El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1910-11-28
(By Joe Elliott.)

- EVY, the usurer, was implacab BILE,
and Gerald Archer put down the
A letter with sigh. There was an
other letter besides. but that was very
unsatisfactory, too. and Gerald's face
looked rather worried as he turned 1t
towards his young wife, who just
came in.
Amy news today, Gerald"
Nothing but letter from Levy, who
is very unreasonable. He gives me I'M
til next Wednesday, but / am afraid 1
can no more pay him the $4,000 on We'd
nesday than 1 can today" Gerald repH-
ed sadly.
But can't you get the $1,000 for the
picture Johnson is to sell for your"
mo, he just writes me today that
the customer won't pay more than $3.50.
1t really looks as il one can get money
only from the usurers," said Gerald,
handing the other letter to his wife.
We'll, don't lose courage, anyway, 1t
will all come out right"
At this moment the patter Of little
feet was heard outside, the door was
thrown open and two fairhaired chill
dren came rushing towards their faith
err Gerald picked them up, placed one
on each knee and the next moment all
his melancholy thoughts had flown.
When the door of the studio had clos
ed behind them and Gerald faced his
work again, the worries came back and
prevented him from working. He
stopped at the big window overlooking
the garden and the Long Island hills
in the distance. Five years ago Gerald
had built the little homestead, which
had grown so dear to his heart, and
now it looked as If he must lose it. The
five years he had spent at Freeport
had been the happiest in his life, until
he had been tempted to try a flier In
stocks The venture failed and he ne
gotiated a loan from Levy to cover his
margins, only to lose the whole amount
anyway.
The more Gerald thought over the
situation, the more impossible 1t seem
ed to find a way out, and throwing
aside his brushes he put on his hat and
went for a long walk along the shore
road Three hours walk brought him
to the narrow strip Of sand stretching
towards Long Beach where he and the
seagulls were the only livin8 beings.
The beach was covered with all
kinds of flotsam thrown ashore by the
tide and left stranded by the receding
waves Among all this Gerald's eyes
suddenly struck something that look
ed like an old bag half buried in the
sand. Mechanically he began to dig II
ont and saw that it really was heavy
oilcloth bag, tied tightly with stout
whipcord He ripped it open with his
pocketknife and found inside belt
with a heavy brass buckle and with
a number of pockets He opened one
of these and would hardly believe his
own eyes when he found 1t filled with
toll r1oI
I'D in the oilcloth and started home
wards. 1t made a heavy bundle. but
he reached home without attracting
the attention of anybody. Walking
through the garden, he looked through
the big window and saw his wife sit
ting in the studio staring sadly into
the fire.
He went inside. hid his bundle in the
hall closet and opened the door Of the
studio. His wife jumped up, the wor-
ried expression disappearing from her
face, and she said cheerfully:
ct am so glad you came back, Gerald,
have you been looking for motives?"
Yes. dear, and I hope l have found
something good Gerald repleo'
throwing himself into an easy chair
.I lust want a cup of tea" he added. as
he filled his pipe, then I will go down
TO the bank and ask old Winters to
come and take dinner with us. I like
his company and maybe he can give
me some advice"
Yes, 1 just thought of that myself.
but it is not very pleasant, is it, to
talk of matters of this kind to stran-
gers"
We'll, we will have to make the best
of it." said Gerald, and laughed.
When Gerald, after tea, went to in
wife his guest, he said: Il wish you