The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1914-02-12

been congenial for Rankin since he
had encountered Broadway Jones.
The day of the banks letter was the
first after he had reached New York
when Broadway did not go about his
gay and simple routine of up Broad
way in the afternoon and down Broad
way at night, with movements SO
timed that they made long pauses neal
the Circle and near Forty-second
street seem natural. He went home
before five.
When Rankin ventured to express
ment at that hour, he snarled at him
GO to the devil, Rankin!" he sug
gested when he fingered.
Yes, sir; thank you, sir" said Ran
kin and withdrew.
He reached the kitchen with face
so troubled that the Japanese boy, who
had sought domestic service here witt
Judging from his wages) the com
mendable intention of periodically
sending home, each year, enough
American money to build warshil
for his nations navy, showed interest
Wat ISIS matturr, Ranekeen?" the
sympathetic Oriental queried
y know men," said Rankin, "and il
didn't know that Mr.. Jones is really
milliOnaire-made it out Of chewing
gum, his family, I'm told should say
he was hard up
The Japanese boy stared politely;
he did not understand at ALL
"Of course he's not hard up" Ran
kin continued. mo hard-up man could
have sworn at me as he did just now
1t can't be money, so it must BIZ
women"
''Limmin," said the Japanese, who
had not mastered WIS
Lemons" Rankin granted. you're
almost right. I never saw man
more popular He spends his money
like he didn't care for it, and does il
we'll because that is the fact. He
doesn't care for it. I never saw a
human being who cared less. Why
he never counts the money on his
dresser in the morning. Just throws
it there when he gets into bed, and
The Japanese laughed merrily. You
gettin lich!"
No; you little heather; only know
he does it, that is all. stack it up
for him. Sometimes he throws it all
about-that and his clothes and fur
niture. He's often merry that way
He threw me about one night A fine
strong youth! I thought it better not
to say much till he went to sleep, and
then, as crawled out from under the
bed, l had chance to see his arm.
Quite muscular it is-just as it felt
when he was joking with me-"
The next day, by chance, while visit.
ing the kitchen, Rankin had sudden
inspiration. Il wonder if he is in
love?" he pondered. THAT Mr.. Hen
riot that l attended just before he
married that grass widow was as alb.
sent-minded-oh, quite absent-minded,
quite! Now, which one"
Rankin suddenly came to stand in
horror. Even to the small and very
yCAO" SOOh ~ was pldlu IudL lIdS1C
thoughts had flashed into his mind
Il wonder" he soliloquized if it
could possibly be that terrible Gerard
old woman. She's, had her eye on him
ever since the first night that she got
a glimpse of him.
AS he spoke his master, as request
ed, was talking with the first vice-pres-
ident of the bank The man seemed
rather serious-minded, although on
that previous occasion when he had
marked the beginning of their &C.
quaintance, when Broadway had gone
to open his account with just two
hundred thousand dollars, he had been
geniality itself.
Il merely wished to have a little
talk with you-er-Mr. jones'" said he.
You know your balance iser-run-
ming rather low
i ia what! r said Broadway, IN aznase-
ment
II ruasing rathsr low
- aanst naosk .that lyo