The daily Alaskan., 1917-01-26

more bime by. We had some money saved up for old age, but we've been a-drawin' on 1t for Tom, and this Is all there is left"
 When she went out with her draft found myself boiling with indigna- ton at this worthless scamp who was sucking the lfeblood out of his old father and mother-even his sweet heart.
 There was a visit from the sweet heart after this to ask for a draft of S1s.50, which convinced me that Tom had accepted the last amount she had sent him. Then one day the old farm CT came in pale and trembling, evident ly just out of a slckbed, with the check of mortgage company for $1,ooo. He asked for draft in exchange for it payable to this vampire of a son. We bankers make 1t a rule tQ mind our own business but I had reached a point where 1 could no longer refrRin from warning this poor old man.
 ."So you have mortgaged your farm to send money to your sonF" 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 developmentT"
 "Yes, we lost it," replied the old man, with a tremulous voice.
 Aren't you afraid you'll lose this tooT'
 q dunno. Toms got another nina Re says he's sure O this"
 "0f course it's no business of mine, but I don't like to see you, an old man, mortgaging your farm to send money to a 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 VIII lose your farm"
 The old man stood wtping bis face with bandanna handkerchief, the pic ture of misery.
 'I know what yer mean" he said, 'but ma she won't keep back any thing the boy wants. She never did I 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 a fortune tn q mine before risking any more money on him"
 'ThaFs what 1 tell ma"
 At this moment the draft was laid before me, but instead of handing it to him said:
 Hadn't you better think this over"
 He stood, his eyes fixed on vacancy, slowly swaying or totteriHg, and knew there was a great contest going on in his mind. His love for his boy conquered.
 'T'm 'bliged to you, MT. Cashier, and mebbe you're right, but I allus bshsT- ed in my Tom, and I can't go back on him now"
 handed him the draft, and he scur- lied slowly out of the bank.
 The old man must have borrowed all he could on bis farm, considering the transaction as sale, for he failed to pay the first interest that fell due on the mortgage. I knew this, because saw in a newspaper a legal notice of foreclosure proceedings on his farm.
 Well" I 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 the bank to do what I can't prevent his doing"
 On the street the same day met the young girl who I was sure was Toms sweetheart I stopped her and asked:
 'Ts Farmer Williams turned out of house and homeT
 Not yet, sir"
 "But he will beT'
 T suppose so."
 "Has his son sent him anything to help him2"
 "No, sir. He wrote to say that he was awful sorry to see the farm go, but he could not help 1t"
 "H'm! Do you think son who Will treat his father and mother like that would treat a wife any betterT
 Tears came into her eyes. was ashamed at giving her this useless pain. I walked on.
 About a month after this strapping young fellow with a fine, manly face came into the bank and said he wished to open an account. assented, and he made a deposit of S49,5o6.
 "Will you please leave your sigma ture in this book?" l said. He took up a pen and wrote:
 'sThomas Williams"
 "You Tom WilliamsT" exclaimed.
 ''Yes. What do you know about meT