The Spokane press. [volume] (Spokane, Wash.) 1902-1939, 1907-05-15
THE TURNING POINT

| Tomorrow he would be an alb
dollars short! A thief. Robber of
widows and orphans! How the
world would sheer at his name! An
| other rich and trusted banker an
| embeZzler, the newspapers would
| say.
Well, Henry Athertons wife
| would be taken care of, anyway.
| His son, Frank, would see to that.
| She would be looked after in her
old days He would leave Frank
| enough money to provide for her.
Was there ever boy like Frank?
| Big, broad-shouldered, generous
! hearted, and pal of his father.
! Yes, a good many people called him
| a sport. Maybe he had been spoiled,
with too much college, too free ac-
| cess to money. and too little to do.
, But he was lovable, for all that.
! Others couldn't resist him. Why
| shouldn't his father love him?
| Frank the pal of his father he
would help him out.
How rich and prosperous the in
terror of the bank looked! The
clean tiles, the shining brass, the
| dustless gratings-all as bright and
| shining as a new dollar. He look
| ed around him. at the formidable
safes, the polished walnut desks,
the luxuriant chandeliers, and then
the grayish head of the small.
| weakened cashier dropped for
! ward.
| Today little and weazened; yes
terday men called him a rather
small man, but well built, keen
eyed, alert active-the quintes-
sence of energy. What wreck to-
day.
Atherton was very tired and sick.
| Tomorrow he would flee.
He was tired of it all. Hadn't
he covered up his shortages for
years? Day after day he had adroit-
ly forged signatures and manipulate
ed the showings of the bank, and
none had learned his secret Day
after day the shortage had in
creased. He glanced at the figures.
My God! He could not hope to pay
it back in thousand years. 1t
was entirely out of the question.
The future no longer held out hope.
There was nothing but blackness
ahead now, not a CLEAN of light. EX-
posture was inevitable. 1t might
come tomorrow. 1t might not come
for a week.
He might commit suicide: but no.
life was too dear. He might openly
confess all. He did not have the
strength of manhood left to do this
Frank would take care of Mrs. Ath-
erton. With stolen money? Yes,
for that was all he had. The
thought made him study hard and
| long.
He must run away. That was his
decision. He would go to Algiers.
They could not find him there. He
would take all the available money,
money that would not be missed for
several days, and skip
He would take only enough to
keep him in comfort the rest of his
days The remainder he would
place in the hands of Frank. He
could secretly keep it for the sup
port of his mother. Yes, the boy
had a big heart in him and he
would understand. He suffered an
other pang at the thought of drag
ging Frank into the dirty mess, but
it was only momentary. 1t was the
only way.
A musical click of the door, a
streak down the street, and he was
| in the hallway of his home.
From the library came the tune
less but sweet chords of man
dolin. The young man was aimless-
| ly drumming away. He laid the in
strument aside. From his cigaret
case he extracted an Egyptian roll,
He arose, threw out his arms and
chest and stretched lazily.
1--WE got to quit lounging around
so much and straighten up" he half
growled to himself. Marty says
I'm too lazy to eat all | want.
Martyrs great girl. That was a
strange remark she made last
night Said | was worthless, but on
the square. Also said she liked me.
| wonder what she meant by say
ing thatIm on the square. | sup
pose it's because | never had a
chance to be anything else. Frank,
old boy, you must admit that life
has been pretty flowery for you.
Nothing to do but amuse yourself.
You aren't the man your father is.
Suppose you were tried and tested
like some other men. Would you
be square. or wouldn't you? Marry
says you're all right. Well, she's a
fine little lady. I'll be square as
long as she believes | am. Yes, sir