The Palatka news and advertiser. [volume] (Palatka, Fla.) 1908-19??, 1910-07-08
His Secret
By NATHAN HARDY
Copyright. 1910. by American Press
Association.

When ] was AT the university the
set of students TO which | belonged
contained Oscar Poland at least 20
land was at one time II member OF our
group--bul AS time wore Oh he was
gradually dropped by all except Alan
Wells and myself. This was on ac.
count of the principles. or lack Of
principles. he advocated For instance.
he asserted that the Spartan code
that the criminaity attnrhrd TO steal
ing was In getting caught would ap-
ply In most cases today. He declared
that he would rob any one II be could
do so without being detected
When Poland gave us such ideas as
this at first we laughed AT him. telling
him that be didn't believe what be
said. But pesslmists are never popular.
and one by one his friends dropped
away from him. As have said. Wells
and ! stuck to him. feeling all the
while that his pessimism was but skin
deep The only way we could see he
proved his theory Of general seItShness
was by declining to spend his money
as we spent ours. When we asked him
what he did with his surplus change
he said that he was keeping 1t for his
ownw use. You fellows" he would
say. don't spend money on each other
because you wish to, but because rOu
are afraid of being considered mean II
you don't. Ergo. you are mean. New.
ertheess will admit that there may
be some generosity in your case. for
you do spend your money. while ], who
do not spend mine, show myself to be
absolutely mean and selfish"
This would start anew arguments
that had already been worn thread
bare, and at the end of every argu-
ment Poland would lose another
friend.
What do you think Of man." said
one Of our set to me one day. who aG'
mits that he would rob or steal provid-
ed he was sure of not being caught"
in the case of common thief who
practiced -what he preached replied.
81 would think him an element of so
ciety that should he so far as possible
10 the case OF Oscar Po-
land | should consider that | did not
him"
Not understand him. Well, like
that. The more fool you if you should
leave funds within his grasp that he
could take without being detected. |
tell you the man who declares such
ideas shows that he has been born
blind to principle the same as another
has been born blind to colors. Take
my word for II. if Oscar Poland ever
finds an opportunity to make himself
rich at another's expense he'll do it"
"They say business Is but Iegalized
robbery"
My opinion of you is that you're
tinctured with these tallacies your
self"
And so 1t was that some of our asso-
ciates came to show s0me& GOODNESS to
Wells and me. who defended Poland.
Alan and were talking the matter
over one day. and Alan remarked that
he wondered what Oscar did with his
money. There was certainly no evil
dence of his boarding it, and. as to
spending 1t. he was considered too mean
to offer q friend cigar. That same
evening we were walking along one of
the principal streets of the town when
Poland appeared ahead OF us.
Lets shadow him" said Alan. I'VE
may find out something
IF Thought for moment we should
discover something that would com.
promise him would decline. AS 1t is
I'm with you"
So we Jagged behind just far enough
to keep Oscar in sight. now and again
lodging behind pair of steps or
tree to keep him from observing us.
Presently we saw him go into n dry
goods store When he left the store
he carried bundle under his arm. He
kept on in his course. we following
His next stop was at drug store.
Going to buy asafetida and take
a dose now and then when no one
sees him." Alan remarked.
One more stop and we had seen all
of our quarry's purchases. He en-.
tered toy store.
~ have It," exclaimed Alan. Hes
married and running a family with
out the faculty knowing it."
"Perhaps you're right" replied
THE chase is getting interesting"
Oscar left the toy store with more
bundles and, turning off the main shop
ping street. pursued one that led into
a mean portion of the town.
81 hope" said Alan. "he isn't bring
ing up his children In this location"
Presently Oscar stopped at the door
of little cottage that was rotting
away. 1t was opened for him. and he
went inside.
Our games blocked" | said.
"Wait till he goes away"
So we waited half an hour. when Os
car left the house and stroIlPd uncon-
cernedly down the street. He had no
sooner gone beyond recall than we
knocked at the door from which he
had emerged. A pale woman opened
It.
"We're looking for Oscar Poland"
said Alan. entering without an invita-
ton.
Well. 1t was all out. Sc reraI little
Zone of them ILL were there
Another was trying on some new
and by the sick one on n
table stood a bottle of medicine.
We stayed long enough to discover
that this was one of several poor fam.
lilies Oscar was caring for. then went
away. shamed into small gift of our
own.
But we never told him or any one
else we had bis secret.