The daily morning Alaskan., 1903-08-27
.THE RELIEF AND
 AID COMMITTEEMAN
toriginaLl

committee to distribute funds contrib uted to sufferers by the great Chicago Gre of 1871 Edward Tucker, a commit teeman. sat writing.
 "can you tell me how to secure aidr
 Tucker looked up Into the kindly, pa lient face Of an old woman who wore c faded. threadbae dress that many years before must have been costly.
 Have you been burned out, mad RmT he asked.
 "well. no, not exactly, but we are somewhat straitened in our circum- stances. My husband was Q banker. He died many years ago and left us without anything to live on. and" (con- ndentially) "l wasn't brought up right My father had been rich. couldn't take hold for myself"
 "what was your husbands namer
 "Plumber - Ralph R. Plumber ot Plumber & Chubb. bankers"
 Mir. Tucker started.
 "You knew himr
 "Yes. That is many years ago. He was a great deal older than and rich. was a poor boy then. Give me your address, Mrs. Plumber"
 She gave him an address which Tucker noted. and the old lady with drew. Tucker took Q checkbOok from his desk and wrote a check. Then stannIng to a man who snt at another desk he said;
 "Exchange check for that please payable to Mrs. Ralph B. Plumber"
 The check was duly made out, and Tucker went to his room to prepare for dinner. which he usually took at his club. AS he entered ho sighed. No one was ever in tho room but him- self and a servant lt was dreary place though it was handsomely fur nIshed. Tucker sat down and brooded for awhile. as he hnd brooded many time before. on the fact that with all his means for the procurement of e home he had no home. Why was ho not mnrricdi There were a dozen wo- men among the wealthy people with whom be moved who had angled for him. Perhaps it was because they an- gled that he did not care to marry them. Presently be arose languidly and made his toilet He dlned alone at his club and after dinner set out to And Mrs. Plumber.
 He was admitted by a girl Of twen- ty-twO or twenty-thrce years of age, bearing the same impress of refinement as her mother. She rescmbled her fa- ther. especially as Tucker had known him when he was perhaps ten years older than the daughter was now.
 "Your mother called this morning at the relief and aid committees room, and have called 10 examine the case." said Tucker In q kindly tone. He was introduced Into the living room where Mrs. Plumber received him with as tonlshment. and he sat down on a chair with holes in the seat almost large enough to let hlm through. He asked Mrs. Plumber about her re- sourccs; then. apparently satisfied that lt was a proper case for the commit tee to relieve. took out its check for $500. Mrs. Plumber. to whom he banded lt was too dazed at receiving A check at all to notice tho amount and turned it over to her daughter. Margaret Plumber glanced at. it and handed it back to Tucker. with the re mark that there must be some mis- take. It was some time before be could convince the two of the extreme liberallty of the committee in their case.
 Tucker called often. every time bring Ing a check signed by the cashier of the relief and aid society till the abode of the Plumbers was painted and fur nished and their wardrobes renewed.
 He took Margaret Plumber out to amusements and to drive and spent many an evening with her at her home. One evening he brought check from the relief and aid society which Mar garet declined. There is no further Oc- casion," she said. "for this assistance. have been studying shorthand and typewriting and have finished my stud les and secured situation. Now l wish, Mir. Tucker that you would give me sOmo hint as to how may show you my appreciation of your kindly in' terest which has resulted In these cheeks"
 ''There is but ono way and that ....,,fN h, aaklnos too fnurh h
 Name it. and I promise you it shall Do done"
 'If not repugnant to you"
 "Nothlng can do for you would be repugnant to me"
 aYou will not think me selfshT
 T am sure you could never be self ish. Come, tell me what is this re turnT'
 Mary me."
 The girl looked at him as though she did not understand.
 Marry your
 "No. never mind. I'm too old-and prosaic. I've not been brought up In the refined way you have. I had to scratch when very young. And, VOW I'm on my shortcomings, may as well confess that the relief and aid money you have received did not come from the committee at al. It is merely re turn Of money loaned me by your ia. ther when was sixteen years old and a clerk in bis bank. He advanced me $500 to start with. fin business. re- t,rnoH tho .r,o,nt hut think of tbe