The Southern herald., 1914-02-27

The next day KershaW DID not see
his father, at all. but on the morning
following the old gentleman was
around at his oflce bright and early.
Say. Joe," said he, slapping the
young man on the shoulder, can you
help me out? I've got to have a thou
sand dollars right Of"
Certainly, father" Kershaw re-
piled in the tone and with the air oil
a man seeking rather than comforting
a favor-the air of a man fearing
lecture on extravaganza.
Carefully folding the check that Joe
handed him, Mr.. Kershaw gave his
son a pleasant nod and said:
You're not looking very well, my
boy Working too hard, guess. II
won't do, Joe. You must take care Of
yourself"
Yes, father" Joe answered sheep
ishly.
With the check in his pocket and
whistling an air from the new opera,
Mr.. Kershaw walked jauntily out OF
his sons Office.
That night Joe's duties as member
of the Swifton vigilance committee
took him into gambling room. He
found faro bank and keno game in
full operation, besides several small
tables surrounded by men playing
poker.
At first, the smoke from many
cigars affected Kershaw's sight and
respiration, and before he had become
accustomed to 1t, he heard his fathers
voice. The old gentleman was just
saying in the most CHEEKY tones:
Give me $50 worth, and I'll have an
other flutter."
That was enough for Joe. The
subsequent proceedings interested him
no more. He walked sorrowfully
away.
Though people we're, naturally, diff
dent of saying anything to the young
er Kershaw concerning the old gentle
mans eccentricities, some things in.
evitably came to Joe's ears. Hardly
day passed on which he did not
hear something Of his fathers contin'
ued evil courses to make him anxious
and miserable.
But things reached a climax when
late one night, on his way home from
the club, Kershaw met his father with
gang Of young roysterers, marching
arm In arm down the middle Of the
street, wearing their coats turned in
side out, and singing "There'll Be q
Hot Time in the Old Town Tonight.
Catching sight of his son, Mr.. Ker
shaw broke away from his compan
ions and darted up side street. Fol
lowing, at leisurely, dignifed pace
young Kershaw ran his quarry t
earth, near his own door.
Won't you come In and take {
night-cap, father?" he asked.
The old gentleman accepted the in
vitation, and over cigar and glas
Of toddy he was the first to broacl
the painful subject that occupied tn,
sons mind these days to the exclusion
Of everything else.
Tell you what 1t is, Joe," he said
"I'm going to reform"
Reform" the young man echoed
as If he considered his father tn
most exemplary old gentleman II
the world.
"oh, you know, Joe. No need o
pretense between you and me. Fac
is, Joe, I'm going to the bow.wows
and you know It,"
Il wouldn't say that, father"
why shouldn't say it, when IT.
true. I'm disgrace to you, an
there's no use of your denying it. Blu
I'm going to alter my hand. Troubl
is that didn't SOW my wild oats whe
l was young fellow. That was dea
wrong. It's always best to get 1t owe
and done with. A man may go alon
to forty or fifty and think he's deuc
Of swell on the water wagon, but
he's got bias for playing the gidd
OK, it's bound to come out. Still, tina
doesn't alter the fact that I've bee
trying to do so for a long time, Jot
but it's uphill work. Now, you kno,
the ropes, Joe; you've been throug
the mill yourself. Tell me-what
the best thing for a fellow to do /
order to break away from it all. Civ
the old man straight tip, joe"
We'll, father" Kershaw replie,
after a moments reflection, your
not an old man. You're good fc
25 or 30 years yet; why don't yo
marry and settle DOWN."
You're right, boy That's what
told you to do, few years ago-t
get married and settle down. Give m
your hand! What's sauce for th
goose is sauce for the gander. Ye
I'll take my own medicine, too"
Copyright, by Daily Story Pub. Col
Giant coffer-Dam.
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