Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1912-05-07

glass Of milk, insinuated itself into
many a defenseless household. It was
part of Mats policy. also, to give q
lift to any trudging weary figure on
foot; to pick up children on their way
to school or home: to take advantage
of every opportunity to offer assist
ance and copy of the little book.
Spring was we'll advanced; all nature
was green and budding; it was exhil-
arating to dart along in the Jonesno.
bile, making strange acquaintances
and looking for adventures, and never
knowing what there might be in store
at the next turn Of the road.
1t was sad, indeed, when 1t came to
an end. One evening after supper, Dag
gencourt took Matt to one side and
with profound depression said that 1t
was "all up ...... -
1T, came like bum-shell." he
quavered. "You know, I started the
business on nothing, four years ago,
and borrowed twenty-five hundred dol
lars of old Farelly. the money-lender,
at twelve per cent. The banks wouldn't
have looked at it, for all had was
kit of tools and a name for being
honest, and it was Farelly's own idea
when the place came under the ham
mer. had worked for him once, and
he had taken 4 fancy to me. often say.
ing that no Jew ought to throw stones
at colored man; so that was how |
got the garage, and met the interest
every month, right to the last cent
every month. for four years, as regular
as clockwork, though never man
aged to get ahead much on the prin-
cipal and mighty pressed at times to
manage that" g.. &C.,.
"Well, go on" said Matt. as Victor
choked back a sob.
II thought he was very fine man"
the latter continued. 'There was no.
body looked up to like old Mr.. Far
ely, and though folks spoke against
him, and called him Shylock, knew
better-for II it hadn't been for him
I should still have been working for
wages. Twelve per cent was mighty
high, but not too high, considering the
security, which didn't amount to hill
of beans - and never grudged a
penny of the interest and paid 1t most
pleased and grateful. Now today he
comes up to me and says, old Farelly
ooes--out of clear sky. and without
the least warning. just as he was writ
ing the receipt in my office with
fountain pen: "I have to call in that
$4,000, Victor. and will ask you to
make an immediate settlement I said:
'Marse' Farelly. that isn't fair; as God
sees us. that isn't fair, and I could
no more do it than I could fly Then
he flubbles with his fountain-pen, ard
sticks it back most careful in his vest
pocket, and says: Then you'll have to
get out!'"
And didn't he make any explana-
ton" ~.
mo, Marse' Broughton. he did not
make any explanation. though when l
thought of the little business, and Of
you doing so splendidly with tine
Jonesmobile. and perhaps our going
away together to eKntucky. almost
went down on my knees to him. It's
hard for a man to demean himself
get right down and eat dirt-but did
1t, Marse' Broughton, and I pleaded
and begged som ething awful. for the
business is just beginning to pay, and
1t was almost like had been robbed
Of It, In the eyes of God I am being
robbed of it. for it's mine, and ought
to stay mine as long as I paid his in
terest. which I did. month in, month
cut, no matter how it pinched! But
he wouldn't listen to word Marse'
Broughton--not word. though cot
out the books and wanted to show MIN
in black and white how we'll stood.
But he pushed them away saving.
money talks and what he wanted
was his. or I'd he sold up
Mats attention was disturbed by
a thought that grew and grew more In
sistent as the mulatto poured out the
tale of Farellv's amazing perfidy. He
remembered his singular dismissal
from the Y. NJ. CA. and. incredible as
it might seem. asked himself whether
there was not some connection be-
tween it and this unexpected catae-
trophe; and whether behind both
there was not. somehow or other. a
mysterious connection with Mr.. Kay.
With a dawning fear of something
deeper and more underhand in the old
money lenders action than Victor had
any idea Of. he interrupted the latter
to make certain that Farelly had left
the garage without offering the least
compromise.
He didn't give me as much as a pin
hole to crawl through" Daggancourt
explained explosively "Not a weeks
grace-nothing-b just get right out
and be damned. and showing away the
books like they burned his skinny old
fingers. But listen, Marse' Broughton
that amt the end of it. There's worse
than that" aH.
"Worse?" cried Matt. unable to con
ceive how It could be worse. and
perplexed than ever.
LAS soon rs he was gone, reached
for my hat and made Decline for P
r. Powell" continued Victor. "He's
the one who wanted to buy me out fol-
sixteen hundred dollars cash and take
over Farelly's notes. Been at me fol
two months past. plaguing and
Fostering to beat the band. Well, what
do you think when got to the Del
monico garage where he's foreman!
TIemmed and hawed. he did, and
couldn't make 1t more than seven hun
dred. Had been tipped off, don't yor
see. and knew that Farelly was goina
to put me on the street! would have
traded at sixteen hundred and beer