The Washburn leader. [volume] (Washburn, McLean County, N.D.) 1890-1986, 1910-04-08

we kin Jest now. but hope to send him
some more Dime by. we had sc'ne
money saved up for old age. but we've
been a-drawin' ON it for Tom. and ii,is
is all there liz left"
When she went out with her draft
I found myself boiling with indlgna
tio. nj this worthless scamp. who was
sucking tie iifebiood uut OF his old
farther and mother-even his e
heart.
There was a visit from the sweet
hear, after this I ask for u draft OF
$3.50. which convinced me that Tom
had accepted the last amount she had
sent him. Then one day the old farm
er came in pale and trembling. evident
~ just out OF a sickbed. with the
check Of a mortgage company for ST.
600. He asked for Il draft in exchange
for it payable to this vampire of a son.
We bankers make it a rule to mind our
own business, but, | had reached a
point where l could no longer refrain
from warning this poor old man.
$50 you have mortgaged your farm
to send money to your SOM" ! said.
Yves: Toms In powerful need of
money. The mine he thought was
goin' to turf out so fine petered out.
he say it closed up as he went down
instead Of %openin'."
"And you lost all the money you sent
him for the development"
YES. we lost it" replied the old man
uith n fromnlous voico
Aren't you afraid you'll lose this
too?"
II dunno. Toms got another mine.
He says he's sure O. this"
"Of course it's no business Of mine.
but I don't like to see you, an old man..
mortgaging your farm to send money
to a son who should be giving you
money instead Of you giving it to him.
Suppose you can't pay the interest on
the mortgage when 1t is due. You will
lose your farm"
The old man stood wiping his face
with q bandanna handkerchief. the pic
ture of misery.
Il know what yer mean," he said,
but ma she won't keep back any
thing the boy wants. She never did
I always told her she'd spoil him."
Pm afraid she has spoiled him.
You should know that your son is not
wasting your money at gambling OF
something like that and telling you
that he's on the verge of making a
fortune in q mine before .risking any
more money on him."
"That'S what | tell ma"
At this moment the draft was laid
before me. but instead of handing 1t
to him l said:
Hadn't you better think. this over?"
He stood. his eyes fixed on vacancy.
slowly swaying or tottering. and l
knew there was a great contest going
on in his mind. His love for his boy
conquered.
"Ian 'bliged to you, Mr.. Cashier. and
mebbe you're right. but | allus believ-
ed in my Tom. and | can't 60 back on
him now"
l handed him the draft, and he scuf-
fed slowly out of the bank.
The old nan must have borrowed
all he could on his farm. considering
the transaction as a sale. for. be failed
to pay the first interest that fell due
on the mortgage. knew this. because
l saw in a newspaper a legal notice
of foreclosure proceedings on his
farm.
"Well." l sighed. laying down the
paper. 1.-The old man has given his
home to his reprobate son: he has
nothing more to give. l shall not SUI
fer again at seeing him come into the
bank to do what l can't prevent his
doing"
The same day l met the young girl
on the street whom l was sure was
Toms sweetheart, l stopped her md
asked:
SIS Farmer Williams turned out Of
house and home?"
mot yet. sir"
"But he will be-"
II suppose So"
HAS his son sent him anything to
help him?"
mo. sir, He wrote to say that he
was awful sorry to see the farm &c.
but he could not help it."
"H'm. Do you think q son who will
treat his father and mother like that
would treat a wife any better?"
Tears came into her eyes. l was
ashamed at giving her this useless
pain. | walked on,
About a month after this n strapping
young fellow with n fine. manly face
came into the bank and said he wished
to open an account. ! assented. and
he made a deposit Of $4,000.
Twill you please leave your sigma
ture in this book?" l said. He took
up a pen and wrote:
Thomas Williams"
You Tom Williams?" I exclaimed.
Yes. What do you know abou
me?"
"Son Of Farmer WilliamsY"
Eyes"
"Sold your miner"
Eyes; I've sold q mine in Colorado,
or two-thirds Of 1T. This money I'm
leaving with you is the first cash pay
ment; there are two others Of $50.O0O
EACH"
"Has your fathers farm gone to the
~mortgagee?'
mo; I'm in time for that ! was