La Junta tribune., 1913-05-24
THE MAN WHO COULD NOT
RISE.
A Story Dealing With coodi.
tions Il 0ehoovss VI All
TO Think Abevt.
BY William Edward Ross
/. - 80 - = . = . =

! What would you do" asked Car.
digan suddenly, II you had a man
/ IN your employ. who. though h. had
always been faithful worker. you
! suddenly found out to have had a
past. black past, and who had sery-
ed time in not one. but three pri-
sons" Again. let me ask you. "Wha,
would YOU do"
I They were sitting yis-s-vis In
/ Child's Restaurant. young Vernon
I Cardigan. heir TO all the Cardigan
millions, secretary OF the Cardigan
steel mills. and young Reginald Brin-
scr. his best friend and chum.
Do Why damn IT. Vernon. what
could any man do' No matter how
decent the beggar had been. one
couldn't have a bally ex-convict about
his plant. you know. What would !
do Why ia fire him. give him the
bounce. what else could | do,"
That seems 10 be the only ans
wer. Reg, but ! wonder If we're
right" mused Cardigan.
Excuse me. gentlemen. for in
trudlug. iu'srpolat"d gray haired
man sitting a. tho next table. but
u could NOT help hearing your re-
marks. aud / must tell you that YOU
are wrong. decidedly wrong Did
you ever hear Of Grant Baker, No7
Then I'd nko 10 tell you little
story
Cardigan mofloued for a waiter TO
place another chair at their table. ane
seating himself The old man began
In small town in central llli-
noLs. We viii call 1t u. lived a
young man. about thir'y-siX years of
age He was married. had one child.
boy, and was to all appearances. a
happy and oontented man.
Employed as salesman In the
towns only furnishing store. he
made friends easily. and stood In
direct line for preference. and pro
motion.
Apparently th.r. was no cloud Tn
his sky. and when tn. thunderbolt
did appear. its rancous Do,s' dead
en.d all remembrance Of IN. fair
sky. and his co,erie OF friends saw
only the black. threatening alonds
and he heard only the dull. oruinous
roar Of the approaching xtr.m
He had lived in " almost
seven years when the storm brok g
His antcc.d.nts no on. knew. moi
questioned. Although conx~nia
companion. and = siAunch friend. h.
Was extremely r-ticent r-garding hi
personal affairs. and hls life. pre-
vious to his arrival a. Y. Lit
tie did hk friends, who respsetes
mis- re,ic.ne.. dream OF ihe secre'
locked In his heart,
One day a conyentio1 vas h.l.
n the town. and on. Of the delegate,
u police official from distant west
.rn city. saw. and recognized him
He approached Baker. called him b,
another name. and asked him ~ha
he was doing
Baker denied his identity and re
fused 10 recognize the man The la,
ter made Inquiries. l.arnei ~ Baker
position. and stuns 10 the quick b,
The lat,er's refusal 10 r'rnEgixe him
So, about undermining th, position
the young man mad honestly earn
ID.
His was one OF those p.ity. over
Ioalous natures, which. under tn.
guise OF public duty WORKED their
private vengeance
Tho next day the thrr -rs,orn
burst The detective hia cxraph
cd west for pictures. and ad-n the,
had arrived he went 10 o. Haper that
was hostile against Bake. bcoau,.
OF the latt"r's attitude oa certain
public question. and gave IN ,hs
history of Bakers Ne. tD-rGer with
two Photographic Of man rIfi shori
hair. dressed In STRIPED lit and
with largr number a.n his
breast
1.-THE man iH hr pI.nr and
Baker were on" it seemed that
in his youth. he had bon I'd and
dissipaied. mixing with ra rampan.
ions. and IN order 20 Hf. 1ut tho
Income necessary 10 Aeon up the
pace, had organized a upIHaus mail
order house Ho wa aTr,H,.d. con.
rie,"d. and sent 20 states pr-ion for
a term OF five years at hard labor.
This time, by good conduct IA. r..
dnc"d TO tire. years and seven
months.
Upon his release hs was i.sr sr.
ato TIL. prlhou Nhary hr t.t ...~x.