Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1908-11-28
a money difficulty. 1 suppose, isn't ita.'

a hioiicy dtl4lGttHt SuDpOSS, lSu II
yes
Cards 2"
"P-partly."
ooh. a note? Case. of honor? Where
is this 1. o. U. that you gave?"
cts worse than that The--the note
is paid. Good God-I can't tell your
you must. That's why I'm here.
Gerald"
well. then. II drew a check
knowing that had no funds. If tiff
they return it markell
Il see. What are the figures"
The boy stammered them out. Sci.
wyn's grave face grew graver still.
THAT is bad" he said slowly. very
bad. Have, you-but of course you
couldn't have seen Austin
I'D kill myself firstr' said Gerald
| fiercely.
mo, you wouldn't do that. You're
not that kind. Keep perfectly cool
Gerald. because it is going to be fixed
| The method only remains to be de.
| cided' upon"
II can't take your money! stammer
ed the boy. Il can't take cent fron
you after what I've said-the BEAST,
| things I've said"
at isn't the things you say to me
Gerald. that matter. Let me think o
bit, and don't worry Just lie quietly
and understand that I'll do the worry
Ing. And while I'm amusing myself
with little quiet reflection as to ways
and means just take your own bearings
from this reef and set a true course
once more, Gerald. That is all the re
proach, all the criticism, you are goine
TO get from me. Deal with yourself
and your God in silence"
And in silence and heavy dismay
Selwyn confronted the sacrifice l..
must make to save the honor of tn,
house of Enroll.
1t meant more than temporary incon
venience to himself. 1t meant that b,
must go into the market and sell Sc
curities which We're partly his capita
and from which came the modest In
come that enabled him to live as b.
did
There was no other way unless b.
! "chl W auSllil uOl VI
that-dared not think what Austin
action in the matter might be- An,
he knew that if Gerald were eve
driven into hopeless exile, with Austin
knowledge of his disgrace ranking, tn
l boys utter ruin must result inevita
bly,.
Yet-yet-how could he afford to
this-unoccUpied, earning nothing, BIZ
reft of his profession, with only tn
: chance in view that his chaosite Nigh
turn out stable enough to be market
: able? How could he dare 50 strip hin
self? Yet there was no other way.
l had to be done, and done at once-th
: very first thing in the morning, befoI
1t became too late.
And at first, in the bitter resentmeI
of the necessity. his impulse was |
, turn on Gerald and bind him to goo
conduct by every pledge the boy coul
: give. At least there would be compel
Y sation. Yet with the thought came Il
! clear conviction of its futility I'll
7 boy had brushed too close to dishon,
! not to recognize it. And If this WEI
: not lifelong lesson to him no prom
n ises forced from him in his dire nee
s and distress, no oathS, no pledge
e could bind him. No blame, no admor
f ton. no scorn, no contempt. No T
proach, could help him to see mo
e clearly the pit of destruction than
could see now.
s "You need sleep, Gerald" he sa
d quietly. Don't worry. I'll see til
N your check is not dishonored All Y,
have to see to is yourself. Good nigt
/; my boy"
y But Gerald could not speak, and
Selwyn left him and walked slow
d back to his own room, where he SEE
ed himself at his desk, grave, abse
n eyed, his untitled pipe between b
l. teeth.
s And he sat there until he had bitt
g clean through the amber mouthpiet
= SO that the brier bowl fell clatteril
to the floor By that time it was fl
daylight. but Gerald was still aslee
1t He slept late into the afternoon, b
that evening, when Selwyn and La
sing came in to persuade him to
It with them to Silverside, Gerald W
gone.
l. They waited another day for hi
He did not appear And that mig
'e they left for Silverside without him.
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