The Washington herald., 1913-02-16
THE DELAYED DRAFT.
By FRED c. KELLY.

ut was in a hotel in Buffalo," said
Henry J. Mix. II had started on a ten
days vacation-the first one / had been
given in six years. There as l sat in
the hotel lobby I saw a boyhood friend
James Randolph Rising. l hadn't seen
him before since We went to school to-
gether.
Jimmy Rising seemed glad to see me
and We sat there for an hour talkinS
over old-time acquaintainces. Then SUD
denly. my boyhood friend changed the
subject and began to tell me OF himself.
He was in the insurance business with
his brother in New York, he said. but
had come to Buffalo on a little deal OF
his own that was still hanging fire. AT
that moment he was waiting for the mail
to be distributed so that he could get
draft that would be at the general deliv-
cry window from his brother.
AT first the point to all this conversa-
tion about himself had been hidden like
one OF the missing faces in picture puz-
zle, but i began to see great hght-
When looked at his again he was siz-
ing me up out of the tail of his eye.
81 suppose you could let me nave ten
spot till the evening mails distributed.
couldn't you?' Ire asked. I'll have plenty
OF money as soon as get the letter from
NV brother, but l feel queer going
around row. without any cash in my
pocket
.well, I'd never made a habit of in
trusting money to strangers, but Jimmy
Rising wasn't exactly stranger we
found out that I'd have plenty of time
to buy my ticket and get to the boat
after the New York mail was distributed.
After I'd let him take the ten / noticed
that the clothes of my boyhood acduaint-
nf salaSS worried
look about them, but / let that pass
THE minute he got my money in his
hand he became the prince of good fel-
lows. He gave me to understand that
he would buy our dinner and the ac-
couterments We looked about the city a
hit and 1 wasn't allowed to spend SO
much as carfare. Take notice OF that
Nothing went but HIS money. And yet,
aside from the ten spot I'd lent him, he
didn't have the total sum OF 10 cents. But
he showed me the town and l merely
financed his hospitality.
I'VE stood around the office till
all the New York mail was up and the
man at the little general delivery win
dow said there wasn't any mail for
James r. Rising.
".I don't see what could have delayed
that draft remarked Jimmy In slight
ly vexed tone. oh. well. it's sure to be
here In the morning. SO / shan't worry
about it.
II decided to wait over and thus save
him the bother Of making out money
order when the draft arrived. Also
thought the percentage Of chance of get
ting back my ten would be more in my
favor IL I was right on the ground
Jimmy said he was glad to have my
company, as It had looked like q lone
some evening ahead for him.
"Tn buy a couple of seats for the
show he suggested.
There wasn't any opportunity to spend
money and show me pleasant time
that he overlooked. So We went to the
show. Then ne insisted on going to q
cafe and buying, me a small shower OF
food, meanwhile borrowing q little mat
ter of s. more. So things went. When
II came time to turn in it occurred to me
that 1t would be a good plan to keep
James Randolph Rising with me, for
fear we might miss each other in the
morning and l wouldn't know where to
find him after that draft arrived. So
invited him to stay with me at the
hotel.
ION our way to the hotel we met a mar
with a brindle bull pup to sell for 81
Nothing would do but James Randolph
Rising must have that dog. He said II
had just the right sort OF undershot jaw
and a noble shape Of head that was ex.
tremely difIicult to find in a bulldog.
Just let me have about $l5.' he says
to me casually. as II asking for match
and I'll hand you 80 In vne morning
Great object to me- you understand
BY letting him have another SIS would
have 80 coming to me In the morning
when he cashed that draft, instead Of the
slb he already owed me. Anyhow. I didn',
like to make him sore. and then he and
the dog seemed to have taken . wonder
ful fancy to each other - HANDED him