The Randall County news. (Canyon City, Tex.) 1908-1926, 1910-07-08
His Secret
By NATHAN HARDY
Copyright, 1910. by American Press
Association

| idNu was at one time member or our
group-but as time wore on he was
gradually dropped by all except AlaL
Wells and myself This was ON ac-
count of the principles. or lack OF
principles. he advocated. For instance.
be asserted that the Spartan code
that the criminality attached to steal
ing was in getting caught-would APP
ply in most cases today. He declared
that he would rob any one if he could
do so without being detected
When Poland gave us such ideas as
this at first we laughed at him, telling
him that he didn't believe what he
said But pessimists 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 be
proved his theory of general selfishness
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
own use. You fellows" be would
say, don't spend money on each other
because you wish to. but because you
are afraid of being considered mean if
you don't. Ergo, you are mean. New
ertheless | 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 ad |
mits that he would rob or steal provid-
ed he was sure of not being caught?'
"In the case of a common thief who |
practiced what he preached replied,
II would think him an element of So
ciety that should be so far as possible
eliminated. In the case Of Oscar Po-
land should consider that l did not
understand him."
mot understand him. Well, ] like
that. The more fool you IL 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, II Oscar Poland ever
finds an opportunity to make himself
rich at another's expense he'll do IT,"
'"They say business is but legaiized
robbery"
my opinion OF you is that you're
tinctured with these fallacies your
self"
And 30 1t was that some Of our asso-
ciates came to show some GOODNESS to
Wells and me. who defended Poland
Alan and l 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 it, he was considered too mean
TO offer a friend a cigar. That same
~ euilIS we were NulhlIS dlpDS OlIt VI
the principal streets of the town when
suddenly Poland appeared ahead of us.
Let's 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 it is
I'm with you"
So we Jagged behind just far enough
to keep Oscar in sight, now and again
lodging behind a pair of steps or a
tree TO keep him from observing us.
Presently we saw him go into a dry
goods store. When he left the store
ne carried a bundle under his arm. He
Kept on in his course. we following.
Ills 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 a toy store.
Il have it," exclaimed Alan. He's
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 q 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 strolled uncon-
cernedly down the street He had no
sooner gone beyond recall than we
knocked at the door from which be
had emerged A pale woman opened
It.
We're looking for Oscar Poland"
said Alan. entering without an invita-