The Caldwell watchman. (Columbia, La.) 1885-1946, 1915-01-22

no disgusting the fact that he was
run down. He went to Kenyon ana
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. i
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 a little, but not enough to war
rant his return at that time. He
thought he would remain week or
ten days longer. A week, ten days
and a full two weeks passed and
nothing was heard Of Jim. Kenyon
sent message tt the postmaster ask
ing if he had heard from the young
man. Parker, senior had not. Ken
yon waited few days more and tten
telegraphed to Hot Springs. The tel.
egraph company reported the message
undelivered, that no such party was
there, Kenyon telegrapbed the hotel
manager. That gentleman replied that
Jim had departed several weeks be-
fore, leaving no word as to his desti.
nation. Kenyon waited few more
days and hearing nothing from Jim
or Jim's 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.
so far as l have gone l found a
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" sale
Kenyon. Never mention this matter
to anyone. Understands"
The bank clerk understood.
= To every one who inquired abou
how jim was progressing, Kenyon
shook his head mournfully. He wa.
very much worried, he acknowledged
:, jim had been seriously ill. 1t woul,
be weeks, perhaps months, before h
. was restored to health. He had brok
- en- down completely.
r. How Jim Came Back.
On the quiet, Kenyon had deter
t. tive agency searching for trace of Jim
e. On the quiet, too, he did a thing h
never did before. He went to Parke,
u senior.
d. DO you know where Jim isl" h
asked.
,r The father did not He was in muc
,e distress.
IF you hear from him tell him :
r. come back" Kenyon ordered "Te
at him nobody knows and l say TO, br
to come back. Do you understand n
~ Yes" said the postmaster
as For six months Grasmere wondero
d about jim Parker The town accen
Id ed Kenyon's statement and the stat,
o. ment of Jim's father, but Thought
strange that more details vera y,
m Forthcoming about how the stricLa
ge young man was progressing, ue wo
lls IN a sanatorium, it was understoo,
out no one knew what sanatorium
Sc 1t was after twelve o'clock one Mo,
20 when the bell of the bachelor ane. .
or ment in which Kenyon lived over ~
oe ". bank rang The night caller was Do y,
OF ker senior,
"a, Hes back said the father.
NV Tell him to come here" said r.,
'st yon. '"'o hel
On =, The following day Jim appeared
ao .he store: 1t was different Jim fro,
eo- the one Grasmere knew He ua iIo'
'ei gard and worn and there wero w.. I'd
70. OF gray in his hair. He was e sas
-
100 '"'et and subdued and had litt, .ei