The Mount Holly news. [volume] (Mount Holly, Burlington Co., N.J.) 1891-1942, 1914-07-07
HIS OWN MEDICINE
BY J. A. TIFFANY.

Say, Joe, do you happen to have a
hundred in your clothes?''
Got 1t in the safe, father-which
is just as handy. More, too, If you
want It,"
No; l thank you. boy. A hundred
will do me-"
AS the father pocketed the five
500 bills and left the Office, Joe Ker.
! shaw looked after him with a proud
and affectionate glance, then sigh
ed. as he reflected how much older
Mr.. Kershaw was looking this morn
| ing.
This little money transaction re-
minded him of many similar ones
years ago, when the posGo,ns of the
two men had been reversed.
FUNNY" Kershaw soliloquized.
Father used to object very strongly
to that term in your Clothes when
ever | had occasion to touch him my
self. But It's the first time, l guess,
that he ever asked anybody for
money. and suppose he found the
phrase expressive"
Though still quite young man,
and highly proper sort of person,
there had been time when Joe Ker-
shaw was as wild as the best-or the
worst-of the boys.
Many were the hundreds-the thou
sands, for that matter-that the old
gentleman had been called upon to
pay out on account Of Joe's vagaries;
and they had always been paid with
out murmur.
Of the most staid and exemplary
habits himself, Mr.. Kershaw had al
ways treated his sons follies lent-
emily; borne them with philosophy. OF
old Puritan stock, he had prided him.
self upon the abseI-ce Of any heredi-
tary tendency TO dissipation in his
own family. and accounted for all the
Doy's vagariss on the theory of some
ancestral faint on the side of Joe,s
mother.
Joe was not particularly ashamed of
those days; though he was not In the
habit OF talking about them, either.
He regarded It as "all In a lifetime"
part OF a mans experience. II
FELLOW was born to make a fool of
himself for certain number of years.
while he was young, he would do it
SO Kershaw reasoned. The only thing
he ever regretted about 1t was the
anxiety and pain he had caussS tic
excellent old father. Sometimes. MIR.
kershaw had demonstrated with his
son, In mild sort of way, over some
piece Of folly more fragrant than
usual; but he had never refused to
cough up and come to the rescue.
In money matters he had always been
liberal.
This morning Joe remembered the
last occasion on which he had gone
to his father for help out Of his diff
ficulties. 1t was big sum that he
wanted, and as the old gentleman
signed his name to the check, he had
said, in a kind, quiet way:
Don't you think, Joe, it would
pay you to get married and settle
DOWN."
OCAOFO JO0 al Il6ntg IdluGI,
he had replied, but where's the de-
cent girl who would marry fellow
like me?"
There are lots of them, my boy.
You don't want to get into the way
of thinking of yourself like that.
You're not bad fellow. All you have
to do is to pull yourself together and
settle down to hard work. It's really
astonishing how quickly people will
forget young mans peccadilloes,
when they see he's trying to go right.
You have brains and energy. You
can make your mark in the law, If you
like l believe in letting a boy have
his fling. but you don't want to let
the follies of youth become the vices
of your manhood, Joe. l don't want
to see you go to the dogs"
You are perfectly right, dad" Joe
had replied as he folded the check
and put it in his pocket. 81 guess I'll
put the peg in and quit"
This morning Joe rehearsed that
scene Almost word for word. He was
glad to have the opportunity now, OF
accommodating his father with hun
dred dollars. He was sorry the old
gentleman had not wanted a thou
sand.
By the irony Of fate, Joe Kershaw,
the reformed rake, had been impress
ed into the service of vigilance COM
mittee, which had been formed in
Swifton, for the purpose Of purifying
the city Of some of it's gambling bells,
all-night saloons, and other sinks of
iniquity," which. according to the pull
pit agitators, were being run in de-
fiance of law and disregard Of de-
cency,
About IL o'clock that night, in
pursuance Of this committee work,
Joe Kershaw happened into one Of
the more pretentious of the down
town saloons. to see what was going
on
Looking for your father?" was the
first greeting he received. 1t came
from tipsy young gentleman in
evening dress, whom Kershaw knew
by sight and reputation.
mo, sir; l am not" Kershaw re-
piled, distantly.
well, of course, didn't know" the
young fellow returned with a grin and
a hiccough. But If you do want him,
he's in the side room there, entertain
ing Nellie Nimbell, the star at the
Grand this week, with a bird and a
bottle Wouldn't like to see you 20
in and spoil loves young dream, but,
of course, If you want him-well,
that's where he is, you see."
The sound of woman's voice rally
ing her companion on some too youth
full gallantry. came from the room
indicated, and was followed by a IA
miliar laugh. Then Joe heard the
tones of his fathers voice, in gentle
depreciation, and. turning on his heel.
he left the place, without pursuing
his investigations further.
The next day Kershaw did not see
his father, at ALL but on the morning
following the old gentleman was
around at his office bright and early.
Say, joe" said he, shaping the
young man ON the shoulder, can you
help me out? I've got to have thou
sand dollars right of"
Certainly, father" Kershaw re-
piled In the tone and with the air of
man seeking rather than comforting
favor-the air of man fearing a
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, l guess. It
won't do, Joe. You must take care Of
yourself"
Yes, father" Joe answered sheep
ishly.