The Randall County news. (Canyon City, Tex.) 1908-1926, 1910-03-18
BY T. A. Mitchell.

question If the endless panorama Of
Incidents typfying the different phases
Of human life is witnessed by any
class that every day passes before
bankers. Sometimes whole stories are
enacted before us spread over a term
of years | am the repository of one
such story that | watched from its
beginning TO its climax
One afternoon weather beaten old
farmer with silky white hair scattered
over his head came to my desk and,
pulling out a wallet. asked for a draft
on Denver for 5000 in favor of Thomas
Williams. He counted out the money.
and then having nothing TO do while
the draft was being prepared. began
to tell me the beginning of this story.
I'm sendin the money he said,
Ito my boy out in Colorado. He went
out there a year ago. takin some
money with him that | give him, but
he hasn't had much luck, and it's all
gone. First he got sick, then when
he got well he went prospectin' and
struck somepin that looked good, but
some other fellers jumped his claim,
whatever that means, and took it all
away from him.
Then Tom got sick agin and went
to a horsepittle and stayed there three
months. Now he's got out of the
horsepittle and lookin about for some
pin. I'm sendin this money to give
him a chanct. Toms his mothers pet.
and she lays awake nights worritin'
about him. I'm mighty fond of the
boy myself somehow. He was always
a smart little chap-took lots of prizes
and things at schue
when he got old enough to work
\ wanted him to help me on the farm.
4 He tried it for awhile, but see purity
4 quick he didn't take to it. He was
4 TOO smart to be contented to follow II
1 plow same 5 his father. who didn't
4 never get no eddication. So | says
to him one day; Tommy, reckon you'd
4 better 90 10 the city and work that
4 away This don't suit you He was
1 mighty well pleased at that. 1t al
4 most broke mas heart to part with
4 him. but she knowed it was better for
\ him and let him go.
tom didn't like it in town SO well
as he thought he would. Leastaways
went into. They must "a thought a
heap Of him, though, for they raised
his salary twice. so he wrote me. But
he got into a fight with one of the
head clerks and got himself discharged
He said the head clerk accused him Of
stealin' some money.
tom was allus an ambitious little
chap, and after leavin' his place he
concluded he'd so west and try and
do somepin big, for ma and me agin
we got too old to work. So we scraped
up $500 and give it to him, and he
At this moment a clerk laid the
farmers draft on my desk. and the
first chapter of his story was finished,
for he began to count over his soiled
and torn bills, now and again wetting
his thumb on his lip as he turned them
up. Then, leaving them to me and
carefully folding his draft, he put 1t In
his wallet, crammed the wallet down
into the bottom of his pocket and
with "Goodby, Mr.. Cashier" left the
bank.
The second chapter of the story is
very short There is hardly enough in
it to make a chapter, but there is a
good deal beneath the few words re-
duired to tell it. girl Of eighteen
came TO the bank, laid down $24, near
ly all in silver coin, and asked for Il
draft to cover the amount.
| ITO whom will you have it made
payable?" l asked.
Tom Williams" in a soft voice, al
! most whisper
| ordered the draft made out, and
the girl stood waiting. Unlike the
/ farmer, she didn't tell all | would have
liked to know, so l asked:
l as Tom Williams your brother"
NO" she replied, looking down OF
the floor.
l had not liked the indications as L
Toms character as they appeared II
his fathers account of him, and nov
that money was going TO him from hi
sweetheart | began to despise him.
handed the girl the draft and had
good opportunity to study her, for sh'
never once looked up at me. Silt
\ went out with it Rugged up agains
her heart, as though she loved it be
cause she had saved it for Tom.
IA My next visitor in behalf of Ton
was his mother. She stood by N.
4 desk emptying on it from carpetbai
lot of bills and silver and cope
coins. Not knowing who she was,
IN asked what l should do with tn
III money, and she said, send it to Tom.
4 By this time l was not likely to forge
IN Tom and asked If she wished draf
for Thomas Williams. She said sh
did. / turned her funds over to
clerk to count. and he reported tina
they amounted to S64347. | ordere
the draft to be made out, placed
chair before the old lady and sac
with view to my enlightenment:
iii Mr.. Williams pretty busy now'
days"
mo. M amt busy. He's SICK.