Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1902-04-30
! a FRIEND
IN NEED
,.....s,osss-esesses
49,, 4, Great Merchant Was Won
Over to Mercy

I Over to Mercy
S..,..e.s.esesse-resepsosesx
ga. close to o'clock In the after
shsn Amos Garner returned from
rc0n He was busy man aud
lunensSS' v-hen be caught the favorable
Z mnen. The cares OF a great Tier
rou,sus estabiishmen, weighed heavy on
eanus Tiers He showed the burden In
DIS s,red and knotted face. He was
ns sckoned a kindly or sympathetic
hos ~" s,d his appearance. bis sharp
nan. MI hooked nose and his aggres-
fn;n bore cut the popular opinion.
nie w. entered his private Office he
,.nshed By two young men who were
Vl ssss on a settee near the door. One Of
~. ,ro was a mere boy. OF nineteen,
Wv s..ns A pale faced young fellow who
Fa;ssstly shrank back as the elder
a.h ,ook him by the arm and led him
!oa' amos Gamers room. The great
nss was hanging up his heavy coat
me-, Nv entered. He turned quickly and
looked at the pair- 81, -,
have a little business to transact
IN Won and win make II as brief as
TSs merchant looked nt them sharply
4 ,b.n seated himself at his desk and
s.smu,ed neryously on the polished sur
ace before him.
's st,nsinsss OF interest TO meT' be ask
a With lowered brows.
YES" replied the older OF the two.
.SIske II brief" said the merchant and
polnied TO seats
The older youth drew his chair close
IA The desk, the boy sitting In the shad-
Az little behind him.
vi, Garner" said the older youth.
81 vas on my way to Buffalo last night
hs loat. / saw this boy In the cabin
wiring. and his appearance attracted
mo Ills agitation. bis trembling hands,
,bs tears In bis eyes. drew me 10 him.
taew be vas In trouble" The mer-
rhant raised his head little and cast a
.hsro glance toward the boy. But the
l.,,er had drawn back behind his COM
nanioa and was quite shielded from
view. II watched the boy" the speaker
proceeded, 'and when he had finished
Ii, writing and placed the sheets In ad-
dressed envelopes and left them lying
% tDe tADte plNhtu tHth VII Ahh hut~
ried after him as he assembled TO the
deck. was close behind him when he
threw down his hat and clambered on
he rail. drew him back. | did my best
10 calm him, and presently he told me
his story. and gave him the best advice
could"
The merchant leaned forward to have
better look at the speaker.
@Are you quite sure this interests me?"
be said
Quite sure" replied the older youth
grayely. Zone OF the letters written by
this unfortunate boy Is addressed to you.
the other was to have been forwarded 70
his invalid sister. The boy was running
sway sir. running away from you. and
then. when he saw the futility Of such
course, be determined to end his trou-
bles at once and forever. lie sees things
IN a Different light now. and the first
morning train from Buffalo brought him
back here to tell you So"
That's very thoughtful OF him." said
the great merchant grimly.
Here Is the letter." said the older
youth.
The merchant took the envelope and
stared at the address.
its very pretty story" he said.
with half sheer
"lt's very ugly story" said the older
youth.
"Of course ! am TO understand that
this young fellow has been stealing ell
Their my money or my stock" the mer-
chant went on.
The letter will tell you that he has
enbezzled S2ti2. said the older youth.
Then it's case for the police" said
the merchant, and his hand reached for
the electric button at the side OF his desk,
Then be hesitated. his gaze meeting
mat OF the older youth. whose eyes were
gentle and yet steady and fearless. He
slowly drew back.
u ought TO send for an officer at
once" be growled.
But you viii not" said the older
youth.
The merchant raised his heavy eye
orows and stared at the speaker again.
What's the boys namef" be asked.
John Heathcote."
Where was he empioyed?
de was an assistant In the cashiers
department"
What was his salaryr'
len dollars a week"
What did he do with itY'
supported himself and an invalid SIS
ter"
now did he steal the money!"
lie had bills TO collect last week, aud
ne Jailed 10 turn in all his collections"
eyT
went into a bucket shop. He was
igfed into il by some OF his fellow clerks.
ne uidnt know the danger. and the sto-
" they told him of sudden gains turned
Us mead He lost from the start. aud it
"as lhe attempt to retrieve these early
. .,rs that sweiled the defalcations."
nat. iaats an old story" said the grim
... PAINFULLY told and painfully true" as
serted the young man.
y Iete is a proposition. l supposed"
There is"
onst e.ofe the old man could pursue his
sr there was a rap at the door.