Newark evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1909-1916, 1913-03-28
THE JUST AND THE UNJUST
BY VAUGHAN KESTER
Copyright, 1912, The Bobbs Merrill Company.

had held his first born-Arthur. now
aged 14-was still in use. the luster of
its paint much dmmed and its
upholstery but a memory. 1t had
trundled a succession of little Mont
gomerys among the cinder piles; in
deed, it was almost feature of the
landscape. for Joe's family was his
chiefest contribution to the wealth of
his country.
There had been periods varying
from few days to few weeks when
the Montgomerys We're sole tenants of
that row of slab-sided houses; their
poverty being fixed condition, they
were merely sometimes poorer No
transient CLEAN of a larger prosper
ity had ever Illuminated the horizon
of their lives. and they had never
been tempted to move to other parts
of the town where the ground and the
rents were higher.
Residents of this locality, not being
burdened with any means of locomo-
ton beyond their own legs, usually
came and went by way of the high
iron bridge; their legal right of way,
however, was by a neglected thor
oughfare that had ambitiously set out
to be street, but having failed of it's
intention, presently dwihdled to a
pleasant country road which not far
beyond crossed the river by the old
wooden bridge below the depot
1t was the iron bridge which Mrs
Montgomery, escorted by the daring
Shrimplin, had crossed that fateful
night of her interview with Judge
Langham, and It was toward 1t that
her glance was turned for many days
after in the hope that she might see
Joe's bulk of bone and muscle as he
slouched in the direction of the home
and family he had so wantonly for
saken. But a veil OF mystery OBJ
scured every fact that bore on the
handy-man's disappearance; no eye
penetrated It, no hand lifted il.
Soon after Montgomery's disap-
pearance his deserted wife fell upon
evil times, indeed. In spite of her
brayest efforts the rent Yell hope
lessly in arrears. For time her
pride kept her away from the Shrim-
plins, who might have helped her. To
go to the little lamplighter's was to
hear bitter truths about her husband;
Mr.. Shrfmplin's denunciations were
especially fierce and scathing, for here
| he felt that righteousness was all on
his side and that in abusing the alb
sconding Joe he was performing a
moral act.
But at last Nelle's fortunes reached
crisis An obdurate landlord set her
few poor belongings in the gutter.
Even in the most prosperous days
| their roof-tree had flourished but pre-
cariously and now 1t was down and
level with the dust: seeing which
Mrs. Montgomery placed her young
est in the ancient vehicle which had
trundled all that generation of Mont
gomerys, drew her apron before her
eyes and wept. But quickly ralliynp
so the need for immediate action she
swallowed her pride and sent Arthur
in quest of his uncle, who was well
fitted by sobriety, industry and thrift
to cope with such crisis.
Mr. Shrimplin's only weaknesses
were such as spring from an eager
childish vanity. and a nature as
shy as fawn's of whatever
held even a suggestion of dan.
ger. To Custer he could bras OF
crimes he had never committed, blu
an unpaid butchers bill would hay,
robbed him of his sleep: also he wor,
! very tender heart in his narrow
chest, though he did his best to hid,
it by assuming a bold and hardy ali
! and by garnishing his conversation
with what he counted the very fiowei
of brutal worldly cynicism.
Thus it was that when Arthur ha,
, found his uncle and had stated hi,
case, Mr.. Shrimplin instantly sum
| moned to his aid all his redoubtabl,
powers of speech and fell to cursint
the reereant husband and father
Having eased himself in this manner
and not wishing Arthur to be en-
tirely unmindful of his vas
superiority, he called the boys atten
ton TO the undeniable fact that he
Shrimplin. could have been kiekes
out Of doors and Joe Montgonielt
xssn,sIa NET Ha14f1afffoa "a hanH 10 saui