one shot and won; afterwards plac-
ing the entire 100000 winnings on a
favorite in another race, and doubling
his money.
This was but the beginning of the
sensations Earl Whnford gave the pa
pers. With 100000 in his pocket he
gave the staid old city an illustrat ion
Of painting the town" Fast horses,
gambling at race track and
gaming rooms, where the stakes caused |
The modest gambler to gasp; wine sup
pers so elaborate and so free as to |
become common talk; midnight Or
gies-every form of dissipation that
would burn money--all these things
were spread daily before the people
in the newspapers, and the strange |
thing was that Earrs money did not
diminish. His marvellous luck clung to
him, and the more reckless were his
bets the more he seemed to win.
After awhile the young man re-
.eived letter which startled him
bit. 1t was from Irene Dawson, his
second cousin, sweet little girl who
ived down in the country, and to whom
he was engaged. She had been sum.
noned to town by his father and told
he circumstances of Earl's dismissal
rom home and advised to break off
The engagement. She had arrived in
he middle Of his great debauch, and
The wrote him Immediately. She told
lin how shocked she was and that her
Ieart was broken; that she had loved
1im thoroughly, and never could love
but now it was manifestly
to marry him; and she
oped he would find ia the life he had
hosen enough of happiness to com
'ensate fer a woman's broken heart
nd for the family name he had dis
onored and the respect of the world
which he had forfeited. The letter So
cred him trife. He had a genuine
Election and respect for the girl, and
he thought that he had lost her stag
cred him at first. But he only plunged
he harder into debauchery.
After he had exhausted his in
L. a. l