Dakota farmers' leader. (Canton, S.D.) 1890-19??, 1909-09-03

CHAPTER xxIl1.-(continucd.,

CHAPTER NXIII.-tContinucd.)
John Saxtou sat in the office of the
Traction Company on a hot night IN
july. Fenton i'll lI-t LEI Ain, th
transfer to the Margrave syndicate had
been effected and John would no more
sign himself "John Saxton. Receiver
His work in Clarkson was at an end
The Neponset Trust Company had called
him to Boston for a conference, which
meant. he knew, a termination of his SER
vice with them. He had lately sold the
Poindexter ranch, and so little property
remained on the Neponset's books that it
could be cared for from the home office.
He had not opened the afternoon mail.
He picked up a letter from the top of
the pile, dated from San Fransisco, and
read
.San Francisco.
"Ay Dear Sir:
u hesitate about writing you, but
there are some things which l should
like you to understand before l go away.
had fully expected to remain with you
and Bishop Delafield and to return to
Clarkson that last morning at Poindex-
ter's. l cannot defend myself for having
run away it must have seemed a strange
thing to you that l did 80. l had fully
intended acting on the bishops advice,
which l knew then, and know now was
good. But when the west-bound train
came. my courage left me; l could not
10 back and face the people ! had known,
after what had happened. l told you
the truth there in the ranch house that
night every word of it was true. May
be did not max it clear enough how
weak I am. Things came too easy for
me. ! guess at any rate l was never
worthy of the good fortune that befell
me. 1t seemed to me that for two years
everything | did was a mistake. l sup
pose it l had been "A real criminal, and
not merely a coward, l should not have
entangled myself as l did and brought
calamity upon other people.
When l reached here I found employ
ment with a shipping house. l have told
my story to one of the firm, who has been
kind to me. He seems to understand my
case. and is giving me a good chance to
begin over again. l suppose the worst
possible things have been said about me,
and / do not care. except that I hope
the people in Clarkson will not think l
was guilty of any wrong-doing at the
bank. l read in the newspapers that l
had stolen the banks money, and hope
that was corrected. The hooks must have
proved what say. understand now
that what | did was worse than stealing,
l,nt l should like you n Mr.. Porter to
Know that / not only did not take other
peoples money, but that in my foolish
relations with Maygraye I did not re-
-ceive a cent for the shares Of stock which
he took from me-neither for my own
nor for those Of Miss Porter. | don't
blame Margraye; II l had not been a
coward he could not have played with
me as he did.
."Ehe company is sending me to one Of
its South American houses. go by
,srea mer tomorrow, and you will not hear
from me again. / should like you to
know that l have neither seen nor heard
anything OF my brother since that night.
With best wishes for your own happiness
and prosperity, yours sincerely,
JAMES WHEATON"
On his way home to the club Saxton
stopped at Bishop Dclafield's rooms, and
found the bishop, as usual, preparing for
flight. Time did not change Bishop Della
field. He was one of those men who
reach 20, and never, apparently, pass it.
He and Saxton were fast friends now
The bishop missed Wary out of his life /;
Wary was always so accessible and so
e cheering JOnn was LOT so accessible ana
he had not Warry's l~igntness. but the
bishop OF Clarkson liked John Saxton.
The bishop sat with his inevitable
h~and-baggnge by his side and read Whea-
tons letter through.
.e How ignorant we are y he said. fold
Ing IL Il sometimes think that We who
+ Try 70 minister to the needs of the poor
Ia spirit do not even know the rudiments
81 our trade. We are pretty helpless
with men like Wheaton. They are D
entity strong they yield to no tempta-
lions. 20 FAR Is any man knows: they are
exemplary characters. / D that
they are living little tragedies all the
zine. The moral coward il more to be
spitied than the ope criminal. You know
where to find the criminal; but the moral
seward u N unknown quantity. Life 10
= strange business. John. and the older
get the less think ! know Of it" He
sighed and handed back the letter.
Nv expesctsd him to" said Saxtcn. "A
Mans entitled 20 happiness II hs can find
= He undoubtedly chose the easier part
I running away. can't imagine him
Nomine back mere 70 FACE the community
s1&tet Al thaf had happened"
don't .kncw thar can either.
4 Preaching - easier than practicing, and
Nman sure mat ave him the best ad-
~ s. 1ne rsnsn aouse ,nA. morning. !,