Five Mile Beach weekly journal., 1910-04-15

We hAh JCoL nO0s AOPC ~ CAa hAh@
some more bime by. We had some
money saved up for old age. but rev
been a-dra win on it for Tom. and this
is all there is left"
When she went out with her draft
found myself boiling with indigna
ton at this worthless scamp. who was
sucking the lifeblood OF his old
father and m~other-even his sweet
heart.
There was a visit from the sweet
heart after this TO ask for a 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
ly just out of a sickbed. with the
check of a mortgage company for ST.
600. He asked for a draft In exchange
for it payable to this vampire of a son
We bankers make 1t a rule to mind our
own business, but | had reached a
point where | could no longer S-efrain
from warning this poor old man.
$50 you have mortgaged your farm
to send money to your SOL Z" | said.
YES: Toms in powerful need of
money. The mine he thought was
goin' to turn out SO fine petered out.
He says it closed up as he went down
instead of openin'."
"And you lost all the money you sent
him for the developments"
Yes. we lost t." replied the old man
with a tremulous voice.
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 | don't like to see you. an old man.
mortgaging your farm to send money
to a son who should be giving yor
money instead of you giving 1t to him.
Suppose you can't pay the interest or
the mortgage when 1t is due. You will
lose your farm"
The old man stood wiping his face
with a bandanna handkerchief, the pic
ture of misery.
II know what yer mean," be said.
"but ma she won't keep back any
thing the boy wants. She never did
l always told her she'd spoil him."
I'm afraid she has spoiled him.
You should know that your son Is moi
wasting your money at gambling or
something like that and telling you
that he's on the verge of making a
fortune In a mine before risking any
more money on him."
"That's what l tell ma"
At this moment the draft was laid
before me, but instead Of handing 1t
to him | said:
Hadn't you better think this over?"
He stood. his eyes fixed on vacancy.
slowly swaying or tottering. and |
knew there was a great contest going
on in his mind. His love for his boy
conquered.
I'm 'bliged to you, Mr.. Cashier. and
mebbe you're right. but l allus believ-
ed In my Tom. and | can't go back on
him now" 4
1 handed him the draft. and he scuf-
fed slowly out of the bank.
The old mar must have borrowed
Ifi ne could on MS 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" / sighed. laying down the
paper. t old man has given his
home to his reprobate son; he has
nothing more to give. l shall not suf-
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 / was sure was
Toms sweetheart. l stopped her and
asked:
rs Farmer Williams turned out of
house and homer"
mot yet. sir"
"But he will be?"
Il suppose So"
HAS his son sent him anything to
help himY"
mo. sir. He wrote to say that he
was awful sorry to see the farm go.
but he could not help it."
HIN. Do you think a 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 q month after this q %strapping
young fellow with a fine. manly face
came into the bank and said he wished
to open an account. | assented. and
he made a deposit of $49,506.
"Will you please leave your sigma
ture in this book?' / said. He took
up a pen and wrote:
Thomas Williams"
you Tom Williams?" 1 exclaimed.
Yes. What do you know about
me?'
"Son of Farmer WilliamsT'
"Yes.n