The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1917-01-09

a-drawin' on IL for Tom, and this is
all there is left
When she went out with her draft
found myself boiling with ihdigna-
ton at this worthless scamp who was
sucking the lifeblood out OF his old
father and mother-even bis sweet
heart
There was a visit from the sweet
heart after this to ask for a draft of
$3.50. which convinced me that Tom
had accepted the last amount she had
sent him. Then one day the old farm
| er came In pale and trembling, evident
ly just out of a sickbed, with the check
Of mortgage company for $1,000. He
asked for a draft in exchange for 1t
J payable to this vampire of son. We
bankers make II a rule to mind our
own business. but had reached a
point where l could no longer refrain
from warning this poor old man.
$50 you have mortgaged your farm
to send money to your SOM" l said.
| Yes; Toms in powerful need Of
money. The mine he thought was GO
In to turn out so fine petered out. He
says 1t closed up as he went down in
stead Of openin'."
"And you lost all the money you sent
him for the Development"
"Yes. we lost 1t" replied the old man.
with tremulous voice.
! aren't you afraid you'll lose this
/ too?'
II dunno. Toms got another mine
He says he's sure o. this
"Of course it's no business of mine.
but don't like to see you. an old man.
mortgaging your farm to send money
to son who should be giving you
money instead of you giving 1t TO him.
Suppose you can't pay the interest on
the mortgage when 1t is due. You will
lose your farm"
The old man stood wiping his face
with bandanna handkerchief. the pic
ture of misery.
81 know what yer mean," he said,
"but ma she won't keep back any
thing the boy wants. She never did.
| always told her she'd spoil him."
I'm afraid she has spoiled him. You
should know that your son is not vast
ing your money at gambling or some
thing like that and telling you that he's
on the verge of making fortune In
mine before risking any more money
on him."
That's what tell ma"
At this moment the draft was laid
before me, but instead of handing 1t
to him said:
Hadn't you better think this overT"
slowly swaying or lettering, and I
knew there was great contest going
on in his mind. His love for his boy
conquered
I'm 'bliged to you, Mr.. Cashier, and
mebbe you're right, but allus believ-
ed In NV Tom. and can't go back on
him now"
, handed him the draft, and he scuf-
) fed slowly out of the bank.
! The old man must have borrowed all
. he could on his farm, considering the
? transaction as a sale, for he failed to
pay the first interest that fell due on
the mortgage. l knew this, because
. saw in a newspaper legal notice OF
foreclosure proceedings on his farm.
, "Well," l sighed, laying down the
| paper, ''the old man has given his
home to his reprobate son. He has
, nothing more to give. shall not sui
, fer again at seeing him come into tn,
bank to do what can't prevent hi.
doing"
|, On the street the same day I me-
, the young girl who l was sure was
Toms sweetheart. stopped her ant
, asked:
'Is Farmer Williams turned out Of
, house and homer
mot yet, sir"
, But he will be?"
, II suppose So"
, HAS his son sent him anything t.
help him?"
mo, sir. He wrote to say that he
: was awful sorry to see the farm go
but he could not help It,"
HIN! Do you think son who will
, treat his father and mother like that
would treat vile any betterT
: Tears came into her eyes. was
ashamed at giving her this useless
pain. l walked on.
About month after this strappine
. young fellow with fine, manly face
came into the bank and said he wished
to open an account. l assented, and
he made a deposit Of $49,50
"Will you please leave your sigma.
, ture I'm this book?' l said. He took
up pen and wrote:
Thomas Williams"
you Tom Wiliamsw / exclaimed.
"Yes. What do you know about me?''
'Son of Farmer Williamsr
. YES"
sold your miner"