The Fairmont West Virginian. (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1904-1914, 1913-03-28

I1lN y 3s q M
q pbroa ehlns Pennington guIsFlg. - =.
Grasp ID his 1iarid q y !;
Benning tori hs said earnestly.
"yoti and I've aIway Been on the
square. Can't You tell them it's all
right! Can't you gst them u ,giye' me
times"
Before the manager could reply the
telephone bell rang sharply Under,
wood started An expression Of fear
CAME over face, Perhaps tie firm
had already sworn out 4 warrant for
BIS arrest. He picked dp the receiver
10 answer the call.
What name is that3" he. demanded
over the telephone. The name vas re-
peated and with gesture OF relief he
exclaimed:
"Howsrd Jeffles! what on earth
does he want? can't see bin. Tell
him I'm"
Bennington took his hat and turned
to go:
",weIl, / must be on"
Don't go" exclaimed Underwood,
as ne hung up the receiver mechan.
icaIly. TITS only that internal ass
Howard Jeffries!"
II must" said the manager AS he
went toward the door he made close
scrutiny Of the walls as II searching
for something that was mot there.
Stopping short, he said:
II don't see the velasquez."
"No-no," stammered Underwood
nervously. 'Its out-out on proba-
ton, oh, It's alright. II can account
for everything"
Mr. Bennington continued his ID.
Spection, I'd Y
AZ don't see the, Gobehn tapestry
he said laconlcally. e.
"oh, that's all right, too, 4 they'll
only give me time" he cried desper-
ately. Good God, you don't know
what 1t means to me, Bennington! The
position I've made for myself VIII be
swept away and"
Mr.. Bennington remained distant
and unsympathetic and Underwood
threw himself into chair with a ges.
ture OF disgust.
Sometimes don't think | care
what happens" he exclaimed. "Things
haven't been. going my way lately. I
don't care hang whether school
keeps or not. II they drive me to the
wall I'll do something desperate
H."
A ring at the front door bell inter.
rGpted him.
"Who can that be?" he exclaimed.
startled. He looked closely at his
companion, as II trying to read in his
face II he were deceiving him.
Probably your friend OF the tele.
phone" suggested Bennington.
Underwood opened the door and
Howard entered iauntily.
Hello. fellers, how goes III" was
his jocular greeting.
He was plainly under the influence
OF liquor. When he left home that
evening he had. sworn to Annie that
he would not touch drop, but by the
time he reached the As:ruria his cour.
age failed him. He rather feared Tn.
derwood. and be felt the need Of a
sttmulant to brace him up for the
strike" he was about to make, The
back door Of saloon was convenient.
ly open and while he was refreshing
himself two other men he knew
dropped in. Before he knew II, half
a dozen drinks had been absorbed,
and he had spent the whole Of S.
which his wife had intrusted to him
out Of her carefully boarded savings.
When he sobeFed up he would real.
tze that he had acted like coward
and a cur, but just now he was feel.
Ing rather jolly. Addressing Under
wood With lmpudent Familiarity he
Went on:
"The id boy didn't seem to know
II you were in or not, SO I came up
anyhow" Glancing at Bennington.
he added: Sorry, II I'm buttlng in"
Underwood was not in the humor
TO be very gracious. Long ago young
Howard Jenries had outgrown bis use
fulness as far as he was concerned.
He was at q loss to guess why he had
come to see him unlimited, on this
particular Sunday night, too. 1t was
with studied coldness, therefore, that
he said:
"Sit -down-l'm glad to see YOU"
you don't look It," grinned How.
ard, as he advanced further into the
room with shambling, uncertain steps.
Concealing bis Ill humor and prom
lslng himself to get rid Of his unwel.
come visitor at the first opportunity,
Underwood introduced the two men.
"Mr. Behtington-Mr. Howard JEFF.
rles, Jr."
MIR. Bennington had heard Of the
older Jehries' trouble with his scane.
grace son, and he eyed, with some in.
terest. this young man who had made
such a tiasco 6f hls career.
"Oh, know Bennington" exclaimed
Howard jovially. AZ bought an ele.
plants tusk at his place in the days
when was somebody" With mock
sadness he added, "f'm nobody now
couldn't even buy a collar hilton. -