Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1903-02-25
-cuAprER X.
TnK MYSTERY OF jim BUM.


there were objections to this theory.
The man had come upon his errand
too openly. If he had represented KEEL
yin In such Il matter, he would prob
ably have made some other excuse for
his visit, thus attempting to take Don
aid of his guard. So far as could
see. the einlssary had gained nothing
whatever, and II was difficult to
imagine that he could have hoped to
gain anything by such method. Al
together the affair was very perplex-
ing until new point of view was
shown to me by Donald
A few days after the impostor's de-
part,re ! left the office in the latter
part of the noon hour. The men were
returning from dinner. There was al.
ready crowd in the narrow strip of
shade beside the factory. and in the
blazing sun some of the younger fell
lows were throwing ball With them
was Donald in his college uniform, and
he seemed to be giving instruction.
There WAS much pride that summer
in our Baseball nine. which had won
against all opponents. AS approach
Ell the players Donald was illustrating
some method of holding the ball in
ones fingers in order to put jump
into it, rs | heard him say. Beside
him stood poor little Tim Healy, lean.
ing upon his crutch. He was looking
up al Donald with eyes of alteration
and drinking in wisdom which his Grip.
pied body would never permit him to
use.
Like this" he exclaimed. taking the
ball from Donald's hand and clasping
1t In his long, thin fingers, while he
mace Il feint of throwing it.
That's right, Tim" said Donald;
you've got the knacli of it."
The cripple flushed with pride us he
gave the ball to the big fellow who
was the real pupil.
Little Tim beholds in Donald the re-
alization of all which he himself would
ask of the fairies If they should come
to him MS servants of his dearest wish.
He would have but one-to be like
Donald. had watched this hero wor-
ship for some years, and its warm sim
certify, matched with the great kind
ness and delicacy of my boys response
to it, has sometimes brought the tears
TO my eyes.
Healy's condition is due to an In
jury which he received when he was
eight years old. 1t disabled his left
leg and shoulder stunted his growth
and in addition made him totally deaf
for several years. have always re-
GREETED that his misfortune was not
brought promptly to my attention. One
Overlooks SO many of these things.
when learned the facts, at the tine
Of his fathers death. l had good doc
tor take charge Of the boys case. with
the result that his hearing was re-
stored, though there was at first no
hope of it. His deformities We're be-
You'd cure. When he had had his school
Ing, took him into my employ. He
WAS some years older than Donald, but,
having lost part of his youth, he wait
ed us long as possible to gather up all
that remained
l learned from Donald that the ball
nine had all northern New Jersey In
Il panic and from Timothy Healy.
treasurer. that the finances Of the or
ganization did not require the small as
sistance which | should have been will.
Ing TO offer. Then the o'clock whistle
blew, and Donald and were left to
ourselves.
'.I'ye been thinking about the fellow
who wasn't Professor Severn" said l.
what do you suppose Mr.. Kelvin ex-
pected to get out of you?"
"Out of mef' he responded.
''Out of whom, them" said l.
"Uncle john" he replied, this Is a
subject upon which don't seem to get
much light can only make few
wild guesses."
"For instance?"
Donald mage some small, mysterious
which he car ed in his right hand as
we walked altng.
"That man was detective" said he
"He was paid to find out something. to
do secret work. Isn't it mistake.
then. to consider the work which he
did openly? think that his interest
in me may have been only blind"
objected.
HE had some long talks with my ia
ther," said Donald, "and with you. He
had planned to go driving with you
when he was suddenly called away"
/ replied that could not guess what
the man had hoped to do with me un-
less to kidnap me and hold me for ran
Nau1anttnU thia norO11 oil
ed me if there were any way in which
my business could be attacked. He
had read something In newspaper
about an attempt to force me into q
trust.
"Such attempts have been made" /
admitted. II have been approached
several times during the past year and
half, but If any of those men dream
that they can coerce me they ought to
wake up at the earliest possible mo-
ment We have the best machinery In
the world in that factory. Donald. We
hold our patents hard and fast. At.
tempts have been made to undersell us
ut a loss and to hurt us with our Gus.
toners in various parts Of the country,
but we are too strong for them. II we
were In debt or If there were any way
to interfere with our shipping arrange.
ments the situation would be very diff
ferent, but we control this branch rail
road absolutely, and through 1t we hold
ninety-nine year contracts with the
main line. SO that there Is no possible
ity of discriminating against U.s."
Donald tanned with the bat aa IL uD
ON the head of an invisible enemy.
Suppose that you didn't control the
branch" said he.
"Then," replied, ut would be all VI
with us. The manufacturer must OWL
the railroad or the railroad will owl
the manufactures"
But there are other factories In thi
town." he persisted.
because of our great mercy the.
continue to exist, my son" said
"You will observe that none of then