The Lakeland evening telegram., 1914-06-17
OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES
MAN | DIDN'T SAVE
BY JACK BRANT.

1t met him sitting disconsolately or
the edge Of precipice l 900 feet above
the boiling waters of the Colorado
river. | had moved out there to a
lonely cabin where | could get iEspira
tion from the canyons for my literary
work, with no one to bother me. With
the exception Of the Indian who
brought my provisions. this was the
first man | had seen.
He looked so sad that l felt 1t my
duty to go up and speak to him, though
it annoyed me to think had to do 1t.
Sir" said. approaching him with
reverence, for he was an old man with
a white beard, what are you doing
here?"
Young man." he answered, don't
bother me. am about to commit sui
eide by jumping off here"
It's good place." l said, not be-
ing able to think Of anything else to
say.
| The best in the world" he said.
And I've come 1000 miles because
1t is the best | know good place to
commit suicide when see one"
had to admit that he did. Then,
because my curiosity was aroused, |
asked him why he was determined
thus abruptly to end his existence.
Pride he said sadly. Family
pride. | can't bear to see our fine old
family name disgraced."
And who" l asked, is disgracing
your family name?"
Il am" he said simply.
"How?" | asked, trying to conceal
my feelings in my voice, how, pray
did you disgrace your family?"
Il was teller in bank" he began,
for 40 years. At the end Of that time
the deficit was only $4,000 1t was
discovered.
Think Of it, only $4,000 in 40
years! 1t was small thing, you will
say, but"-here he drew himself up
proudly-"but the fine old family name
Of Griggs has never had blemish.
"No!"-here he struck the rock with
his clenched fist will not live to
see that bright name dimmed. Better
the rocks below, than blame above!"
My mind was working rapidly all
this time, seeking some method Of saw
Ing him. And all at once it found one.
See here" said, In the matter-of
fact manner that Is the most convinc
Ing of all oratory, have you consid-
cred your case carefully? Have you
thought of the dangerous step which
you are about to take?
THE life which you are about to
take Is, in one sense OF the word no
more your own than the gold of a
bank. Ordinary embezzlement is
child's play compared to suicide"
Having said this, sat silent and
waited for its meaning to become i'm
pressed on Griggs mind This hap
pened slowly, but the effect was as
good as | could have wished. When
he looked up at me, there were tears
in his eyes.
Young man." he said, Il feel that
what you say is true. You have put
things in new light, light In which
have never seen them before You
have saved my life. Take it and do
with 1t what you will"
he extended hand trembling with
emotion, and | shook it heartily.
| took him home, and as 1t was late
| Immediately showed him to my room,
where he was to sleep. ! would spend
the night on the straw in the shed.
Before left him he turned to me, and
again grasped my hand
Il will try" he said earnestly, ito
repay you"
! Gained him and went to bed And
in bed | must confess felt a good deal
like the hero no doubt was. And be.
sides that, had earned a friend whose
one object in life would be to repay
debt of gratitude.
In the morning | washed in the
in order not to disturb nv
guest, He came in while was shay
Ing.
Good morning" he said. Don't
you know that you should always use
your left hand when you are shaving
the left side of your face?"
tried 1t and cut my nose inst in
front of my ear. 1t always annoys
me to cut myself left that side Of
my face unshaved and put tissue
paper on it.
But l only looked reproacnfully at
iriggs, and started to get breakfast
If there is one thing that do well,
It's pancakes. Raw pancakes are as
bad as raw peaches. made one irving
pan full, and started another. i
Don't you know" said Griggs, who
had hoen watching me, that eating q
that is too much Drowned Is
ike taking just so much poison into
your systemo There are more green
graves caused by burned pancakes
han old age"
Or course didn't like to be rude to
Gr!ggs, considering that I had inst
saved him from a precipitous death.
lalf baked the next frying painful.
But then, continued Griggs, "a
pancake is a pancake, no matter in
what stage, and should be avoided like