The Washington times., 1911-01-18
To Him That Hath
By LEROY SCOTT
Copyright, The Frank A. Munsey Coz

For minute David could not speak
His foothold-lostl Again the abyss.
Il am" he said. But here was a man
different from the former employer who
had discharged him. Here a plea might
be effective. J"I am," he repeated. And
then he went on desperately: But
whatever l may have done, I'm honest
now. II man does you a wrong and
Is sorry do you not forgive him? !
have done a wrong. I am.sorry, too.
do not ask forgiveness. All l ask is Il
chance-any sort of chance. A chance
to earn my living! A chance to remain
honest!'
Il have not acted hastily" the super
intendent returned. Il haye called up
the mission and confirmed a report
had from another source. know your
whole story. Your pay is in the enVel-
ope. That Is ALL"
David went out, dizzily falling, fall
ing, falling into depths he felt were
hopeless. And as he fell, in the sicken-
ed swirl of his mind one sudden thought
stood forth, sharp, ironic: 1t was st.
Christopher's that had pushed him from
his foOthold, that had sent him plunS-
ing back into the abyss!
Once more began the search for WORK.
But now fewer men were needed; there
was time to question. He tramped on
and on. looking always for a man who
would not question, and always ne was
rebuffed-his clothes growing shabbier
and shabbier, his shoes growing thin
ner. his little money wasting away
fOotSOrC, heartSore, gripped by despair.
During these black days he saw little
of Tom. David did not want to talk,
did not want to box, there were no
meals; 50 the boy came home only 10
sleep. David was certain Tom was
stealing again, but he had not the heart
to speak a single reproving word, One
can hardly seek to convert thlef TO
honesty when starvation Is the only IN
dUcement to be offered for reform.
Since Hplpn Chambers call David had
now and then had u faint hope that he
might in some way hear from her. But
no word came. He understood She
sCorned him for the deed of four years
ago. She believed he was now regularly
practiCing theft, and was directing the
thefts and lies of boy. Her sympathy,
her instinct to aid, might tmpel her to
establish friendly relations with a re-
pentant thief, but never with such a
thief as she considered him.
On his recovery David had resumed
his Wednesday evening visits to his ac-
customed doorway near st: Christie
piers. one night he saw that which
poured a new agony into the cup he had
thOuhgt already overbrimming When
Miss Chambers stepped from the mis-
sion a man he had never before seen
was beside her-a tall man, of maturity
and dignity. With the instant instinct
of the lover he recognized here another
lover, and he read in a smiling glance
hiCh she turned up as they passed the
doorway lildJ lIllS man Udu UcE dulIllI a
ton and her confidence.
The next morning-the night had held
the cup constantly TO his nps-he went
to the AstOr Library and secured copy
of the Social Register. The mans
name, as it had come to him across
the darkness in Miss Chambers low,
resonant voice, was Allen. There were
several Aliens in the Register, but only
one that could possibly be the Allen
he had seen the night before. The Reg
lot ~ 6aSlnrffnnG thGTaTTnyn
informed David that Mr.. Allen was
forty, a member of half a dozen clubs,
man of wealth and social standing,
a lawyer Of notable achievement.
Just the sort of husband Miss Cham
bers deserved, David closed the book
and Crept out. The evening Of the day
before he found work In the department
store, Kate Morgan had told him that
she had just secured new place. Did
you get It through Miss Chambers?'
he had suspiCiOusly demanded.
NO" she had answered, smiling de-
family. At parting she had said with
sharp decision. standing at his door:
you've had enough of the honest life.
You're going TO be with me on this job
Set that down" Without giving him
chance to reply. she had stepped out
and quickly closed the door.
He did not see her again till the mid
die of December, when, one Sunday
evening. she knocked. walked in, and
promptly sent Tom on an errand
Il can only stay for two minutes"
she said quickly. This is supposed to
be my Sunday off, but one of the maids
is sick, 50 instead of a day I get an
hour and half. Say, it's certainly a
swell house. The family is just a man
and his mother. Just them two in a
house big enough for tOwn-and think
Of the way we rub ribs down here!
They've got carloads Of silver. all of 1t
solid: and the old lady has simply got
barrels of jewelry They're going to
have a big blowout on Christmas, so
none of the servants get holiday then.
But almost all of them are going to get
New Years Eve and New Years Day
out. The house will be almost empty
New Years Eve. That's when We'll
clean it up"
You seem to have no doubt that
shall join yOu." David said dryly.
None at ALL" she answered promptly.
We'll, / certainly shall not
You may think you'll not she re-
turned, undisturbed. But you will.
Anybody but fool would have come to
his senses long ago. You've found you
can't get job. You've got to live. It's
steal or starve. OF course. you're going
to be in"
81 shall mott David returned dog
gedly.
Continuation of This Story VIII BE
Found in TomOrrOw's Issue