The Detroit times., 1912-06-11
CHAPTER XVII.

Mechanically | picked up the money
and counted il over. There were ten
bills of one hundred dollars each, ten
fifty-dollar bills and five hundred uoi-
lars in fives. tens and twentles. TWO
thousand dollars had dropped from
the skies, as II were, into my lap.
'But-but," | said. IL can not take
all this money II Is a large sum-
greater than | shall need or call re-
pay"
Mr.. Ogilby shook his head vigorous.
ly. THAT is a very absurd remark.
he said. In the first place IL Is hard-
ly large sum. and in the second place
you can not possibly tell how much
you will need AS far as repaytng
goes, we can talk about that when the
time comes. am asking you 10 give
me no note or receipt. so you see that,
IL you wish, you can repudiate your
debt altogether" | flushed, | sup
pose. for he added quickly. "Oh, |
know that you Will not. nor did mean
10 imply any such thing. simply
want You TO feel that the money -
yours to use or do with as you like.
and that (although you understand
this is in conhdence) there is plenty
more where 1t came from. | havej
told you. Mr.. Ellsworth, that | am al
student OF human nature, but | am,
or want TO be. little more than that
Philosophy, when all is said and done,
is a pretty cold wand to touch the
world with. Ii Is all very we'll TO stand
aside and theorize; but |. for one, cam
not resist on occasion plunging my
hand into LIES pasty. This money is
not a gift but an Investment, and am
imposing one condition on you in Of
fering it,
Condition." asked.
Yes. said Mr.. Ogilby, his mild blue
eyes fixed seriously upon me, "a con1
dition. | want you to keep in touch
with me. to let me know how your
search prospers want to be-whatl
is II the boys call IT nowadays?-in
on the game.
He brought out the phrase OF mod
ern slang in serious triumph Just
how far the man was an eccentric 4
could not tell. We are very apt to
brand as eccentricity any conduct or
point OF view which strays radically
from that TO which We are accustom1
ed. That this old man should wish
10 spice his life with other peoples
Joys and sorrows, that he should eyCnI
wish to make its struggle vicarious
purchase, set him apart, TO be sure
from the men and women OF my sc1
ouaintance. but, on reflection. gave,
me no ground whatsoever for belIevJ
ing him irresponsible or insane.
Your condition is very easY
i Qaf
cept IL and the money too, Mr.. Oglibyl
am taking il, you understand. as al
loan; but have told you my circumi
stances, so that you understand howI
distant the prospect is OF my beina
able TO repay II, should be forced
to spend the entire sum-"
Mr.. Ogilby laughed. Don't YOU'D
think, Mr. Ellsworth" he said. "rhatI
with your wife. your love and .ourt
future happiness at stake, you are carl
rying scruple a little too far in wonJ
dering whether l am mentally compel
tent?"
He had stopped his pacing Of thel
room as he said this, and stood lookl
ing down at me, little twinkle in the
, mild, blue eyes. Both judgment AID
diagnosis were so correct and so mn
expected that | found myself unable
TO answer.
Come, sir" said Mr.. Ogilby, "yoJ
understand what | mean, and tha{
what | say | mean In good part. n ia
the privilege OF age, my boy, TO speaI
Its mind out. Advice and money arek
about all that 1t has to give" +
He Strengthened his shoulders. anA|
pushed the white hair back froru hly
forehead.