The News-Herald. [volume] (Hillsboro, Highland Co., Ohio) 1886-1973, 1905-02-16

m aIrdtu l an, Quite unihtoh-
tionally. An hour ago I supposed
there was only one side to the ques-
tion. and that the one held myself"
The man smiled pleasantly as he
spoke.
"The case Ia this" began Mason.
"My friend, Mr. Harlan. knew two
men who were lifelong friends. They
were classmates In school and room
mates in college. Some years ago
they came to New York and lived In
the same house. One Of the men was
more. successful than the other, and
from time to time the latter borrowed
money from the former" ~
-'Doesn't he do II beautifullyf"
asked Wilder. addressing Leigh with
mock gravity. Gould any lawyer
make It more complicated?"
"Hush!" replied Leigh. holding up
a sheet of paper. I'm figuring out
who the one is and who the other
which the latter and what the form
er.,sA Don't confuse mel"
"As /. was saying when these gentle
men interrupted he began. and
paused 20 theatrically that another
interruption threatened-"as was
saying, one of the men borrowed money
Of the other until the borrowings grew
into large total. The debtor gave
in payment his mothers notes In
dorsed by himself When these were
presented for payment 1t turned out
that the mothers signature had been
forged and the lender promptly had his
friend arrested and sent to Sing Sing.
Now. Mr.. Harlan says he would rather
tale the hand of the forger than that
of the man who sent his intimate
friend to Jail. while and some of the
others think he only did his duty to
the community at large. Haven't I
stated the case fairly?" he concluded,
pompously.
"You might have put It more brief
ly," commented Wilder "One man
committed forgery and the other COM
mitted his friend or had his friend
committed. There's the thing in
nutshell, and for my part don't want
to know either gentleman--with all
due respect to your friends, Mr.. Har-
lam"
which side do you take, Kennard?"
asked Mason. ignoring the speaker.
II don't think ! take either side."
replied Kennard. determined not to
crafty Masons desire for argument.
''Its difficult enough to Judge such
case when you know all the surround
ing circumstances; without them it's
quite impossible. On the whole, I'm
inclined to agree with Wilder, that
neither man seems particularly de-
sirable acquaintance"
II think the man who is capable of
sending his bosom friend to Sing Sing
would commit forgery or any other
crime under provocation," asserted
Mr.. Harlan. but am not sure the
forger would betray his friend, so !
give him the benefit of the doubt
That's the way I feel about 1t. But,
then, friendship with me is almost a
religion"
Kennard gazed at the speaker with
a new interest. There was something
in the mans voice that compelled at
tention, but which fascinated rather
than commanded He had been con-
scious of deep-toned musical voice
when Mr.. Harlan first spoke, but now
the earnest. hearty ring of honest con-
viction sounding through each note
completed the charm and made him
study the man more closely.
"Who Is Mr.. Harlan?" whispered
Kennard to one of his neighbors, as
han 10 ofr to ,,s1
more.
He's first vice president of the Mill
ing Companies. Haven't you ever
heard Of him before? No, he's not
a member here Mason introduced
him. A very able man they say, and
mighty good company. Help me
switch Mason of this confounded topic
and you'll find an interesting man in
his friend"
III you make friendship religion,
Mr.. Harlan" began Kennard. as soon
as Mason gave him an opening. you
must have been both fortunate and
unfortunate in your friendships"
"Why"
Because in learning to appreciate
true friendship, one is apt to be taught
its rareness, and that In q bitter les- ]
SON."
quite true. Such experiences pro-
duce either cynics or devotees. As
for myself. I have learned to believe
that friendship appeals to the highest
aspirations of mankind. All the hu-
man relations are. to a greater or less
degree. selfish. But the motives un-
derlying friendship seem to me almost
free OF that cloying touch. Greater
love hath no man than this-that he
lay down his life for his friend
There is the Biblical authority for my
contention. But II friendship is the
highest form of the human relation,
1t requires high law for its guidance,
and, perhaps, severer judgment for Its
proclamation. II is the spirit of friend
ship and not lood-relationship, which
should interpret that splendid dream
about the brotherhood of man."
Good Lord!" whispered Leigh to
Wilder. "Harlan's in the pulpit now.
This has got to I've stopped. I'm des-
perate!"
Speaking of brotherhoods," he re-
marked. aloud, "how's the new plan
working at your factory, Kennard?"
"First-rate, thank YOU"
What's your plan, II ! may In
quire?" asked Mr. Harlan.
III you are interested in economies,
Mr.. Kennard. should like"
Interested" laughed Leigh. "He
lives them all day long and dreams
them all night, He works ten hours