The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1914-03-05
on an old suit of clothes that morning.
and started out looking for job"
what kind Of jGb?


what kind Of jsb?"
ANY kind of job. Messenger boy,
elevator boy-I didn't care! promised
myself I'd earn my living without beg
ging, borrowing or stealing"
He told Wallace of his stealthy
search for the elusive job which was
to have paid up his debts and started
him again, this time as a millionaire
in process Of construction of new mil
lions.
II started looking for boy wanted
sign. 1t sounds funny, but it is fact.
My Intentions were the best in all the
world. But got to- thinking of some
thing else, after had walked block
or two, and where do you suppose I
was when woke up? In Delmonico's,
eating breakfast! Turned in there out
of force of habit.
Il made dozen attempts to do the
right thing. cut out automobiles and
rode in street cars for three days; |
went to an opening night at theater
and sat in the gallery; bought a pair
OF ready-made shoes; l ate meals at a
forty-cent table d-hote and smoked
fivecent cigars-practicing just prac-
ticing, trying to get used to it.
But l couldn't. That was ALL sim
ply couldn't! All my good resolutions
went to smash every time l took a
look at Broadway. l knew my credit
was good; the things l wanted were
there; I could have them; so-well.
I took them, that was ALL"
And now" said Wallace, who had
sat, at first incredulous, and, later,
spellbound, during the recital, "you
are fifty thousand dollars in debit"
II don't know the exact amount, but
that's fairly good guess"
you've been pretty quiet about it..
1t hasn't seemed to worry you much"
Hasn't worried me?" Broadway's
voice was bitter. We'll, l don't mind
telling you that have just come out
Of the first sound sleep I've had in
weeks. III bet l walked to Chicago
and back every night the first month
was broke"
Il don't understand?
Il mean if you had measured up my
carpet by the mile. thought so much
and worried so much that didn't dare
trust myself alone. I had the weird
est ideas; did the craziest things. Do
you know that belong to the Saliva
ton Army?"
What"
"On the level. 1 went to Newark
and Joined one night"
What was the idea?"
II thought it might help me forget
my troubles. l played the bass drum
for two nights and couldn't stand it
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 off the train! Oh, you
can't realize what I've been through,
Bob! I've made bluff 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 l won't tell you about a
| bottle CT poison and gun full of lead
which considered using. l 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, I guess it must be in my
blood. l couldn't help it"
How about your uncle?"
Broadway laughed, a cackling, scorn-
full laugh.
Hes a rich man. Have you tried
him."
Eyes; tried him and found him
guilty i wrote and told him I was
short of ready cash, after had spent
the pittance that he paid me for my
interest in the Jones' gum. l asked
him if he wouldn't lend me, say, ten
thousand dollars"
Did he answer"
Sure, he answered. Sent me pack
age of the gum and the advice: Chew
this and forget your troubles He's in
Europe now. He's worth a million, if
he's worth nickel, and he bought me
out for practically nothing!"
"stingy?"
"Stingy? He's so mean that every
time he's asked to have drink he
takes 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!"
Il sold that big French car l said
was in dead storage. And do you re-
member that l said I'd lost lot of
jewelry? l hadn't. 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 confide
in me long ago."
Il didn't have enough courage to
confide in anyone. could only keep
on hoping that some miracle would
happen. I've thought of nothing ex-
cent money and how to get it,