The Prescott daily news., 1910-03-31
No," she replied, looking down on

No" she replied, looking down on the floor.
 l had not liked the indications as to Toms character as they appeared in his fathers account of him. and now that money was going to him from his sweetheart l began to despise him. handed the girl the draft and had a good opportunity to study her, for she never once looked up at me She went out with it hugged up against her heart, as though she loved it be- cause she had saved it for Tom.
 My next visitor in behalf of Tom was his mother She stood by my desk emptying on it from a carpetbag lot of bills and silver and copper coins. Not knowing who she was, asked what 1 should do with the money, and she said, Send it to Tom" By this time 1 was not likely to forget Tom and asked if she wished a draft for Thomas Williams. She said she did. l turned her funds over to they amounted to $643.47 1 ordered the draft to be made out, placed a chair before the old lady and said, with view to my enlightenment:
 MT. Williams pretty busy nowa- days?"
 No, pa ain't busy He's sick. wish we had our boy here to help us. He's out in Colorado perspectin'. He says he's struck a mine or a-goin' to strike q mine or somepin and wants some money for grub stakin' or some pin like that. We're sendin' him all We kin jest now but hope to send him sone more bime by. We had some money saved up for old age, but we've been a-drawin' on it for Tom, and this is all there is left"
 When she went out with her draft found myself boiling with indigna- tion at this worthless scamp. who was sucking the lifeblood out of his old father and mother-even his sweet heart
 There was a visit from the sweet heart after this to ask for a draft of S1S.50, which convinced me that Tom had accepted the last amount she had sent him. Then one day the old farm CT came in pale and trembling, evident ly just out of a sickbed, with the check of mortgage company for $1,- O00 He asked for a draft in exchange for it payable to this vampire of son. We bankers make it a rule to mind our own business, but l had reached a point where l could no longer refrain from warning this poor old man.
 'So you have mortgaged your farm to send money to your son?" 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 it." replied the old man with tremulous voice.
 Aren't you afraid you'll lose this too?"
 'I 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 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 it is due You will lose your farm"
 The old man stood wipng his face with q ho nIa mo bo p1lyarchiaf tho ,,io lure of misery.
 "I know what yer mean" he said. but ma she won't keep back any thing the boy wants. She never did always told her she'd spoil hir,."
 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 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 it to him l 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, Mir. Cashier. and mebbe you're right, but 1 alus believ- ed in my Tom, and l cant go back on him now"
 l handed him the draft, and he scuf- fled slowly out of the bank.
 The old man must have borrowed alt bo ennII pn biS farm copSiJa,;no,