The Caldwell watchman. (Columbia, La.) 1885-1946, 1915-01-22
SINNED FOR HIS
FATHERS SAKE
Romantic Story of the Downfall
and Discovery of Jim
Parker.
KENYON'S FIRM AFFECTION
How the Political Boss OF Grasmere
Protected and Advanced the Lad
Whose Mother He Once
Had Loved.
By RICHARD SPlLLANE.

store. and richest man in the country
never uubent to any one but Parker
bow Jim. To Parker, senior Kenyon
showed little courtesy. When they
met in the street Kenyon nodded if SO
disposed, but usually passed without
noticing him. If Jim was with his
! father, it was different. Kenyon
would stop, joke with the youngster,
buy candy and toys for him and never
seemed to tire of his company the
! first watch jim ever had was a gilt
from Kenyon. The money that put
the boy through college was supplied
| by the rich man.
Parker protested weakly against the
college matter, but Kenyon, who was
rough and insstent, had his way Par
ker was self-opinionated, a bit soured
by his failure to do better in world
ly way and firmly believed if he had
a. fair chance he would make his
mark. He resented Kenyons mani
festations of regard for Jim, but as
Jim had real affection for Kenyon
and liked the big mans company al
most as much as Kenyon liked his, he
could do nothing.
When Jim came out Of college Ken.
yon put him in the store. Within a
year the young man was made the
manager. There wasn't lazy bone
in the young fellows body. He was
bright, genial and enterprising. Ken
yon, who was bit old-fashioned,
fEowned when Jim suggested changes
within and without the store that
were little short of revolutionary, but
| Jim argued so ardently that the big
man consented. 1t cost a lot of money
for new floors, new shelves, new coun'
tiers, plate-glass windows, new light
ing and ventilating systems and strict
ly modern equipment, but when the
work was done Kenyon, although he
only grunted, secretly was proud. Ev
erything was displayed to advantage
Everything was classified and ar
ranged to make the most attractive
display. From a material standpoint
it soon was evident that Jim's judg
ment was good. The business in
creased People found Jim's store
more and more of a magnet,
Jim's Progressive Methods.
Jim not only knew how to sell, bu
how to buy. He purchased prudentl!
and never allowed the store to ge
cluttered up with old stock. Now ant
then he shocked Kenyon by selling
goods below cost rather than keel
them until the following season. jim
argued that there was no profit in civ
ing store room to stuff when tn
space could be'used to better advar
tage for goods the public would buy
This was not the old method, but a
each year showed an increased prof
Kenyon came to accept Jim's vie
of business.
For a young man with so much al
, thority and responsibility, Jim's pa
was small Kenyon never was note
for extravaganza toward his er
ployees, Each Christmas he remer
i, bered jim and once a week he ha
Jim dine with him. That week
/. meeting was the one the big ma
{ seemed to enjoy the most and he ne
n er permitted business or politics to
e terfere with it.
y jim never asked for more pay. I
never asked for a favor but once al
then it was in halting, hesitatil
voice. There had been a change
% administration at Washington. The
would be change in the postmast
>, ship at Grasmere.
Father was talking about the pc
mastership the other day." Jim
marked. Il wish he could get it.
" Kenyon scowled. Did he ask y
to speak to me about it," he inquire
L. moo; not exactly"
Kenyon was silent for minute
more. Then he said, well, will s
- what l can do about it."
~ A few months later Chauncey P
ker assumed office as postmaster
Grasmere.
The town was growing, the coun
around was developing, business v
good and the trade Of the store bro
70 ened year by year. 1t outgrew it's
- quarters and took on quite a met
- politan aspect.
~, Kenyon no longer paid much att
~ ton to It, He had plenty to eng
W his attention at the bank and with
many other affairs.
About two years after Parker
go nior had been made postmaster, I
y pie began to remark that Jim Par
was getting thin and seemed to
ailing. He was overworked. Some
os his friends suggested that he GU
.ed to take things easier or he VIC
break down. Jim, usually the n
kindly of persons, showed irritat
on. when this idea was put to him.
,rs never felt better, he insisted.
pie were mistaken. Hard work ne
AZ. hurt anyone.
But a few months later there