Five Mile Beach weekly journal., 1917-12-28


you've given me a big boost on the
way to a decent life by fitting me out
so finely"
81 trust so, l believe So" responded
Mrs. Morley. "You have a good face
and I should feel very sad If I thought
you would think of selling those
clothes for drink"
I'm through with the red stuff,
ma'am, believe me. I'll be only too
glad to feel dressed like a real man,
as l once was. I'll do myself proud
and straight as a die, to show that I
appreciate your kindness"
With the words, Ben Dorkins went
on his way, carrying a neat parcel I'M
der his arm. 1t contained a suit of
clothes. a hat, shoes. in fact, a COM
plete outfit. Ben had come to the lit
tie Morley home about noon, asking
for food, a down-at-the-heel tramp.
He had offered to work for a meal and
had done so, tidying up the back yard
and carrying some ashes, to the al
ley, behind the house.
Mrs. Morley gave Ben Dorkins not
only a good meal, but half a dollar.
Then, noticing his uncouth attire, a
sudden impulse swayed her generous
spirit.
"Wait," she said, IT just thought of
a suit of clothes my husband discard
ed only two days ago. He is just
about your size. Would you like
them? They are not much worn, but
my husband has a new suit of the
same goods"
ooh, ma'aml that's too much to
think of giving an old ragbag like
me-" but as Mrs. Morley after a brief
absence reappeared with the outfit en-
tire, Ben's eyes cleaned with pleas
ure.
'You can step into the next room,
If you like, and put them on" suggest
ed Mrs. Morley, but Ben shook his
head vigorously.
"Not l." he dissented ~strenuously.
''Tm bound back for the city and work,
which those fine rags will help me get.
I'll stop at your barber shop here and
get a shave and a hair cut. Then it's
me for that pretty river running out
side of the village. If you'll put In a
piece of soap, please, I'll make my
first bath for a month a famous one"
"IIl do that" assented Mrs. Morley,
"and- there's some. collars and a couple
of neckties. Be good, won't you, now?"
she finished ~persuasively.
"ITl respect my word, ma'am. You've
set me on my pegs right and I'll keep
right" pledged Ben Dorkins.
He went on his way rejoicing. He
got the shave and haircut, he reached
a secluded part of the river course
outside of the town, where he was free
to disport In the water unseen by 9th
ers and un~disturbed.e
ST feel new all over" jubilated he,
as he drew himself erect with pride
and satisfaction and kicked his dis
carded rags into the river. "Now for
a 1fteen-mile tramp and something
better than carrying in coal or beg
ging my grub"
The renovation inspired Ben with
distinctly new and worthy aspirations.
He more than once glanced down at
the. trim-fitting suit. He began to
practice the erect and manly swing,
abandoned into careless sloughing
when he fell from the good-breeding
inner of former days. 1t was after
dark when Ben reached Faneville, half
the compass of his trip citywards.
He had fifteen cents left of the half
dollar Mrs. Morley had given him and
he invested ten of it In a cup of cof-
fee and some rolls. Then he went
down the street, entered a hotel and
sat down In an arm chair in its lobby.
It was a truly agreeable situation to
have the entree to responsibility ono
more, for no lynx-eyed porter or Off
cious desk clerk resented his pres
enc The suit was conspicuous, but
tasteful, not loud, but it had a GER
tain independent identity. 1t had orig
inally cost over forty dollars, so its
present wearer passed muster as to
personal appearance.
Coincidence or fate, Hal Morley had
left that very hotel as Ben entered 1t.
Morley had come to Faneville for his
bank at his home town, where he was
employed. His mission was to meet a
wealthy old invalid against whom the
bank had a disputed claim of nearly
ten thousand dollars. Morley had
seen Mr.. John Archer about the middle
of the afternoon and had gone over
the business he had been commissioned
to transact. Mr.. Archer was in charge
of a male nurse and after he and
Morley had agreed upon a compromise,
directed him to come to the hotel at
eight o'clock that evening, when he
would adjust the matter finally.
At about half-past seven Morley en-
tered the hotel, saw that he was too
early and decided to take a brief stroll
to put in the time. Ben Dorkins,
Illustrating In the capacious arm
chair, had been seated less than five
minutes when q young man came down