The Detroit times., 1913-06-25
The Fortunes of the Landrays
By Vaughan Kesm ~: ~, ~ r vsss ':a
AnGAer q The PFediGAl Judge"
sSas< end The UnjuGt," ~

, wanted to spare me II you said no.
Now, how are you going TO use me?
| want to be useful. Put me TO work,
Jake; no matter what II is, I'm your
man" He stepped jauntily TO the
fireplace, and spreading his legs far
apart, entrenched himself on the
hearth rug.
The lawyer watched him over the
tip OF his cigar. He saw that in spite
OF the gay show of spirit, his hands
twitched. that his puffy face was
scarlet, while what hair time had left
him was snow white. He had aged.
too. In those years. so that Benson
would scarce have known him. Yet
Julia had done what she could for
him. His clothes were new, his linen
fresh. and the lawyer correctly sur
missed that he had himself met the
cost OF this excellent outfit. II was
a long glance back to Gibbs Of the
True Whig forid goodlooking. good
latured. aggressive Nathan Gibbs,
, who had made love to Levi fuckers
wife, under Levi fuckers very nose.
In Levi fuckers own Red Brick tav-
ern on the square. He had not with
held his hand: he had taken ruthless
| ly what he had desired-Tucker's
wife. fuckers life, and he had spent
fuckers fortune.
Benson's lips parted in slight
smile. II ever a man had gone swiftly
to his desires, Gibbs was that man.
| Chance had been more than generous
AS generous as II had been to him
| the smile left his lips He frOwned;
surely he had nothing in common with
Gibbs-no analogy was possible.
What are you going to do for me.
Jake?" insisted Gibbs. An inner
sense of things told him that he must
have at least a semblance of occupa-
ton. that idleness would be his ruin.
Make place for me somewhere,
Jake. don't care what II is" he
pleaded Give me something that
will keep me busy He was silent
for a minute and pulled greedily at
his cigar. with coarse protruding lips.
I've been brought down to hell, Jake.
I've seen the sides of the pit" he said
at last. II never could do anything
after Grant City busted. You can't
see where II was now. ! been away
from there for seven or eight years, in
Kansas City and back in st. Louis.
but never got grip on things; and
when | began to hear people talking
about old Gibbs. I got the notion that
was counted past my prime. Well.
| couldn't pull up; mans luck and
a mans habits generally travel in
company when he's sixty odd But
you've put stiffening in my backbone.
My Julia will have no cause TO COM
plain from now on. A woman OF re-
markable force of character, Jake
you'll recognize that when you come
TO know her better. Now, how are
you going to use me? We amt set
tied that yet"
Il don't know yet: | can't tell"
said Benson slowly.
Gibbs face clouded.
Look here, Jake, don't you take up
with any snap Judgment that I'm past
my usefulness; just give me a chance.
Because a mans no longer Of much
account to himself. It don't necessar-
lily follow that he's no good to any
one else"
Yet when Benson found work for
him In his Office. where Gibbs made
himself useful in the collecting OF
rents, the overlooking of repairs, and
ness Of his changed somewhat. While
Benson was able for the most part TO
keep him within reasonable bounds,
there were periods when he relapsed;
when he swiftly sounded the depths of
his degradation; and from these Pc
RODS he emerged with much contri-
ton and a multitude Of promises as TO
his future behavior He accepted Ben
sons severity, which was often bitter
and unspairing. with wonderful gen.
tleness. acquiescing In all the hard
things Benson found to say of him.
II don't defend myself. jake in a
tone Of miserable dependency. Amt
1t just hell, the beast a man will make
OF himself and an old man like me
who ought to have some pride to keep
him up It amt as IL I'd been bred
to the gutter. n do say It, been
something Of a man In my day. I've
worn Uncle Sans uniform and. I've
carried his commission. but here I am
making spectacle of myself for peo-
pie to point at. You can't trust me,
and I can't trust myself wonder
don't end It: but it's harder on Julia,
jake pity myself. but I pity her
more" and his blOodshot eyes would
All with ready tears.
He was not an agreeable sight at
such times. but the next day he would
be himself again: the man of the
world; the man who had mingled in
large affairs. and TO whom other men
had deferred and conceded, paying
court: and he was ready to criticise
his patrons business methods, his ex.
actness In matters Of detail: infer
ring plainly that his own methods
had been suited to bigger things, big
ger stakes. and a wider outlook.
Denson's attitude was one of min
gled tyranny and kindness. For days
together he limited his intercourse
with the general to sharp commands,
indicating Enthusiastically that he pre-.
ferred to see just as little Of him az
possible; but Gibbs always met his
severity with an air OF large and gen.
iaI tolerance. Again Benson's mood
would be one OF studied consideration
and friendship. when he would seem
to invite the intimacy Gibbs was al
ways anxious to thrust upon him. TO
Gibbs expansive temperament. afYec-
ton was as much part Of his life
as the air he breathed; and since he
could no longer glorify himself. he
ended by clarifying the friend who
hAA 81 l.