The Fairmont West Virginian. (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1904-1914, 1912-03-30
loOpyr1ght b. ". q. ChapmAnl
ARY cAsEs Ill AEIllA 20 "a CHIME

i
trayagance formed during the period
i OF the cotton boom was not easily
laid aside. Farms began to be mort.
gagged again, and Dewchund sat In hls
booth and rubbed his hands as be
looked over his papers,
Bussapa, whose extravagances had
been the worst In the neishborhoodt
was one Of those most severely hit.
Before the prolonged famine had come
to an end his affairs had become hope
lessly involved. He had mortgaged bis
farm twice, he had even mortgaged bis
imam, or land granted for military
service, and he was only able TO keep
roof over his sad by the aid OF
small temporary advances which Dew
chuna, the money.lender, made him.
Meanwhile he drank even more heay'
fly. becoming extremely violent when
under the influence Of liquor and sui.
len and morose during his occasional
sober intervals. So long as his wife
lived he made some effort to retain bis
hold upon his AFFAIRS, but her. sudden
death broke down all restraint.
The only thing that Bussapa still
cared for was little BLOW. now five or
six years Of age. The only evidences
OF wea"h that were left to him were
little Blows bright crimson tunic and
The silver anklets and bangles which
his pride forbade him TO sell. So long
as he could send the boy into the VII
lage dressed as beftted the son OF 9
wealthy man he, could shut himself up
In bis lonely home and keep up ap'
pearances."
Bussapa's relations with Dewchund
gradually became less cordial. The
banker began to see little chance Of
regaInIng even the principal amount
that he had lent Bussapa, let alone the
Interest. Moreover Bussapa angered
him by hi9 constant opportunities for
small sums which he devoted to the
purchase of liquor. When in his cups
Bussapa was happy, and he continu.
ally postponed the day Of reckoning.
At last the time arrived when Dew.
chund found himself unable to accom-.
/ modate Bussapa longer. One night,
when the latter appeared before him
In his usual drunken condition, tho
money.lender said; 4.
"Bussapa Patel, there is only one
condition on which will lend you any
more money. and that is If you WILL
let me go over your accounts and find
out how much you are worth"
Bussapa refused and began to utter
objurgations upon the nnoney-lender.
II tell you what I'll do, Bussapa,"
said Dewchund, after some moments
thought. IF you will enter into new
bond with me, merging everything into
a grand total, I will advance you a
small sum further"
Bussapa's only reply was to curse
Dewchund for thief Then he STROBE
away in the direction Of his home. 81
| One feature of theG agreement be-
tween the two men had been that Bus
sapa should deal only with the banker.
Some little while arterward, however,
Dewchund learned that Bussapa had
secretly entered into negotiations with
q merchant at Coompta, from whom
he had obtained an advance upon his
coming cotton crop.
Dewchund, Immediately upon receipt
OF this news, went over to Busappa'S
house and taxed him with breach Of
faith. A violent alteration between
the two men ensued. Bussapa retorted
with vile abuse and threatened to put
Dewchund out of business. Finally
DewChund lost control OF his temper
and told Bussapa that unless he set
tied all his claims within three days
he would file suit against him with
out further notice. So saying he be-
took himself homeward,
Afterward 1t transplred that Dew
chund had never taken any steps to
carry out this threat. and he always
declared that he had only uttered 1t In
anger. If Bussapa had only shown
himself fair and reasonable. he stated,
and had consented to an examination
Of bis affairs, he would have been
willing to allow postponement OF the
debt for an indefinite period.
When Dewchund was gone Bussapa
shut himself up alone with bottle OF
brandy and began drinking. He con-
tinued this orgy during the next two
days until all his liquor was gone. But
this time, instead Of SIMPLIFYING, the po'
tations reused an insane devil In the
farmer, He began to speculate upon
his future, when Dewchund should
have carried out his threat.
He saw himself bereft OF his home
stead, turned out to starve, or perhaps
work as a hired laborer In other mems
fields. Worst of all was the blow to
his pride. And when there flashed
into bis mind q picture OF little BLOW
stripped Of his ornaments. a beggar by
the wayside. Better BLOW dead than
that!
On the third night after the quarrel
DewChund had put up his shutters and
was sitting IN his shop about. midnight
making up his accounts, according to
his custom. All at once he heard a
knock at the window, He opened the
shutter cautiously and looked out. TIC
his establishment he saw Bussapa, He