The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1910-07-19
His Secret
BY NATHAN HARDY
Copyright. 1910. by American Press
Association

land was at one time a member OF our
group-but as time wore on be was
gradually dropped by all except Alan
Wells and myself This was on &c.
count Of the principles. or lack OF
principles. he advocated For instance.
he asserted that the Spartan code
that the erlmiuallty attached to steal.
Ing was IN getting caught-would ap-
ply IN most cases today He declared
that be would rob any one II be could
do 10 without being detected
When Poland gave US such ideas as
this at hrSt we laughed al him. telling
him that he didn't believe what be
said. Bur 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 bis pessimlsm was but skin
deep. The only way we could see be
proved his theory OF general selhshness
was by declining TO spend his money
as we spent ours. When we asked him
what be did with bis surplus change
be said that be was keeping II for bis
own use. .You fellows" he would
say. don't spend money on each other
because you wish to. but because you
are afraid OF being considered mean II
you don't Ergo. you are mean. New
ertbeless win 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 10 me one day. who adj
mlts that be would rob or steal provid-
ed he was sure OF not being caughtY
I'm the case Of common thief who
practlced what be preached" replied.
81 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 | did not
understand him"
mot understand himl Well like
that The more fool you II you should
leave funds within his grasp that ne
could take without being detected.
tell you the man who declares such
ideas shows that be has been born
blind to principle the same as another
has been born blind to colors Take
my word for IT. II Oscar Poland ever
finds an opportunity to make himself
rich at another's expense hell do IT,"
They say business is but legalized
robbery"
MY opinion of you Is that you're
tinctured with these fallacies your
self"
And so It was TINT some Of our asso-
ciates came to show some GOODNESS to
Wells and me. VINO defended Poland
Alan and | were talking the matter
over one day. and Alan remarked that
be wondered what Oscar did with his
money. There was certainly no cyl |
dence of bis boarding 1t, and. as TO
spending 1t. be was considered too mean |
to offer a friend cigar That same
evening we were walking along one Of
the principal streets OF the town when
suddenly Poland appeared ahead OF US.
Lets shadow him. said Alan. I'VE |
may find out something"
III | 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 |
10 keep Oscar In sight, now and again
lodging behind pair OF steps or a
tree to keep him from observing US.
Presently we snw him go into dry |
goods store. When be left the store
he carried q bundle under bis arm. BE
kept on In his course, we following |
ais next stop was at drug store.
"Going to buy asafetida and take |
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 toy store.
II have it, exclaimed Alan. Hes
married and running a family With
but the faculty knowing IT,"
Perhaps you're right" | replied
sThe chase is getting interesting"
Oscar left the toy store with more
bundles and. turning or the main shop
ping street. pursued one that led into
l mean portion Of the town.
II hope" said Alan, ''he isn't bring
ing up his children IN this location"
Presently Oscar stopped At the door
Of little cottage that was rotting
away. 1t was opened for him, and he
went inside.
"Our games blocked" / said.
'Wait till be goes away"
So we waited half ain hour. when Os-
rar left the house and strolled uncon-
remedy down the street. He bad no
sooner gone beyond recall Than we
knocked at the door from which he
had emerged A pale woman opened
IT.
Were looking for Oscar Poland
said Alan. entering without an invita-
zion.
Well. It was all out Several little
children tone of them III were there.
Another was trying on some new
clothing. and By the sick one On
table stood bottle Of medicine
We stayed long enough to discover
Tint this was one Of several poor fam.
Ilies Oscar was caring for. then went
away. shamed into a small gift Of our
bwn
But we never told him or any one
aIao So he'd hls aoarnt