Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1906-09-28
TWO PILLARS OF SOCIETY,"

don and his wife are not happy.
X.
TWO "PIlLARS OF SOCIETY,""
was neither seeing nor hearing
from the Ellerslys, father or son, but
as | knew why, | was not disuuieted
had made them temporarily easy in
their finances just before that dinner.
and they, being fatuous, incurable o.
tmists, were probably imagining they
would never need me again. | did not
disturb them until Monson and had
got my education so well under wav
that even |, always severe in self
criticism and now merciless, was COM
PEELED to admit to myself a distinct
change for the better.
When my education seemed far
enough advanced, | sent for Sam. He.
after his footless fashion, didn't
bother to acknowledge my note. His
margin account with me was at the
moment straight; turned to his
rather. had my cashier send him a
formal, typewriter letter signed
Blackjack & Co., informing him that
his account was overdrawn and that
we would be obliged if he would give
the matter his immediate attention"
The note must have reached him the
following morning, but he did not
come until, after waiting three DAYS.
we" sent him a sharp demand for a
check for the balance due US.
A pleasing, MISUNDERSTANDING fig.
ure he made as he entered my Office,
with his air of the man whose hands
have never known the stains of toll.
with his manner of having always re-
ceive deferential treatment. There
was no pretense in my curt greeting,
my tone of despatch your business,
sir, and be gone;' for was both busy
and much irritated against him. 81
guess you want to see our cashier"
said |, after giving him hasty, alb
sent-minded hand-shake. MY boy out
there will take you to him."
The old do-nothings face lost its
confident, condescending expression.
His lip quivered, and | think there
were tears in his bad, dim, gray-green
eyes. suppose he thought his a pro.
foundly pathetic case; no doubt he
hadn't the remotest conception what
he really was-and no doubt, also
there are many who would honestly
take his view. As if the fact that he
was born with all possible advantages
did not make him and his plight ipex.
cgsable,
NO, my dear Blackjack" said he.
cringing now as easily as he had con.
descended-how to cringe and bow to
,condescend are taught at the same
school, the one he had gone to all his
life. 1T is you l want to talk with
And, first, owe you my apologies. I
know you'll make allowances for one
VINO was never trained to business
methods I've always been like a child
In those matters"
You brighten me-" said |. THE
last gentleman who came throwing
me on my guard with that plea was
snrewd enough to get away with a
very large sum of my hard-earned
money Besides"-and / was laugh.
Ing, though not too good.naturedly-
i've noticed that you gentlemen be-
come vague about business only when
the balance is against you. When it's
IN your favor, you manage to get your
minds on business long enough to col.
iect to the last fraction of a cent"
de heartily echoed my laugh, 81
only Wish | were clever" said he
However, I've come to ask your in.
oulgence, I'd have been here before
but those who owe me have heen mt
ung me on. And they're of the sort
OF people whom it's impossible to
press"
ia like to accommodate you fur.
ther," said |, shedding that last little
mint as cliff sheds rain, but your
account has been in an unsatisfactory
state for nearly mouth now"
I'm sure you'll give me a few days
longer" was his easy reply, as If we
were discussing trife. by the way.
you haven't been to see us yet. Only
this morning my wife was wondering
when you'd come. You quite capti.
waited her, Blackjack. Can't you dine
with US tomorrow nighttime, Sunday
at eight? We're having In a few
people | think you'd like to meet"
CLAD to come" said !, wishing to be
rid of him, now that my point was
gained. We'll let the account stand
open for the present. rather think
your stocks are going up. Give my re-
@rEs tl-tha ladies' nlazse- esusciaIly