The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1907-12-26
Friday evening and put little bag Of
gold ON the tahlG -lnfnrn lin

!
gold on the table before him.
This, sir. is what l owe you--with
many thanks. thought you'd be writ.
ing your check for Saturdays money
and this can go to the yard instead
oh, ah! Yes, sir-but Is 1t con.
vcnient to you?"
Quite" said Jack. You remember
paid f10 on account. Well, this is
the baiapcc-f40 odd"
Whats the odd for?" asked Crun.
den. counting the money. ut was only
ESQ"
Interest" said Jack. "iTour--ten,
Five per cent. /. ought to &c so per
cent.-becausc you had no security"
Yes. 1 had" said Crunden gruflY
"Your word
"Thank you. sir
II can't take the interest"
PLEASE do, sir. You really must
take Ito obiige me-"
matter of pride. el,?' and from be-
meath bent brows Crunden looked 81
his clerk. Very good. l understand
your pride--your proper pride"
Then he put the money back in the
bag. dropped the bag into drawer
of his bureau: and. after unlocking
another drawer. searched among hi,
papers.
Here you are sir" and he handed
JACK MS ]. ". 1.
Thank you, sir. And thank yot
again for the loan-and for your kind
ness In letting me earn the money ic
wipe 1t off,"
Don't mention It," said CrundcI
stIn,y.
81 am much obliged to you. sir" SAID
Jack hesitatlngly. FOR giving me the
chance OF earning the money. 1t wat
very good of you. And / have tried
my best to take tho chance. don't you
know. have really tried to earn the
money-and the grub you've given me.
But have l earned 1t, sir?"
Yes said Crunden, rather gloom
ily, you have earned 1t honest and
square
"Tally-ho. whoo-hoop." cried Jack.
II did want You to say that so badly.
And you did say it at last. And you
meant it-honor bright and shining"
Yes, meant it,"
"Forrard - forrard away--o. and
Jack capered out or the room, down
the passage, into the kitchen
Look. Pricey-picey puddeny-pie.
and he put his I. Q. U. in the middle OF
the Kitchen table. flung an arm round
the ample waist of Mrs. Price, and
danced her round the table.
"Lor'. Mr.. Jack, let me be. Let be,
say
Then look at 1T. Pricey. look
Greatest achievement of modern times;
and he babbled and laughed with Sc
much gaiety and excitement that for
q minute or two Mrs. Price thought
Champagne Day had come again.
"Pricey. you old ass. you're the one
In this house that cares for me-so
you're the friend j turn to in Joy and
sorrow. Look at it. I've earned the
money and paid 1t back. II any ont
had told me | should earn my daily
bread and save forty quid, I'd have
said he was a rotten prophet. But
I've done it. I can look the whole
world in the face, for i owe not any
man."
LET me be- said Mrs. Price. cscap-
ing from another dance.
You don't know what 1t means Ia
me- Pricey, old girl. | was Il dreamer
and | am awake. But more than that
Il am free now. I was bond slave,
and have won my freedom. And look
at my figure. ] have regaincd my lost
fgure-look at my wasp waist. a
young lady told me the other day !
was as lean as greyhound And
I'm as strong as a lion. Catch hold
of my arn-fecl 1t. Whip-cord and steel.
Catch hold of my leg--feel my leg. ..t
Don't lie an ass. You're old enough
to be my grandmother. Feel it. say.
Hard and straight. as u cast-iron
drain pipe. II you pitched me out
in the world now, I'd laugh I'm worth
my grub and pay now-all the world
over
Mrs. Price rccounted to Lizzie the
iexuberance and Joyful chatter Of tho
debt-free clerk.
"He come running to tell me about
it-just like child. And laugh and
snap his fingers. There. he made mo
dance with him, Miss Lizzie. he did,
Indeed And Mrs. Price smiled and
tbrdled as she went on to report the
gratifying compliment paid her by Mr..
Jack. "He said / was the one in this
house that was fondest Of him-and
that's true, Miss Lizzie. I'd go through
fire and water for him-if he asked
me-
II never knew the master lent him
the money. but I'm proud to think no
done so. He never dunned him to pay
back, I'm sure-and that proves how
good Mr.. lack Is for to be so pleased
In paying of his debt"
ITO 30 Continued 5TO-morrOW.)