Mexico Missouri message., 1915-01-21

your Father Married
no Disgusting the fact that he was
run down. He went to Kenyon and
told him he had been to see the doc
tor, who advised him to go away for
a few weeks.
Good idea" said the big man. Il
was going to suggest it to you myself.
Want some money!"
mo, thank you" said Jim, his face
suddenly growing red.
Jim was to go to Hot Springs, Ark.
At the end of two weeks letter was
received from him, saying he had i'm
proved little, but not enough to war
rant his return at that time. He
thought he would remain a week or
ten days longer A week, ten days
and a full two weeks passed and
nothing was heard of Jim. Kenyon
sent message to the postmaster ask
ing if he had heard from the young
man. Parker senior had not. Ken
yon waited few days more and then
telegraphed to Hot Springs. The tel
egraph company reported the message
undelivered, that no such party was
there. Kenyon telegraphed the hotel
manager. That gentleman replied that
Jim had departed several weeks be-
fore, leaving no word as to his desti-
nation. Kenyon waited a few more
days and hearing nothing from Jim
or Jims father, he sent one of the
young men from the bank over to
take charge of the store. The bank
clerk was a shrewd, close-mouthed in
dividual. Naturally, from his bank
training, he paid more attention to
the books than to any other detail of
the store management.
A few days after the bank clerk
had gone to the store, he had an inter
view with Kenyon.
$50 far as l have gone found
shortage of a trifle less than eight
thousand dollars" he said. The pee
ulations began about year ago. The
total cannot be more than eleven thou
sand dollars. l am inclined to think
it does not exceed ten thousand dol.
lars"
you needn't search further" said
Kenyon. Never mention this matter
to anyone. Understand"
The bank clerk understood.
To every one who inquired about
how Jim was progressing, Kenyon
shook his head mournfully. He was
very much worried, he acknowledged.
Jim had been seriously i'll. 1t would
be weeks, perhaps months, before he
was restored to health. He had brok-
en- down completely.
How Jim Came Back.
On the quiet, Kenyon had a detec-
tive agency searching for trace of Jim.
On the quiet, too, he did thing he
never did before. He went to Parker,
senior.
do you know where Jim is?" he
asked.
The father did not He was in much
distress.
IF you hear from him tell him 10
come back" Kenyon ordered, Tell
him nobody knows and l say for him
to come back. Do you understand"
'Yes," said the postmaster,
For six months Grasmere wondered
about Jim Parker. The town accept
ed Kenyons statement and the state
ment of Jim's father, but thought it
strange that more details were not
forthcoming about how. the stricken
young man was progressing, He was
in sanatorium, it was understood.
but no one knew what sanatorium.
Il was after twelve o'clock one night
when the bell of the bachelor apart
ment in which Kenyon lived over the
bank rang. The night caller was Par
ker senior
Hes back" said the father,
G'Ten him to come here" said Ken
/ yon,
The following day Jim appeared at
the store. Il was different Jim from
the one Grasmere knew. He was bag
gard and worn and there were streaks
OF gray in his hair, He was very
ouiet and subdued and had little OF