Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1904-07-21

Mr. Hillyeri"
The old man stared for moment,
and then he replied:
Tell i'm I'm million times sorrier
than / was when-the deed was done,
an that want I'm not to delay any
longer ef-ef he Is goin' to take any
step. Tell i'm / want 1t over That
will be enough, George. Now git out
the boss"
"And your
'I'll stay here the balance o the
night an open up. as usual. an make
Jake put the Office in order"
Don't you think your wife will be
troubled IL she should miss you, Mr..
Hillyer?'
"She won't miss me; she's got used
to my night prowlin'. I'd keep her
awake ef was at home. I'm goin' to
pace this floor back an forth an try
to git tired. Go ahead, George. Don't
waste any more time. You'll know
what to say l don't want you to plead
fer me. I've plead with higher power
N he is till I'm through. All want Is
a verdict-the verdiSt lodged so long
ago"
The next day about 10 o'clock, as
George was returning home and was
within mile of town, he saw his en-
ployer emerge from a c!ump of per-
simmon trees on the edge of tue road
and walk toward him. He was almost
nervous wreck: his eyes were blood
shot and his gray hair disheveled.
II couldn't wait fer you to git to
town." he said, looking up md down
the road furtively. as IL afraid some
one might be coming, land SO l walked
out. come away from the warehouse
Jest after breakfast, an I've been
walkin' through them woods over thar
ever since Once | fell In deep ditch.
thought it was Gods mercy an that
1t was all goin' to be over. but
didn't git scratch. You notice keep
talkin'. It's becase I'm afeard to look
at you or let you speak
.'You haven't a thing to fear, Mr..
Hillyer." Buckley dismounted and
stood by his employer, his arm through
the bride.
You didn't see Williams?'
Eyes, saw him and had a long talk
with him He said you were the best
man he had ever known in his life
and that he'd rather die than harm you
in any way. He would have come to
see you, he said but he thought you
might not want to be reminded Of the
past He actually cried when told
him of your sufferings. He said 1t was
your influence that had made him try
to lead a better life. He said his
protection of you In that case was
the one thing in all his life that he
was proud Of He declared he would
do 1t over again. He's got into some
new religion. l don't know what 1t
is, but 1t is not exactly orthodox. He
says it would have been wrong to pun
ish a man for a thing he regretted
as much us you did that act, and that
he was glad he yielded to the impulse
to help you"
"Oh, George. you don't mean
A great sob rose in Hillyer's breast
and burst; his red eyes were full Of
tears.
HE says he is proud Of what he did
to save you from further trouble"
George went on tenderly. "He says II
you had gone to prison for life it would
have wrecked your career, but that his
testimony spared you to go on better
Ing the world He's heard lot about
you. He says he runs across somebody
every day that you've helped In one
way and another, and when l came
right out and told him-yes, told him
how near was to the brink not long
ago and how you saved me-when he
heard that he actually sobbed and said,
Bully old man: bully, bully old mani!
The merchant caught the name OF
the horse in his quiyering fingers and
leaned forward till his face touched
the neck OF the animal.
Goods good, George; Gods good!"
be sobbed.
Buckley put his arm on the old mans
shoulder caressingly.
Now get on the horse ard ride
home" he said. II want to stretch
my legs. They are stiff"
Nor Hillyer looked up, his face
You ride. want to go back
in the woods an pray an shout.
lon,t want to go home now. want
% thank my Maker. may not come
to dinner. IN fast. May God bless
you, my boy!'
George mounted the Aoyse and as he
ode away he saw the old man plunge
INTO the woods at the roadside, his
hands clasped before him, his lips in
notion.
Buckley did not see his employer
again until about O'Clock In the aft
,rnoon. Then he came In slowly and
,ank into his chair at bis desk and
COX up the letters George had left
here for him. There was a general
Troop Of dependency on him. and he
handled the letters with listleas mat
ention.
"Wheat's still a-climbin'," he said a
title note Of qualification in his voice /
s he allowed thin market report to ,
utter from his hand to wastebas- {
ct. I'm glad O. that, George, fer 1t ]
acks yore judgment. l wonder what
ienner thinks now"
both he and Hanks are urging me
0 get you to sell" replied the young ,