Evening star., 1914-10-25

ask Why, General, it would be almost like compound
ing felony! Justice! The Bible says that the evidoer
must be punished 1t is not fair to the innocent and
the upright that those who sin should not be prosecuted
1t regrettabe that it is your but this company
makes it nvarable rule to treat defauters without
sentiment"
The General sat and looked out of the window in the
big office building pitiless sky as if imporing it to
show him the way. He tried three separate times to
speak, but his strained lips only trebled and his voice
was husky 1t if invisible torturers stran
Cling him dumbness. His white, shaking hand crept
up his inside coat pocket and took out worn leather
wallet and his white fingers opened it and took there
from currency
a have sold nv home today, he said scarcely above
whisper "at sacrifice for half what it should be worth,
and what could have got for it by waiting longer, to
bring and offer what is left after paying the mort
cages against it. am offering the freight companyor
rather you-the last dollar have in this world to give
nv son chance. My God Mani can't you under
stand? If had been here and he had come to and
told me his need, would have known it, and he
would have learned his lesson No would have lost
a cent, save Jack and me- beg you to accept it!'
He looked ptful appeal at the mplacable man be-
fore him. who lowered his eyes, toyed with some papers
on his desk, and made reply.
at isn't as if he hardened criminal, insisted
the General "a criminal who had wronged many per-
sons by his misdeeds. Why, he's only boy-ust
twentv-one Think of that, Mr.. Wardheirn- twenty
one! And it's my fault for leaving HIM alone too L
didn't dream that Can't you shift the blame on me!
He asked his last question with sudden hope and, al
most without waiting for answer, added, u am old,
seventyone Sir. Is there way that it could be laid
at my door, the door of whose life can at best be
short? But to be wentyone and started out in life as
an outcast is terribe!"
The president of the company shook his head in
preense of sympathy, and said in his best Sunday
tones Nothing be done General That is my last
word 1t would be than dishonorable in to try
to hush the matter up, and say that ].
Anthony Wardheim has done even questionable
thing. Justice must have its way!'
With one long, speeches. look at him, the old man
got to his feet, wavered for moment if through
weakness and passed out The great nancer reverted
to the papers his desk They estimates of the
cost of alterations property he had acquired that
day at bargain price, the place known as 3The Old
Steele Place Later he to it that the newspapers
were duly notified of big story, had his secretary
hand interview to all applicants in which it stated
that regardless of their social standing, the company
stood sponsor for those whom it bonded protected
ployers, and impartially brought to justice any
who had proved himself enemy to society," The most
indefatgabe efforts the public might be assured, would
be made by the bonding company to capture and
vict the criminal
- so easily fulfilled; for Mexico did not extradite
petty defaulters And Jack Steele passed of the
public eye and mind, the aged General Steele,
broken-hearted, wishing nothing than to be for