Pocahontas star herald., 1914-02-20

Il started looking for a 'boy-wanted
sign. Il sounds funny. but II Is a fact.
My intentions were the best In oil the
world. But got to thinking OF some
thing else. after had walked a block
OF two. and where do you suppose |
was when woke upf In Delmonicos.
eating breakfast Turned In there out
Of force Of habit
Il made a dozen attempts 10 do the
right thing. | cut out automobiles and
rode in street cars for three days; l
went TO an opening night at a theater
and sat In the gallery; bought pair
OF ready-made shoes: ate meals al a
forty-cent table d-hote and smoked
five-cent clgars-practlcing. just prac-
ticing. trying 10 get used to H.
But couldn't That was ALL sim
ply couldn'tl All my good resolutions
went TO smash every time l took a
look at Broadway. | knew my credit
was good: the things | wanted were
there; could have them; so-well.
| took them. that was ALI"
And now" said Wallace who had
sat. at first incredulous. and. later.
spellbound. during the recital. you
are fifty thousand dollars In debit"
Il don't know the exact amount. but
that's a fairly good guess"
You've been pretty quiet about IL.
II hasn't seemed to worry YOU muchl"
Hasn't worried me?" Broadway's
voice was bitter We'll. don't mind
telling you that have just come out
of the first sound sleep I've had In
weeks. I'll bet I walked 10 Chicago
and back every night the FIRST month
was broke"
Il don't understand"
Il mean IL you had measured up my
carpet by the mile. thought so much
and worried so much that didn't dare
trust myself alone. had the weird.
est ideas; | did the craziest things. DO
you know that belong to the Saliva
ton Army7"
WHAT"
"on the level. I went to Newark
and Joined one night"
What was the idea?"
Il thought 1t might help me forget
my troubles. | played the bass drum
for two nights and couldn't stand II
any longer. Er-have you ever been
in Newark"
I've been through there on the
train"
That's bad enough. Guess what |
suffered | got of the trainl oh, you
can't realize what I've been through
Bob! I've made a blum and pretended
to be happy all the time; but. believe
me. old pal. there have been times
when I've started for the Brooklyn
bridge-and | won't tell you about a
bottle Of poison and a gun full OF lead
which | considered using. I didn't care
about the money I'd spent: what wor
ried me was that running in debt. day
after day. with no chance of repay.
ing"
But you kept on accepting credit"
And It was wrong-dead wrong!
But-well, guess it must be in my
Dacous cOuiuu ucip IL.
How about your uncle?"
broadway laughed. cackling. scorn
full laugh.
"Hcs'a rich man. Have you tried
him?"
Yes; tried him and found him
guilty. wrote and told him was
short Of ready cash, after l had spent
the pittance that he paid me for my
interest in the Jones' gum. | asked
him If he wouldn't lend me, say, ter
thousand dollars"
Did he answer"
Sure, he answered. Sent me a pack
age q the gum and the advice: Chew
this and forget your troubles He's in
Europe now He's worth a million. il
he's worth a nickel, and he bought me
out for practically nothing!"
"Stingy?"
"Stingy2 He's SO mean that every
time he's asked to have a drink he
takes a cigar and then saves up the
cigars, puts them in old boxes, and
gives them away for Christmas pres
ents."
Where have you been getting
enough for tips and pocket money!"
i sold that big French car l said
was in dead storage. And do you re
member that I said I'd lost a lot oi
lewelry? / hadn't l had pawned it
How's my work, eh?"
You're a wonder I've got to hand
it to you. But why didn't you confidC
in me long ago?"