The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1917-01-05

all there is left"
When she went out with her draft
1 found myself boiling with indigna-
ton at this worthlo IS scamp who was
sucking the lifeblood 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
$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
~ Just out of a sickbed. with the check
OF mortgage company for $1,000. He
asked for a draft in exchange for it
payable to this vampire of son. We
bankers make 1t rule to mind our
own business. but l had reached a
point where l could no longer refrain
from warning this poor old man.
80 You have mortgaged your farm
to send money to your SOM" said.
YES; Toms in powerful need of
money. The mine he thought was GO
In to turn out so fine petered out He
says it 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 It," replied the old man.
with a 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 a son who should be giving you
money instead of you giving it to him.
+ Suppose you can't pay the interest on
; the mortgage when it is duc. You will
/ lose your farm"
The old man stood wiping his face
with bandanna handkerchief, the pic
ture of misery.
II know what yer mean," he said,
"but ma she won't keep back any
thing the boy wants. She never did.
l 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 it
to him l said:
Hadn't you better think this over?"
He stood, his eyes fixed on vacancy,
slowly swaying or lettering, and
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 I 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 al
he could on his farm, considering the
transaction as a sale, for he failed tC
pay the first interest that fell due or
the mortgage. l knew this, because
saw In a newspaper a legal notice Of
foreclosure proceedings on his farm.
"Well," l sighed, laying down thu
paper, "the old man has given hi
home to his reprobate son. He hal
nothing more to give. / shall not sui
fer again at seeing him come into tn,
bank to do what I can't prevent hi
doing"
On the street the same day l me
the young girl who l was sure was
Toms sweetheart. / stopped her an,
asked:
"Is Farmer Williams turned out O
house and homer
mot yet, SIR"
"But he will beT'
II suppose So"
HAS his son sent him anything I,
help him?"
mo, sir. He wrote to say that hi
was awful sorry to see the farm go
but he could not help 1t"
HIN! Do you think son who vii
treat his father and mother like tina
would treat a wife any betterT
!. Tears came into her eyes. wa:
ashamed at giving her this useless
pain. I walked on.
About a month after this a strappinl
young fellow with a fine. manly face
came into the bank and said he wished
to open an account. l assented, and
he made a deposit Of S49, 500.
"Will you please leave your sigma
ture I'm this bookT' | said He tool
up a pen and wrote:
Thomas Williams
"You Tom WilliamsT / exclaimed.
'"Yes. What do you know about me- 2
"Son of Farmer Williams?"
yes"