The record., 1913-10-02
CAL CLARK'S CHANCE
ey w. CRAWFORD SHERLOCK.

Five feet one was the height Of Cal
Clark and this was only when he stood
upon his good leg. When he rested
upon his short. twisted limb, 1t was
with difficulty that he could reach the |
five-foot mark. In addition to the mis- |
fortune OF having legs OF uneven |
length, Cal possessed a popularity OF
vision that enabled him to get around
during the day. although not permit
ting the luxury of reading or writing.
When the shades of night fell, or when
he was subjected to artificial light. the
poor fellow was as blind as bat.
His situation had once been very
serious indeed. Unable to secure any
work on account of his Affections and
the slender store Of money he had In
herited from his father having become
exhausted, he was weighing deeply the
advisability of seeking home In the
almshouse. Just what steps were re-
Quisite to secure admission to this In
stitutlon was a poser to Cal, although
he knew full we'll 1t must be done. He
made his wish known to his only
friend, jim Collins, a hardworking me
chanic, but the latter would not listen
to such a plan.
Not much, Cal, my boy" declared
the stalwart Jim. glancing kindly at
his diminutive friend; mo poorhouse
for you while I've got home to share
with you. My wife will be glad to
have you and you can do lots OF
things around home to help US out"
After some hesitation, Cal accepted
the kind offer, resolving to do every
thing he could In return for the home
he would have. Mrs. Collins soon
grew to be very fond of the little man,
who would do anything sooner than
eat the bread Of dependence.
Calls chief delight was In the eve
ings after Jim returned from work.
The supper dishes cleared away and
the children tucked snugly into bed.
the two men would sit with their
pipes, Jim reading and Cal listening,
to the evening paper.
Thus they lived until an event oc-
Cured that came near upsetting the
ARRANGEMENTS of the little home. Jim
into a dangerous fever that prostrated
him for weeks. He was one Of those
easy-going men who took life as 1t
came and 1t so happened that there
had been very little provision made
for rainy day. Matters grew serious,
the little stock Of money became ex.
hausted and Mrs. Collins was at her
Wits end to secure more. She could
not work herself; the care Of Jim and
the children prevented that. How was
help to come?
The answer came from the most
unexpected source. Cal shrewdly
guessed that affairs were In q critt
cal state and at once blamed himself
for it. Had 1t not beeP for the added
expense he had caused the family
would have been able to lay aside suf.
ficient to carry them over the period
of Jim's illness. He was the cause
of IL all and upon him rested the re-
sponsibility of relieving the situation.
What could he do to get money? Cal
scratched his head until the bald spot
grew bigger and the wrinkles on his
forehead deepened. He would try to
secure work, but where could he get
it? He sought employment, but with.
out success. Some laughed at him
others jeered him. while others offer
ed him such work as he could not do
At last he hit upon a plan and one
day returned home with handful oi
money, mostly pennies. but here and
there a stray dime and nickel. This
he proudly placed on the table and
called Mrs. Collins to count 1t.
"Why, Cal, where In the world die
you get all this money!" she ques
toned, after finding out there was
over a dollar In the pine.
81 got 1t honesty. ma'am." returned
the little man, but he would furnish
no information as to the source from
which the money came. Mrs. Collins
was too glad to get it to worry much
about the matter. Each day there
after Cal returned with a supply o.
money. sometimes more and some
times less than on the first day, bu
never without any.
Slowly Jim grew stronger and q
| IenStu Was dDlc W Ictuih W WI
Then Cal disappeared. His frient
sought for him but for long TIM
could find no trace of the lame
half-biind man. He seemed to hav'
left the face of the earth. One da.
Jim heard of a man, answering hi
friends description though bearing
different name, who had been seat t
the almshouse. Thither Jim went ant
found Cal Clark registered under tn
name of Thomas Burns.
What does this mean, CALI" de
manded Jim, somewhat sternly. "Wh,
did you leave home and come here?
"'l'wasn't my fault. jim" rleade'
Cal, holding his friends hand as
he did not intend to part with II
They'll tell II don't, SO will. Yo
4 see, Jim, when money got scarce
5 home, knew 1t was all my fault. S
|, started to get some. The only wa
: I could do was to beg for II and thi
q I did. It's strange people will Civ
you money for charity but they won
v give a fellow chance to earn Il
v That's how | did until the day yo
8 went back to work when the polio
r took me up and sent me here. Nov
e Jim, as I'm here, you'd better let m