Shoshone journal. [volume] (Shoshone, Idaho) 1884-1931, 1909-02-26
Of smithers, and I advise you to-

of Smithers, and I advise you to-
"Smothers. not Smithers," interrupt
ed the old man hopefully. a heavy
sot man, sandy complicated, about
| twenty two front teeth out, about
five foot
~Oh, 'Smothersr exclaimed Morley.
sol Smothers? Why, he lives in the
next house to me. thought you said
'Smithers
Morley looked at his watch. You
must have a watch You can do it for
a dollar. Better 90 hungry than fore
go a gunmetal or the ninety-eight cent
/ one that the notwithstanding to
/ these watchma kers-are run by.
"The bishop Of Long Island" said
Morley. was to meet me here at to
dine with me at the Kingfshers' club.
But | can't leave the father of my
friend Sol Smcthers alone on the
street. BY st. Swithin, Mr.. Smothers,
we Wall street men have to work.
Tired is no name for it! l was about
to step across to the other corner and
have a glass of ginger ale with dash
of sherry when you approached me.
You must let me take you to SOfs
house. Mr.. Smothers. But before we
take the car l hope you will join me
in
An hour later Morley seated himself
on the end of a quiet bench in Madi-
son square with a twenty-five cent
cigar between his lips and $40 in
deeply creased bills in his inside
pocket Content. light hearted. iron
ical. keenly philosophic. he watched
the moon drifting in and out amidst
a maze OF flying clouds. An old, rag
ged man with a low bowed head sat
at the other end of the bench.
Presently the old man stirred and
looked at his bench companion In
Morley's appearance he seemed to rec
ognize something superior to the usual
nightly occupants of the benches.
kind sir" he whined. 'f you could
spare dime or even a few pennies to
one who
Morley cut short his stereotyped APP
peal by throwing him a dollar.
God bless your said the old man.
I've been trying to find work for
Work. echoed Morley. with his ring
ing laugh You are fool, my friend
The world is a rock to you. no doubt.
but you must be an Aaron and smite
it with your rod. Then things better
than water will gush out of it for you
That is what the world is for. 1t gives
to me whatever | want from it."
"God has blessed you" said the old
man. 1T is only work that | have
known. And now l can get no more"
II must 20 home" said Morley, riS-
ing and buttoning his coat. Il stopped
here only for smoke hope you
may find work"
May your Kindness be rewarded this
night" said the old man.
oh said Morley. you have your
wish already. l am satisfied | think
good luck follows me like a dog.
am for yonder bright hotel across the
square for the night. And what a
moon that is lighting up the city to
night think no one enjoys the moon |
light and such little things as l do. |
Well, good night to you"
Morley walked to the corner where |
he would cross to his hotel He blew |
slow streamers of smoke from his |
cigar heavenward A policeman pass /
ing saluted to his benign nod. What /
fine moon 1t wasi
The clock struck Q as a girl just en-
tering womanhood stopped on the cor |
ner. waiting for the approaching car. |
She was hurrying as If homeward
from employment or delay. Her eyes
were clear and pure; she was dressed
In simple white; she looked eagerly for
the car and neither TO the right nor the
eft.
Morley knew her. Eight years be-
fore he had sat on the same bench
with her at school. There had been no
sentiment between them-nOthing but
the friendship of innocent days.
But he turned down the side street
70 quiet spot and laid his suddenly
burning face against the cool iron OF
, lamppost and said duly:
s'God, | wish | could dier'