The daily sentinel., 1913-06-23


In less than week the already lonely Leander
found himself cut off from even a speaking acquaint
ance with the people among whom he had lived all
his life He had neither the ingenuity the BRAY
cry to find out why. However, he was leaving the
first of the month for New York City. he paid at
tention to what was taking place in Happydale. As
soon as his father could give him the hundred dol.
lars he would leave.
In the quiet of his own room the old man met for
days hdeous reality; he had to have one hundred
dollars by the first of the month. He went through
the tortures of helplessness 1t was the first time
since he had mortgaged his meager farm that he
had had occasion to think of big of money and
1t made him sick to have to sit devisns plans,
going over petty schemes, haggling with himself
about impossible barczins, hour by hour. only to
come back to the shame of acknowledging he had
no way of getting the money He had Dragged
dozen times to all the town that Leander would
leave for the East on the first! He hadn't exactly
meant to brag But he had talked too much
The last evening before Leander to leave.
Johnson went around to old Jim Burckhardt Burck-
hardt Gin real estate; judging from his ears,
he was in 1t up to his He eighty years
old: for sixty years he had been in Happydae. In
fact. said he had grabbed the town when IT
first laid out, had jockeyed claims. stclen l1ts.
sold new streets the town ct esorbitant prices.
and finally managed to screw and souge mint of
money out of Happydale. He bleareyed, almost
stone deaf and dragged himself along the streets
like wounded rat. He was gray man; his head
gray. his skin gray, his eyes gray. He
questionable gray clothes, gray necktie IN old
gray hat His face scratched with deep lines
Of greed. miserliness, and cruelty and when he
spoke his croaking voice made children shudder.
He the richest in Happydae. He stood
for Happydale; he interested cannily in its
growth; he was president of its Commercial Club;
he president of the National Bank.
Old Johnson trembled bit and cleared his
throat. Burckhardt waved him chair the
porch. IL came to you. Jim. about-about-
about little matter of money.
Burckhardt made quick. ratlike motion of his
head He could hear excellently whenever money
was mentioned. Don't think / do it," he said.
Moneys scarce"
Scarce with me, too," answered Johnson, with
an attempted smile. "You know that course. from
the way haven't met my interest on the mortgage.
But this want is to send Lcander away to col
lege He get work to do there to work his
way through. waitn' table"
"Gad he amt so stuck up but what he work
for living" grunted Burckhardt.
81 to give the boy little money just to ease
things down for him while he's breaking in. Jim.
I've set my heart this you know. amt going
to tell you how much I've worried the last few days
trying to find some way get this money for him.
Jim there amt any way. / haven't got thing"
What"
i've got absolutely nothing to offer you secur-
ityi" shouted Johnson
No security! And want money!" shreked the
other.
ITS like begging 1t, know, jim But be friends
with me this time and let have it. Be kind to me.
jim. and I'll make It up to you. I'll pay you any in
terest you want. hate to have to talk this way,
and ask you favors. I hate to humble myself and
wouldn't do it for myself. l wouldn't do it, Jim, but
l want my boy to have his chance in life. You've
been-wel in way you've been kind to me and a
sort of generous in the past, and =
How much?" barked the old real estate agent
"One hundred dollars, jim
johnson sat twisting his moist hands between his
knees in an agony of shame-and of hope. Then
Burckhardt said: you an old fool. Hi. foun
never amount anything. and neither will that
blamed boy of yours You've got your head full OF
stars and he's got his head full of fog You're send
ing him off to college to get more fog Now III ieno
you a hundred dollars more on that hog lot you call
a farm; but II could prevent It. Leander wouldn't
get cent of it,
Johnson with a rush OF happiness, signed a note
and said: "H it wasn't for Leander wouidh "hh'
1t, Jim"
And so Leander went away to Columbia and worked
out his year, sending home dutiful reports TO MS
father. And 80 the old man lived through all that
education If himself getting the Things ne
had been deprived OF his youth. In his innocent
way he went around the town telling every one ne
met about Leander's feats in Greek and chemistry.
and rigonometry, and French At the drug store ne
boasted to the town circle about these things and
DOC" Sninen asked: whats he going to 90 WIN
French in Happydalc?"
He amt coming back to Happydae." boasted the
old man Hes going to work in New YORK when
he's through college He'll need broad field gentle
men. There's opportunity in New York. That city,
full O. big men"
Tattle crackle tattle, cracke. went In scorn tne
tonere NJ uanpvdale whenever old man Johnson,
mildly exuting spread fresh news of Leanders dis-
tant prowess And all through the four years Lean
der was gone the fires building under MN WIN
the fuel of his fathers boasts.