The Emmett index. [volume] (Emmett, Idaho) 1893-1925, 1913-09-25
His Portrait
How a Rich Man
Paid For an
Injustice
By ANDREW C. EWING


recently died leaving no estate. an
Edgar, far FROM having the means b
study profession, was Obliged q
support bis mother lie Obtained
position IN the mercantile house o
Gold win x Co. AT SIS week.
Mr. Goodwin claimed that n business
plant sboaid be run on strictly bust
ness principles lie paid very low
salaries. not inquiring into the honesty
of his less important employees. his
chief object being 20 get his work done
cheaply. He figured thar he could af
ford to lose small sums now and then
rather than pay an increase OF sala ries
for honesty Besides. he had an In
expensive detective service which con
sisted OF himself only. He would
place bills on his desk In his private
ONCE. go out. set watch on who
entered. and II the bills were missing
on his return would know who had
stolen them. Then he would discharge
the thief.
One day be placed bin on his desk
and went out Intending to be gone
only few minutes. Half an hour
passed before be returned TO find
Edgar Beckwith just leaving the room.
Come back" said Goodwin.
Edgar went back into tho room and
when asked what he had wanted said
that be had been sent with a message
by the head OF one OF the departments
While be was delivering the message
Goodwin was looking for the bill he had
left exposed. II was gone He said
nothing abont Il to Edgar. but the next
morning the boy was notified that be
was disc harged.
Edgnr was not minded TO submit pm
tiently to an imposition He went &c
Mr. Goodwin and said to him that since
his services were no longer required ne
would not object to leaving the con
Germ. but certificate OF good charac
ter would be- necessary 10 enable bin |
to ind another place.
''lt's against my rule to give certii
Gates OF good character. | require none
when | nire persons. and what / don'i
ask | don't give
Then tell me the reason of my dis
charge
THAT decline To do also Should
give yuu the reason yon would call
upon me To prove It. That would take
time. Time Is money"
Edgar saw by the resolute look on
the mans face that he would gain
nothing by pressing tile matter and
left with anger In his heart. tie went
straight 10 he head OF his department
and asked for an explanation He was
given the reason OF his discharge and
advised not 10 stir the matter because
II could only result 10 bis injury.
There had been two other persons In
Goldwin's private office besides Edgar,
Dne OF whom had taken the bill But
L would be difficult 10 prove this even
r an opportunity bad been offered
Edgar went home aud talked the mat
GER over with his mother. After think
ng OF IL she counseled him 10 swallow {
he pill. Since he had not been openly !
accused II was not incumbent upon |
lin 10 make u defense. aud N ne made Q
defense there was every chance that l
le would not be able ~ prove mis- limo
ence a
Ii happened at this dune that news a
anne or the death OF an uncle OF Ed s
airs, who left hin the sum OF x3UOO u
lie resolved TO apply part OF II tG n
tudying art. and since this would OBJ p
late the necessity of his obtaining an. y
Their position be concluded to accept c
Is mothers advice. But he swurs &c Il
imseif that companion object t.
nccess In bis profession should be to q
get even" with the man who had re u
Used him an opportunity TO vindicate u
imselr FROM charge OF being thief. u
Young Beck with's talent lay In trans
lifting human face TO canvas. This b
'as evident from the first. aud he re Il
lived To become portrait painter. IL
eyertheess he painted portraits for Il
ears before be obtained a reputation al
II excellent WORK But at last he hi
ceived an order TO paint the portrait Ct
: promient Judge on the bench IA
I'd succeeded in making very life hi
Se representation of his subject. The D,
iinting was hung In courthouse. W
Id every one WHO saw II admired It. TO
From this time Beckwith received th
ders from prominent men. and every dc
'rtrait of such added to his repnta- oN
IN. Not only prominence in his art.
1t money. came To him. Persons of In
ealth Hooked to him TO have them tri
Ives represented on canvas O.
Twelve years passed since Beckwith Al
ID ceased to he clerk and become W
] artist. He had grown beard. and OF
) hair was already tiecked with gray. W
great change had come TO his ap- pr
arance since be bad been an en- re
oyee In the house of Goodwin & Co. eS
le morning a carriage drove up to IN
3 studio and a man came UP the
airs. The moment he entered Beck "
th recognized him as his former W.
lployer. Bnt the artist saw that be 60
as not himself recognized. al
4 believe yon are a portrait painter. pa
:" said the visitor in tone he wound I'd
We used If he had been asking If a 20
an sold mouse traps. Al
u am" replied Beckwith. dreading
st his voice should give him away "a
,ldwtn went up to a portrait stand tr
& on a table, took out q pair Of ! pr