La Junta tribune., 1907-03-16


MIGHTY"
considerable fortune. He knew his
business from the bottom up. having
begun life selling bananas from bas
ket IN the streets of the city. Inch by
inch he progressed with that steady
thrift peculiar 10 Il certain strain OF
Americans. and his thrift was vitalizcd
by "A spirit of enterprise. Each little
business triumph had enabled him to
plan n greater until hc finally found
himself at the head OF the business.
Though he met many men he was not
one to accumulate friends, and, as for
women, they had no part In his life.
And yet this is hardly true. One wo-
man there was whose memory was
cherished In the secret recesses Of his
heart. A chance acquaintanceship had
developed on his part to love. but, be-
ing unused to the graces Of social In
tercourse and having the reputation Of
being hard and grasping man. lie had
made but little progress. With the pre-
cipitation of business man he had
proposed marriage before she had even
learned to regard him as friend and
when he was refused had returned to
his work with a desperate energy that
made the thousands grow beneath his
hand.
But on Christmas eve his success had
little value. Not even his books, for he
had educated himself. could yield him
solace. and the sound OF merrymaking
on the streets but added to his dejec-
tion.
But he could reproach no one. II 9th
ers had NO thought for him. for whom
did he have a thoughtI At this ques-
ton the quiet face OF Ethel Dangerfield
rose for 4 moment In his memory, but
the vision was quickly brushed aside.
In his gloomy lntrospectiOn he plunged
further back In his life. to the time
when lie was lonely boy IN the cold
and hesrtless city and there was no
Christmas for him. He could not re-
member his mother as living or his ia
ther a. sober. II any one had been
kind to him. then life might have been
different Suddenly he was stung by
thought, and. springing from the sofa
where he was lying, he walked several
times excitediy from end to end Of his
bachelor apartment.
"I'n do IT, be finally exclaimed. "By
thunder. IN do it,
Taking up bis overcoat, he began to
put It on whom his eyes suddenly fell
ON the clock. and he stopped. with =
laugh. 1t was already after 1 O'Clock
On Christmas morning. and, Of course.
~ could not carry out bis purpose
Throwlngs aside his coat, he resumed
bis walking. but with happier ex-
preston ON his cOuntenance and
lighter feeling at bis heart than he had
known for many a day. At length he
repaired to his little bedroom for. the
night, where he slept with an easy
conscience.
On the following morning. when the
children Of all the world were rejoicing
With their toys and reveling In the
good cheer Of Christmas. George Nor
gan. the wealthy fruit broker. came
downtown from his apartments and
picked his way carefully into one OF
the worst slums. There were dirty and
ragged children everywhere in the
streets. but all OF them had something
to gladden. their hearts. 1t might be
only little rag doll or penny's worth
OF candy. but still 1t was something.
This man knew the city too well.
however. to be deceived by appear
ances His bOyhood had been spent In
Just such street. and nc knew that
somewhere such boy as he was in
quest Of could be found. With an alert
eye he glanced down alleywnys and
among the garbage barrels until final
" In the doorway Of n tumbledown
house he found the boy he was seeking
A pathetic little figure with fearful