Smyrna times., 1910-03-09

is all there is left
When she went out with her draft |
| found myself boiling with indigna |
ton at this wort HESS scamp. who was |
sucking the lifebloOd out of his ole |
father aud mot her-even his sweet |
heart.
There WAS a visit from the sweet |
heart after this to ask for 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 mortgage company for ST.
600. He asked for a draft in exchange
Cor 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 could no longer refrain
from warning this poor old man.
$50 you have mOrtgaged your farm
to send money to your son?' l 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 sept
him for the Development"
Eyes. we lost it," replied the old man
with a tremulous voice.
"Aren't you afraid you'll lose this
too?"
Il dunno, Toms got another mine
He says he's sure O. this"
| as
but 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 cant pay the interest or
the mortgage when it is due. You will
lose your farm"
The old man stood wiping his face
with 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
l always told her she'd spoil him."
I'm AFRAID she has spoiled him
You should know that your son is not
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 tell ma"
At this moment the draft was laiI
before me. but instead of handing it
to him | said:
Hadn't you better think this over?'
He stood his eyes fixed on vacancy.
slowly swaving or tottering. and /
knew there was great contest going
on in his mind. His love for his boy
conquered
I'm 'biged to you. Mr. Cashier. and
mebbe you're right. but | allus belipv-
ed in my Tom. and can't go back on
him now"
. l handed him the draft. and he scuf
fed slowly out of the hank.
The old man must have borrowed
: all he could on his farm. considering
! the transaction as a sale, for he faiel
to pay the first interest that fell due
on the mortgage. | knew this. becaus,
| saw in a newspaper a legal motto,
. Of foreclosure proceedings on biz
. farm.
i We'll" l sighed. laying down tn,
J paper. 1.-The old man has given hi
] home to his reprobate son: he ha
nothing more to give. | shall not sut
> fer again at seeing him come into tn,
: bank to do what | can't prevent hi
. doing"
The same day met the young cir
. on the street whom / was sure wa
j Toms sweetheart. stopped her ant
{ asked:
D rs Farmer Williams turned out o
. house and home"
i Not vet. sir"
g "But he will be?"
II suppose so.'~
s HAS his son sent him anything +
D help him?"
a mo sir. He wrote to say that b
= was awful sorry TO see the farm q,
n but he could not help it,
= HIN. Do you think son who wi
a treat his father and mother like tha
would treat a wife any betterY"
e Tears came into her eyes. wa
ashamed at giving her this useleS
j. pain. | walked on
About a month after this a strappiu
d young fellow with a fine. manly fac
e came into the bank and said he wishe
e to open an account. | assented. an
he made a deposit of $49,5O6
"Will you please leave your sign;
N ture in this book?'' | said. He too
up pen ard wrote:
70 Thomas Williams"
in You Tom Williams?" exclaimed.
W Yes. What do you know abou
is me?'
| "Son of Farmer WilliamsY"
a YES"
le "Sold your miner
le Yes; I've sold a mine in Colorad
st or two-thirds Of it. This money II
e. leaving with you is the first cash pa.
ment; there are two others of 5000
M EACH"