The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1902-11-05
A HATEFUL ALTERNATIVE.

1 Tor
i've years, had become fast friends,
though they had never net except or that
front platform.
gratifed sense of silent companion
ship was the beginning, desuIgory re
marks about the weather. an exchange Of
names, some SHOW tickets for the man
az the lever and his boy That was the
! history Of this friendship.
The motornran. whose name was Jake
Miller, was everlastingiy talking about
that boy Harry, now 10 years old. and
By all accounts, a paragon OF youthful
naniiness, Intelligence and flial loyalty
Inc boys mother had deliberately run OF
with a theatrical troupe when the child
vas s.
There wasn't any particular reason
for 1t, Jake would say. only she was
just fighty and Observation-Disclosures &c
struck, as You say. If there was any
thing wrong, any other man. I mean.
! didn't know it. She never made any kick
to me, but suppose she figured I wasn't
| quite I'D 10 her ideas. She never fails
t. come to see Harry when she's in town.
and she never held the divorce Up against
me- 1t was the only thing 1 could do.
and guess she was glad of il, only for
one thing. She wants the boy"
And then Jake would launch forth into
/ Prolonged explanations as TO why he
&C uldn't under any circumstances give up
that boy He had spent his days with
| the child and nourished him with some
thing Of a wornan's tenderness and all
o. a strong mans fidelity He had cut off
| habits, Guit smoking and drinking so THAI
| h. might save the money to carry out
the boys education He had some no
tons Of his own about how boys should
| br raised. The little fellow WIS attending
! 4 turning school. learning TO box and
wrestie. He had excelled at Sunday
school, and was in the practice Of giving
/ his teachers small presents at Christmas
/ and Easter. He was playing football now
and baseball, and coming TO regard his
| father as a companion.
He calls me Jake" the motorman
| would say. mot in fresh way AT all.
/ but just like you'd say it. Oh, he's a
manly little rascal; just as square and
game"
But finally, one night after the editor
! had asked, 'How's Iarry?" and the mo-
| torman had paused with an unusual hesi-
| tance, he said:
She's after him. for sure. now, sir
| She's begun suit for him. I'll have 10
| skip, / guess don't know anything
about law. III hide out, I'll change my
name, I'll do anything before I'll let her
get the boy"
rs she Still with her company on the
rcad?' asked the interested listener.
oh, yes. l got letter from her only
/ the other day. from Ohio. Never said
/ word about taking Harry away from me-
! though. Do YOU think she can get him,
! sr?"
''wen. I don't know much about such
| things, but III try TO find out, or think
up some scheme. Did you save her last
! lotter?"
Il have 1t here" He got out the letter
and handed it back The paper was
cheap note such as country hotels use.
but the name of the house had been torn
CT, leaving only the words J. X king
man, Prop
Jake, is your wife married again2'
No no. sir. At least she says not"
And do you know her stage name?'
Yes-Fanny Southwark. I always
write TO her that way. Fanny Southwark
/ Fashion Folly company
Jake. er-of course, I don't know how
you feel about ii. but if you could get
something against her. Wait a minute.
now Say, if YOU could prove that she
was living with somebody"
"Oh, herei ! couldn't do that It'd dis
grace the boy if l showed her IN.
might-could run it off as bluff. do you
think?"
That's what 1 mean. Suppose. for in
stance, she went to this hotel in Ohio and
lived there for a week in company
with"
"Oh, I see Then, she'd be an Improper
misunderstanding get the custody OF the
boy. Great scheme sir. he said. shaking
his head dejectedly, but how am I to
know? I haven't got any money for de-
tcctives or lawyers. 1 can't quit my job
and follow her"
Hold on, Jake; hold on You don't
have to do that. maybe. Suppose you
write a letter 70 this j. X Klingman !
proprietor at this Ohio town and say
trait Fanny Southwark, your sister. wants /
her trunk. the one that was held for her /
board bill"
But she didn't say anything about a
trunk sir said Jake
Never mind about that Your sister. |
Fanny Southwark. wants YOU to paw that I
bin to J. X. Klingman and get her trunk. /
You ask how much 1T is and saw Won
win remit when you get the bill Then
sign your name and in the postscript. /
not in the body of the letter, remember.
say. Was my sisters husband with her
Q your hoteI2'
Jake was silent for while
1T looks mean, don't it2'' he said II
cont know. ] hate to do It. sir I'd hate
e. know that she-that she wasn't al
right. Its a great scheme though. and 4
m much Obliged. Maybe I'll have to do
IT, If / found out that she was bad.
though, I'd never ten anyone Ia just use
II as a blum TO stop her from taking
Harry II she is crooked don't want 10
know It, but it's not quite as bad as los
irg the boy. couldn't stand that" He
took the letter and thrust it into his
rocket
The dramatic editor left the city the
rext day but when he came back and re-
stunned his rides with Jake Miller. The
mOtorm2n. the latter was strangely mo-
rose and silent. The conversation did not
prosper even after Harrv's name had
Teen brought up lie was well.
BY the way Jake" said the newspa-
per man one night. do YOU remember
that letter you were 70 wris2r
Yes"
Did yonr-ah. sister. leave her trunk a.
that hotei2"
Nc sir
'Didnt leave ANYTHING else there eh7'
"Oh. yes. she left her reputation there"
And he shut u0 Ike a clam.
They We're silent for mile and then
the critic said: Forget IT, Jake will.
E2csHeuheT you've got the bcv now and
b. II never know how you kept him
John H. Raftery. il Chicago Record
Herald
Up-to-Date Proverbs.
Inspiration. persriration and desperation
are the rations which make achievement
fat
People who 10 not plan their future gen
crafty never have any
it is q great deal easier 90 ~ a good
critic than TO as even . rassahle per-