The Washington herald., 1913-03-30
Copyright by tho Bobbs-M.rrin Coz

finished our business with you." the gray.
haired man struck in He was old Capt
Sparks. who had been very bitter since
his eldest son went crazy with over
work and sunstroke and killed himself
The other men laughed. They looked
at each other; they looked with goadins
hate in their dull eyes at the stranger;
and they laughed.
Here. Johnny" said the young man.
taking no notice. run UP to twenty-five
and fetch me the bag there. the black
one. II we are to drink TO our business,
want you all to Join. You are all in
terested. / take II? And get some glass
es while you are about it
The boy whom he addressed. the land
lords son, a lad of twelve. had been
busy staring at the stranger ever since
he entered the room. He ran awaJ, but
as he ran he could not restrain himself
from fiinging one or two glances back
over his shoulder.
Don't you smoke either?" said the
stranger to Robbins. his hand to his
breast pocket.
wished that he didn't feel an absurd.
morbid sympathy for the poor fool s
pluck sneaking into his consciousness.
What are we waiting for?' The cap
tain whispered II to a mild-eyed. short
bearded man next him; but the captain s
whisper carried far. Aw, give him
rope!" suggested the mild-eyed man:
maybe he amt so sandy's he seems.
Not seeming 10 recognize any chill In
his reception. the young stranger ap-
preached the stove. No one moved to
admit him to the inner circle: this. also.
he did not seem TO observe. This whole
tonEs hean having
hard times he continued. His voice
had full. rich. magnetic notes, but its
unfamiliar intonations Jared OH his
hearers: they knew them to belong to
the East. and they hated the East. 1T S
pretty sad to ride through miles and
miles OF farming country and see the
burned fence posts that caught fire from
the cinders, Just lying where they fell.
and the smoke not coming out OF one
farmhouse chimney in six. 1t looks as
II the farmers out this way had simply
given up the fight
You've hit it," said the mild-eyed man:
they have. Some of them have moved
away and some Of them have killed them
selves. after they've lost their stock on
chattel mortgages and lost their land to
the Improvement company. There ought
to be lots Of ghosts on those abandoned
farms and in those houses where the
fences are down. This country is full of
ghosts. We amt much better than
ghosts ourselves
1T was the three dry years, ! sup
pose"
That and the mortgage sharks and the
Shylocks from the East" old Capt. Sparks
interrupted in a venOmous tone: what
pickings the drought left they got"
Pretty tough said the stranger. de-
rlining the combat again. There's one
man ] want to meet here. his name Is
Russell
The mild-eyed man explained that his
name was Russell; the other men looked
puzzled and suspicious. What's his lit
tie game whispered the captain. 1T
won't go. whatever it is" said the man
next him. Robbins heard question and
answer distinctly: but the young fellow
near him did not winCe. Are you the one
hat wrote to FaiTport. Doctor Russell? l
guess you must be-
Yes. l wrote to Fairport." said Russell
well. I hope you liked the barrel We
'ent and tho boxes. They were going to
send them to another place, but your let
cr decided us. That's my church. you
Snow. which sent them. And for that
natter. II was your letter first turned my
ather's attention to investing in your part
Il the country. oh, tell me. where did
hat tea go? My mother would send her
oest London mixture"
Was 1t your mother" Robbins spoke.
With 4 red face and a Hash of his eye
It the sullen group about him. he with
lrew his chair. making a clear passage
o the stove. I'd like to thank her.
hen. and her son for her: that tea and
hat ounce jam-whose was the ounce
ann"
Il rather think my mother put that in.
oo"'
well. It almost cured my wife: il
vas better than medicine. that and the
ca. for. not to mention that We could
rot get any medicine. IL put heart into
Ter as medicine couldn't I wonder was
I your mother. or who was il put in
hat volume of college songs? ! got
hat You wouldn't think it. but I'm a
man-Harvard-"
The young fellow caught his hand
md gripped IL hard. Harvard? So am
Wallace 90"
Ny name is George Robbins. and
m a good deal farther back: and. as
'ou can sees I'm down on my luck. |
Sut there's no need going into my |
Iard luck story: it's like LOT of our |
tories here. Iou sec where we are
Iardly shoes to our feet: not because |
anybody: yet The cutthroats
nd thieves in the penitentiary have |
lad better fare and suffered less with |
old and hunger than we have. And |
is not that We are fools. either: |
we're not uneducated. There are at |
east three other college men in our COM
nunity: there's Doc RUSSELL"
Il am" drawled Russell; much |
:ood it's done me: but I won honors
t the University of Iowa"
Il didn't win any honors. but I went
n faf
ted there before I went to Harvard.
,ut-you aren't Teddy Russell. Teddy
russell OF the gfee club and the foot
all eleven"
Yes. I am Teddy Russell"
"E. d. Russell. OF course: why didn't
guess? You were there two years
efore me. but daresay they are talk
ng of YOU still: and the way you won
touchdown with broken rib on
ou. and the time all the rest OF the
lee club missed the train at Fairport,
DING to Lone Tree. and you went on
nth the banjoes and were the whole
hing for three-quarters of an hour,
Veil, I'm glad TO meet you, doctor.
.et us have a good song or two to-
ether after business"
Russell unconsciously felt for the
ravat which was not round his soiled
nd frayed collar: he buttoned his
,reck Of a frock coat. Yes. We WILL"
e began. but his voice stuck in his
hroat as the captains rough grasp
ripped his arm.
T guess not" said the captain.
business first. young fellerr'
Russell shook off the hand, muttering
omethinR too low for Robbins ear:
mt Robbins sidled nearer to him, SO
ear that he was able to exchange a
Ingle glance and to see Russell's lips
Drm the words. Watch Orr They