Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1903-12-22


customed as the country boy was to
fresh air, the hot, sitting atmos-
phere of the store was almost unen-
durable during the long days of the
summer; but each evening saw him
of on long. solitary tramps over the
pavements IN quest of cooler air and
fresh scenes.
He never tired of watching the busy
life at the water front. The great
piles OF brick and stone reaching up,
up, up, to where the ceaseless roar
OF the city sank to a dull murmur
were never-ceasing source Of won
der to him.
But-he was ashamed to confess it
to himself-it was the people who
tired him. Crowds, crowds every
where. It seemed impossible to swim
clear OF the restless, surging mass
Of humanity.
Yet Randall was unconsciously get
ting rid of much that was uncouth
and blunt in his manners by contact
with these same people.
His work at the store was all the
most exacting master could require.
The first of October found him earn
ing 81 week. Randall's manage
ment of his financial affairs gave his
room-mates no little trouble. With
the exception of small sum paid to
his laundress each week, and the pur-
chase Of a few collars and tie that
conformed more nearly to the pre-
vailing mode than those worn on the
day of his arrival in the city, the boys
weekly wages remained unaccounted
FOR, of course leaving the So paid for
board out of consideration.
Littleheld and Jelly wondered and
put many teasing questions to the
boy, which he took good-naturedly
and answered not at all. But one day
the student enlightened them.
"Randall's cap" he told them.
Hes capitalist, fellows. He's got
bank account. Saw him plunk down
dollar to the receiving teller at the
bank to-day"
"a 5aoll.rl" exclaimed Littleaeld.
"a whole dollar? Did I understand
you to say dollar2" gueried Jelly.
And then they had good laugh at
what they considered the parsimo-
niousEess of their fellow-lodger.
What do you suppose he saves
for2" asked the student.
Don't know, I'm sure" answered
Jelly.
HE must be man with purpose
in life," observed Littlefeld, with
mock solemnity. 1--WE heard toll of
them"
"But the fund IL a kind Of mystic
rious thing. Why doesn't he tell us
what he's about?" grumbled Jelly.
Hes deep" said Littlefeld. Hes
saving for a purpose; and what's
more, he's going to keep it to him
SELF"
And Ittlefeld was right. Whatever
purpose. Randall Greer destined the
fund for was not revealed to the
curious-minded young men when they
rallied him on the subject Of his
boarded wealth.
There's something on the capital
lists mind" announced the student
one night shortly before Christmas.
Il saw him this morning in close con-
sultation with Miss Bye, the little
dressmaker."
"Going to have some new clothes
made, maybe" suggested Jelly. HE
needs 'em bad enough
One evening after that, Randall and
the little dressmaker walked away to-
gether from the boarding chat
ting like pair of old acquaintance.
When the three friends assembled to
their rooms some hours later, they
found Randall seated on his bed ex-
amining piece of black silk partly
unrolled from it's wrappings. He
started when discovered. and burn
ing red leaped to his cheek for a
memsnt. He made an unsuccessful
attempt to wrap up the silk, but he
was too late.
"It's no secret at all" he explained,
as the young men commented upon
his occupation. II bought 1t for my
mother. She is coming tomorrow to
visit me. She is to have room near
the parlor while one of the ladies is
away for a week. It's the very first
money ever earned in my life, you
see," he said, with little coloring of
pride in his tone. "I've saved for
this. Mother never had silk dress
in all her life. She's always wanted
one. an she's going to have one now.
thought you might not understand"
He sat up very straight on the bed
as he spoke, and began folding up the
rich fabric with something like u
caress. The flush had not yet left his
face.
Littlefield strobe to the one small
window and looked out into the night
with dim, unseeing eyes.
II don't see why we shouldn't UNI
derstand," said Jelly, in slightly
offended tone. II guess we have
mothers, too"
He ceased rather suddenly as he
remembered the sad-eyed, lonely wo-
man so far away from him now. He
thought of the letters. few and short.
that found their way to the city
where that mother lived.
Miss Bye is going to make tho
dress. She selected it for me-" Ran
dali said to the student. Once started,
he was rapidly losing his reserve.
Littlefeld came slowly back from
the window.
"My mother died two years ago."
he said. 81 could have given her
things, but it always seemed to me
l r rz,,1.1 OF tho FIR,