Hopkinsville Kentuckian. [volume] (Hopkinsville, Ky.) 1889-1918, 1917-12-20
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"MAKING GOOD" ,
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BY LEE vERoNE HAMMOND. y

ANVNs NtAnt itNtnAtu AilAcs AIt Itdl
tied that in the estimation Of his rela.
tive he was shiftless and a ne'er-do-
well.
'Tve done nothing to disgrace him
or the family" unused Verne resent.
fully, after this last interview, $50 why
should l go away? Yes, / will I" he ut.
tered next, vehemently. mot to please
his lordly ideas of the family dignity,
but because, come to think of 1t, do
cut a measly figure with no ambition
beyond eight dollars q week. Besides,
there's Elsie"
Yes, there was Elsie, Elsie Todd, and
she was well worth thinking OF.
He had secured board and lodging
nj a third rate hotel, mostly patronized
by the cheaper grade Of stage people
and circus entertainers. Among these
was an Arab named Haidy, who owned
four performing elephants. Verne hap
pened to occupy the room adjoining
that Of Haidy. One night he was
awakened by suspicious sounds in the
next apartment. He went out into the
corridor and stood listening outside
the door Of Haidy's room. Then the
sound as Of someone suffocating i'm
PEELED him to push open the door. He
was big and fearless and what he saw
30 aroused Verne, that he precipitated
himself into the room like a rushing
cyclone.
Two evil-faced fellows had Haidy
tied to chair and gagged. One was
ripping up the pillows and the mat
tress on the bed. The second Of the
marauders was kneeling before the
captive with a lighted candle In his
hand. Fiendishly he would sweep the
Boles Of the feet Of poor Haldy with
the torturing flame Of the candle. In
order to force him to tell the hiding
place Of his money.
you scoundrels ~ roared Verne, and
he seized the man with the candle by
the knape Of his neck and hurled him
bodily ten feet across the room and in
to the outer corridor. The other es-
capped.
you have saved my money and
maybe my life" spoke the trainer with
genuine gratitude. "Reach down that
clock hanging over the table"
1t was only the skeleton Of q clock,
for, removing its back cover, Haidy
disclosed vacant space after he had
displaced a great roll Of bank notes.
"Those scoundrels must have watch
ed me-" said Haidy, ''for drew a
large amount Of money from the bank
today. / shall reward you"
"You won't do that" announced
Verne lightly. "Work is what need"
And work Verne got, for Haidy be-
came not only his considerable employ
er but his firm friend. In fact Verne
became manager" for Haidy.
The big elephant Samson, became a
real favOrite with Verne. He was old
er than the others, but his feats were
far more marvellous. II was about q
year after Vdne had Joined his for
tunes with Haidy that the latter said
to him.
Samson has been going stale for a
month past and at the last show town
he broke down on half of his clever
stunts. I've known for a long time
that he was getting too heavy for pos
ing, and walking up the pyramid steps.
and those delicate tricks. If l keep
him on the program he will spoil his
three mates. By the way, I've got an
offer for a two years engagement in
Australia. VIII you come with us?"
81 can't say in a minute" replied
Verne thOughtfully, and Elsie was in
his mind. "About Samson, now?" he /
added.
'We won't take Samson with u.s."
responded Haidy, and he became serl- !
Gus and sorry looking. ITS the chloro-
form sponge or a bullet for that poor /
old hero"
'Tve decided about Australia" an
nounced Verne in steel trap order. II
won't go. AS to Samson, mark out :
my contract percentage and give me |
Samson"
Verne contracted with a retired ]
ringman to accompany him In getting /
Samson to Ridgeton overland. One .
they arrived at Bruceville, /
twenty miles from Rldgeton. One Of ,
Verne's former close friends lived
there, and, having arranged as to shell
ter and care for Samson, Verne sought |
out Dick Joslyn.
When Verne had last seen his friend |
the latter and his father were operat-
ing a large plant at Bruceville. AS
Verne now neared this, he was amazed
TO find the main factory in process of |
being wrecked Work to demolish |
nearly a hundred four room cottages
had Just begun as we'll Verne found |
his friend experimenting the task Of I
demolition.
"what's upi Going out Of businessr
questioned Verne.
"Oh, no." replied young Joslyn, -just |
beginning all over again. You see the |
new railroad skipped Us and has built |
about a mile west We've got 10 be |