Waterbury evening Democrat., 1906-03-01

lay around the house all the time, and kick about the meals. Well, the sign on Ben's back is, Green Turtle Soup To-Morrow,' and Ben is drug up to tho sidewalk in front of the Little Gem. And Hollings 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 boudoir 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 none."
 You're right, Uncle Peter. It cer- tainly wasn't my game. Will you come down with me?"
 Me? Shucks, no! I'm jest a, poor, broken old man, now. I'm goin' down to the square If can walk that fur, and set on a bench in the sum-
 Uncle Peter did succeed in walking as far as Madison square. He walked, indeed, with step of amazing springi- ness for a man of his years. But there, instead of reposing in the sun, he en- tered a cab and was driven to the Van devere building, where he sent in his name to Rulon Shepler.
 He was ushered into Shepler's 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 despondency.
 You rough-noused the boy conslder- able yesterday" q never believed the fellow would hold on," said Shepler. "I'm sure you're right in way about the W st. There isn't another man in this sec tion who'd have plunged as he did. Really, MT. Zines, the streets never known anything like 1t. 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 h-s old leather wallet.
 q knew he'd plunge" he said, taking the chair proffered him, near Shepler's desk. q knew he was natural born plunger, and I knew that once he g:ts an idea in his head you can't blast it out; makes no difference what he starts on, he'll play the string out. H s pa i was jest that way. Then of course he want used to money, and he ws ignorant of this game, and he d'dn't realize what he was doin'. He sort of d,strusted himself along toward the last-but kept him swelled up good and plenty"
 Well, I'm glad it's over, MT. Zines. Of course I concede the relative in- significance of money to young man or his qualities"
 Not it's relative insignificance, Mir. shepler-it's plain damned ins;gn f. canoe if you'll excuse the word. If that boyd gone on he Il a been one of what Billy Brue calls them h gh- collared Clarences-no good fur any thing but to spend money, and get apo plexy or worse by 40. As 1t IS now, he'll be a man. He's got his health turned on like a steam radiator. he's full of responsibility, and he's really long-headed."
 How did he take the loss?"
 He acted jest like a healthy baby does when you take one toy away from | him. He cries a minute, then forgets 1 all about 1t, and grabs up something else to play with. His other toy was bad. What he's playin' with now will do him Q lot of good"
 Hes not discouraged, then-he's really hopeful?"
 ! That ain't any name fur it. Why, he's actin this mornin' jest like the worlds his oyster-and every month had an r. in 1t at that"
 I'm delighted to hear it. I've al- ways been taken with the chap; and , I'm very glad you read him correctly. It seemed to me you were taking a risk. It would have broken the spirit of most men,"
 Well, you see I knew the stock. It's pushin'. Lghtin' stock. My and father fought his way west to Pennsyl- vania when that country was wilder'n Africa, and my father fought his way to Ohio when that was the front CT. I seen some hard times myself. and this boys father was a fighter. too. So I knew the boy had it in him. all rght. He's got his faults, but they don't hurt him none"
 VIII he return west?"
 He will that-and the west is the only place fur him He was gettin' bad notions about his own country here from them folks that's always crackin' up the other side 'sif there want any this side worth speakin' of in com pany. This was no place fur him. MT. shepler. this whole country is Gods country. don't talk much about them things. but believe in God "a man has to if he lives So much alone in them wild places as I hlve- and believe this country is His favor ite. believe He set it apart fur great works. The history. Of the United States bears me out so fur. And didn't want any of my stock groxin' up without feelin' that he had the best native land on earth and without be- in ready to fight fur it at the drop of the hat. And jest between yo1 and me. I believe ue can raise that kid in the west better'n you can hsTs in Nsu York You got fine. handsome toun here. it's a coTkin' good place to