The Big Sandy news. [volume] (Louisa, Ky.) 1885-1929, 1914-04-17
HIS own MEDICINE
BY J. A. TIFFANY.

Say, Joe, do you happen to have
hundred in your clothes?"
Got 1t in the safe, father-which
is Just as handy. More. too, If you
want It"
NO; thank you, boy. A hundred
will do me-"
AS the father pocketed the five
$40 bills and left the office, Joe Ker-
shaw looked after him with 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 positions 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. guess,
that he ever asked anybody for
money, and / suppose he found the
phrase expressive"
Though still quite a young man,
and highly proper sort of person,
| there had been time when Joe ker-
shaw was as wild as the best-or the
gorst-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 leni
emily; borne them with philosophy. OF
old Puritan stock, he had prided him
self upon the absence of any heredi
tary tendency to dissipation in his
own family, and accounted for all the
boys vagaries 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 1t as "all in lifetime
part of mans experience. If q
fellow was born to make fool OF
himself for a certain number Of years
while he was young, he would do it
so Kershaw reasoned. The only thing
he ever regretted about II was the
anxiety and pain he had caused his
/ al 20 Nv
Kershaw had demonstrated with his
son. In a mild sort of way, over some
piece Of folly more fragrant thar
usual; but he had never refused &c
cough up and come to the rescue
In money matters he had always beer
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 hac
said, in a kind, quiet way
Don't you think, Joe, 1t woulc
pay you to get married and settle
DOWN."
81 believe you are right, father.
he had replied, but where's the de
cent girl who would marry a fellow
like me?"
There are lots of them, my hoy
You don't want to get into the wa!
Of thinking of yourself like that
You're not bad fellow All you hav'
to do Is to pull yourself together ant
settle down to hard work. It's reall.
astonishing how quickly people will
forget young mans peccadilloes
when they see he's trying to go right
You have brains and energy. Yol
can make your mark in the law, II yo'
like. l believe in letting boy hav,
his fling, but you don't want to lie
the follies of youth become. the vice
Of your manhood, Joe. don't wan
to see you go to the dogs"
You are perfectly right, dad" Jo
had replied as he folded the checl
and put 1t in his pocket. Il guess II
put the peg In and quit"
This morning Joe rehearsed tina
scene. Almost word for word. He wa
glad to have the opportunity now, Q
accommodating his father with a huI
dred dollars. He was sorry the oil
gentleman had not wanted thor
sand
By the irony OF fate, Joe Kershav
/, the reformed rake, had been impress
ed into the service Of a vigilance con
mittee, which had been formed I
Swifton, for the purpose of purifyin
the city of some Of it's gambling helli
, all.night saloons, and other sinks q
iniouity," which, according to the pu
Dit agitators, were being run In d.
Hance of law and disregard Of d.
| cency
About IL O'Clock that night. !
pursuance of this committee worl
5 Joe Kershaw happened into one
: the more pretentious Of the dow
town saloons. to see what was goir
on.
Looking for your fatherr' was II
flrst greeting he received. IT can
from tipsy young gentleman
evening dress. whom Kershaw kne
by sight and reputation.
-No, SIR; am not" Kershaw
pied, distantly.
..Weil. Of course, didn't know" u
0 veune fellow returned with grin al
, h,ccouxh. .But II you do want hill