The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1909-03-24

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Tcopyvsght. 1908. BY American Press Aaso-
cfntionl
Johnny Bounce and were school
mates and fast friends. Johnny was
younger than ], but stronger. Every
boy who could lick me availed himself
Of the opportunity Just for the fun OF
II. Johnny could Lick most OF them
ana. noticing that ! needed a friend, be-
gan 10 lick every boy that licked me.
This had wholesome effect and
was soon Lot alone. Indeed. am not
sure that did not impose on some Of
them, knowing that dread Of Johns
big fist would deter them from giving
me deserved puniehment
When we left school to go out into
tho world Eve were pretty big boys
them said to John Bounce, Johnny.
want you to understand that owe
you whole lot II ever get chance
to make stand OF for what you've
done for me. IT'D do IT,"
"oh. you don't owe me anything.
Tom" he said. Besides, guess we'll
both get along pretty weli"
didn't SEQ John after our parting
for years. Then one day man came
into my Office Of very foriorn appear
ance. ! put my fingers In my pocket
10 get out 10 cents when noticed the
fellow looking at me with quizzical
expression.
you don't know me, Tomf~
mo. don't"
I'm Johnny Bounce
My heart sank, for l knew that the
world had bean too much for John.
However, gave his hand a warn
grasp, asked him TO sit down and tell
me what he had been doing. He said
he hadn't had much success thus Car,
but be had irons In the Are" some OF
which he thought would pan out very
big / had heard Of these irons be-
fore IN connection with men who had
lost their grip on the world and knew
that instead Of irons they were gases.
But | saw that John was sincere so !
did not discourage him.
"You can't run a thing like that,
john" I said, referring to one Of his
schemes. without being grub staked.'
haven't any capital 10 put in, but /
wish you would let me lend You what
you need from time to time. I've got
$40 here in my No? Don't need lit
We :, whenever You do come right In
here and get It."
knew perfectly well that he needed
money, but could not bring himself TO
take it from me. whose equal he had
been in everything except an ability
to punch boys heads, and In this he
had heen my Superior. was obliged
to lot him go without affording him
relief, but took his address, resolving
to find some indirect way OF giving
him money. But was very busy at
the time and put the matter of. Be-
sides, am not an inventive genius and
failed to think OF any method OF lend
Ing John Bounce money without APP
pearing to give IL.
One morning n woman came into my
Office and said she had heard John
Bounce, who boarded with her, speak
Of me. She said that Bounce owed her
SS745 for board. and she would like
me to tell her If he had any property
ON which she could levy. ! told her
that Mr.. Bounce was perfectly hon
orable man, but was trying to carry
through certain schemes without slItfl-
cient capital She left with check
for the amount. of her bill A week
later / received a note from John re-
GREETING that the woman had thought
1t necessary to adopt such strenuous
measures and assuring me that one OF
his irons was at white heat and he
would soon oan and return the amount.
admired his plan OF enabling me to
help him Indirectly.
John never came to see me. His
pride, his sensitiyeness, whatever IL
was, wouldn't let him. One day hong
while after the board btu episode I
received note from an undertaken
telling me that man named John
Bounce had died IN q boarding house.
A letter from me had been found In
bis room, and since there was no
money to bury him It was deemed ad-
visahle to notify me. The amount re-
CURED was about 800
/ was sorry now since poor John
was gone THAT I had not been able to
DO more FOR him. inclosed check |
for the amount and authorized call |
for more. / did the latter as an ex-
cuse to my conscience for not attend
Ing TO the matter personally. i couldn't |
bring myself to such melancholy
duty,
A few months later received note