Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1914-01-02

for grub-stake," he said, and all his
folks were dead. Then college friend
of his wrote rural play called Sweet
Peas"-"Great title, don't you think?"
he asked-and he put up all the money.
1t would have been hit, he said, but
the kid in the play-the one that
unites it's parents in the last act just
before he dies of tuberculosis-th kid
took tho mumps and looked as IL, In
stead of fading away, he was going
to blow up. Everybody was so afraid
Of him that they let him die alone for
three nights in the middle Of the
stage Then the leading woman took
the mumps, and the sheriff took ev
erything else.
Well, of course, the thing failed,
and he lost every dollar he'd put into
it, which was all he had, including
what he had in his pockets.
"They seized my trunks" he ex-
planned, 'and / sold my fur-lined over
coat for eight dollars, which took one
of the girls back home. It's hard for
some sort Of job was coming up
here to see IL they needed an extra
clerk or waiter, or chauffeur, or any
thing that meant roof and something
to eat-but suppose they don't need
a jack-of-all-trades."
NO." l answered, "but I'll tell you
what I think they're going to need.
And that's an owner!"
I'm not making excuses. did 1t for
the best. If Mr.. Thoburn had not been
there, sitting by to see the old sana-
torium die so 1t could sprout wings
and fly as summer hotel, I'd never
have thought of it. But l was in de-
spair.
got up and opened the door, but
the snow came in in a cloud, and the
path was half foot deep again.
But the angel of providence ap-
peared in the shape of Mike, the bath
man, coming down through the snow
in tearing rage. The instant l saw
Mike l knew it was settled.
Am / or am I not to give Mr.
Moody a needle shower?" he shouted,
almost beside himself. And l saw he
had his overcoat over his bath cos
tune, which is Turkish towel.
"a needle shower followed by salt
rub" said l. He's been having them
for eleven years. What's the matter?"
That fool of a young DOCTOR"
shouted Mike. "he told him before he
left that If he'd been taking them for
eleven years and wasn't any better it
was time to stop. Amt business bad
enough-only four people in the house
takin' baths regular-without his but
tin int"
where's Mr.. Moody?"
"In the bath. I've locked up his
clothes"
"You give him a needle shower and
a salt rub" l ordered, "and If he
makes fuss just send for me. And,
Mike" l said, as he started out, TASK
Mr.. Van Alstyne to come. out here i'm
mediately."
Mr.. Van Alstyne came out on the
run, and when he saw Mr.. Pierce by
the fire-that was his name, Alan
Pierce-he stopped and stared. Then
he said:
You internal young scamp!" And
with that Mr.. Pierce jumped up, sur
prised and pretty mad, and Mr.. Van
Alstyne saw his mistake.
"I'm sure / beg your pardon!" he
said. "The fact is. l was expecting
somebody else, and in the firelight-'
you surprised me, that's ALL" said
Mr.. Pierce. "Under the circumstances
I'm glad I'm not the other chap"
You may be-" assured Mr.. Sam
grimly. You're not unlike him, by
the way. A little taller and heavier
but"
Now it's all very well for Mr.. Sam
that, but as truly as l am writing this
as l watched his face I saw the same
thought come into it. He looked Mr.
Pierce up and down, and then he
stared into the fire and puckered his
mouth to whistle, but he didn't. And
finally he glanced at me, but l was
looking at the fire, too.
Mr.. Sam got up and began to walk
the floor, his hands In his pockets
He tried to get my eye, but still
looked in the fire.
All frames held up, Minnie" he
said. "The eight o'clock train ia
stalled beyond the junction, in a drift
I've wired the conductor, and Carter
isn't on It,"
"Well?" said /.
IF we could only get past to-day,
Mr.. Sam went on; "if Thoburn would
only choke to death, or-if there was
somebody around who looked like
Dick. dare say, by tomorrow" He
looked at Mr.. Pierce, who smiled and
looked ut him.
And / resemble Dick!" said Mr.
Pierce. well, II he's moral and
upright young man"
"He isn'tl" Mr.. Sam broke in say
agely. And then and there he sal
down and told Mr.. Pierce the trouble
We were in, and what sort OF cheerful
idiot Dicky Carter was. And then Mr.