The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1917-10-16

4
sprang to his feet as entered the liv-
ing room. Evidently a tradesman, he |
was such an unoffensive, humble, lit
big eyes that met mine half timidly.
you are Mrs. Graham?" he queried.
Yes, am Mrs. Graham" answer
ed. Pray be seated again. What
can l do for your
Il am sorry to trouble you, madam"
he said, but I can never find Mr..
Graham in. and this has been running
a long time"
He held cut folded paper open.
ed It. and read:
"Mr. Richard Graham, Dr.:
ITO Tourafne Bros. cleaners and
dyers. Balance July 2. 1914. $27.35."
I made mental calculation. Why,
his bill was over a year old! What
did 1t mean? Was 1t possible that
Dicky. lucky, prosperous Dicky who,
knew. had plenty OF ready money,
was careless or worse-about the pay
ment Of bills such as these to trades
| men who so evidently needed the
money?
/ There must be some mistake"
/ said, looking at the man. II am sure
/ Mr.. Graham cannot know about this
or he would have paid 1t long before
| this"
| The man coughed deprecatingly.
/ II am sorry to say 1t. Mrs. Graham,
but Mr.. Graham does know 1t. In fact,
he stopped sending his clothes to me
/ to be cleaned and pressed last sum.
mer because asked him for the bill.
| You see | didn't know he had guests
| when came to his studio, and he
was much annoyed. He told me then
I could wait till--well-ma'am, guess
I'd better not tell you just what he
did say. but he meant I'd have to
wait a long time for my money. did
not trouble him again for several
months, for l hoped he would think
better Of 1t and come back--he had
traded with me for years, Mr.. Graham
had-but I've given that up now, and
do need the money. / must have it,
in fact
"You shall have it," said impul-
sively. ] went swiftly to my bedroom
| and emptied nay purse. Yes, there
was enough, three ten-dollar bills and
some small change were there. I took
the bills and went back to the living
room
Here is your money" said. hand.
! ing it to him. "Will you kindly re-
ceipt the bill?"
But Mr. Touraine was looking at
the money In embarrassed fashion.
Il shall have to come again." he
said slowly, "or perhaps you wouldn't
mind giving me part Of the money.
You see, collections are SO bad and
times are so hard I have very little
! ready money, and today none at all
for change"
The embarrassed flush on his face
was not as deep as the one on my
own. Here Dicky and had every
comfort and many Of the Injuries, and
this poor tradesman, to whom Dicky
owed money long due, was forced to
such straits.
Take it ALL" said, pushing it to-
ward him, and, indeed, the very sight
| of the money was hateful to me.
Give me the receipted bill, and then
some time when you are passing this
way you may bring me the change"
I wanted to tell him to keep the
change, but something about the man
warned me not to make the offer He
| was no mendicant, only man who
wished his rights and nothing more.
He took a fountain pen from his
pocket, adjusted 1t in precise, method
ical fashion. receipted the account in
full, folded the bills and put them in
his pcsket, and made me an old-fash-
Toned bo
Il am very grateful, Mrs. Graham"
he said. II hope Mr.. Graham will not
be angry. will return with the
change later"
1t was not until the door had closed
| behind him that / realized the full
force Of his remark. After all, this
was Dicky's affair, not mine had
paid bill which he had deliberately
ignored. Would he consider my ac-