Mexico Missouri message., 1906-11-22


sasarily related.
'But give me chance, Uncle Peter.
Just don't jump on me too hard for q
yearl"
"well, know that country. There's
big chances for a young man with
brains--understand ?-that has got all
the high-living nonsense blasted out Of
his upper levels-Lbut 1t takes work.
You may do something-there are
white blackbirds-but you're on a
nasty piece of roadbed--curves all
down on the outside-wheels fiattened
under every truck, and you've had her
down In the corner so long | doubt
II you can even slow up, say nothin'
of reversin'. And think of me gettin'
fooled that way at my time of llfe,"
he continued, as II in confidence to
himself. "But then, always was q
terrible poor judge Of human nature"
well, have your own way; but I'll
fool you again, while you're coppering
me. You watch, that's all ask. Just
SIT around and talk wise about me all
you want to, but watch. Now, must
go down and get to work with Fouts.
Thank the Lord, we didn't have to
welsh either, any more than Mrs. Give
up there did"
"You won't touch any more stock;
you won't get that money from Shep-
ler?"
81 won't; I won't go near shepler,
promise you. Now you'll believe me
in one thing, know you will, Uncle
Peter" He went over to the old man.
II want to thank you for pulling me
up on that play as you did last night
GU saved me, and I'm more grateful
to you than l can yay. But for you I'd
have gone in and dug the hole deeper"
He made the old man shake hands
with him-though Uncle Peters hand
remained limp and cheerless. you
can shake on that, at least. You saved
me, and thank you for It,"
"Well, I'm glad you got some
sense" answered the old man, grudg-
ingly. TITS always the way in that
stock game. There's always goin' to
be a big killing made in Wall street
tomorrow, only tomorrow never
comes. Reminds me of Holdings old
turtle out at Spokane-Hollings that
keeps the Little Gem restaurant. He's
got an enormous big turtle in his Gel
lar that he's kept to my knowledge fur
Is years. Every time he gets a little
turtle from the coast he takes a can
of red paint down cellar, and touches
up the sign on old Ben's back-they
call the turtle Ben, after Holdings
father-in-law that won't do thing but
lay around the house all the time, and
kick about the meals. Well, the sign
on Bens back is, Green Turtle Soup
Tomorrow and Ben is drug up to the
sidewalk in front of the Little Gem.
And Holdings does have turtle. soup
next day, but it's always the little tur-
ties that's killed, and old Ben is hiked
back to his boudolr until another kill
ing comes of. It's good deal like
that in Wall street; there's killings
made, but the big fellers with the signs
on their back don't worry nome"
You're right, Uncle Peter. It GER
tainly wasn't my game. VIII you come
down with me?"
''Me? shucks, mol I'm Jest poor,
broken old man, now. I'm goin' down
to the square If can walk that fur,
and set on bench in the sun"
Uncle Peter did succeed in walking
as far as Madison square. He walked,
indeed, with a step of amazing spring.
ness for man Of his years. But there,
instead Of reposing in the sun, he en-
tered cab and was driven to the Van
devere building, where he sent in his
name to Rulon Shepler.
1 He was uslfered into Sheplers Office
after a little delay. The two men
shook hands warmly. Uncle Peter was
grinning now with rare enjoyment-ne
who had in the presence OF the family
shown naught but broken age and
utter dependency.
"You rough-noused the boy consider
able yesterday"
81 never believed the fellow would
hold on" said Shepler. Pm sure
you're right in a way about the west.
There isn't another man in this sec
ton who'd have plunged as he did.
Really, Mr.. Bines, the streets never
known anything like it. Here are
those matters"
He handed the old man dozen or so
certified checks on as many different
banks. Each check had many figures
on it. Uncle Peter placed them in his
old leather wallet.
Il knew he'd plunge" he said, taking
the chair proffered him, near Shepler's
desk. 81 knew he was a natural born
nIunpar and I knew that Onra he get 3
an idea in his head you can't blast 1t
tout; makes no difference what he starts
on, he'll play the string out. His pa
was jest that way. Then OF course he
want used to money, and he was
ignorant of this game, and he didn't
realize what he was doin He sort Of
dlstrusted himself along toward the
last--but l kept him swelled up good
and plenty"
! Vgt..z.