The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1918-03-07

demanded. You look like a yester-
days three-cent bunch of soup vege-
tables"
He glanced down at himself rue
fully. His clothes needed brushing
and pressing. his shoes needed polish
ing, his face needed shaving.
'I'll give you four guesses,' he Of
fered, with an attempt at his old
gayety.
81 only need one," she replied.
You wouldn't listen to your Aunt
Bessie, and they got you"
Yes" he admitted, they got me
and they got me good. l haven't
dollar"
What are you going to do?"
81 don't know" he said and, in
spite of his attempt to carry 1t off
manfully, there was a catch in his
voice. The ginger was all out of him
"Ill get another start somehow, l
guess"
"Oh, yes" she agreed Some of
your friends are sure to help you get
back on your feet again; Beauty
Phillips, for instance"
Hang Beauty Philips!" he said.
Such language" she exclaimed,
but nevertheless she secretly delight
ed in it. this time. Il guess you're
about ready to go back to Prosperity"
she decided.
He drew sharp breath.
I'D die first!" he declared I'll
live some way, though. They always
live" and he laughed bitterly T
passed a group of just such men as
I may become, sitting on the stone
bench at Herald square, but I'll keep
on living, | am sure of that"
He seemed to be afraid that he
would not. He seemed to be afraid
of himself. and suddenly Miss Will
liams saw with shock that he was
'one of the tragedy kind" 1t set
her to swift thought, and a sudden
bold idea came to her!
81 believe I know OF an opening for
you" she said, with suppressed
| gasp at her own temerity "a part
nership that would be about the best
thing you ever had offered to you
Come around and see me next Mon
day afternoon"
What kind OF business is it?" he
asked eagerly, a new light of hope
springing in his eyes.
You mustn't ask questions" she
warned him, because don't want to
disappoint you. | feel very sure
though. that can land 1t for you"
That afternoon between work she
wrote a letter, a proceeding which
always made the boss barber nervous
Billy, however, managed to get G
glimpse at the envelope before it was
mailed. and felt better about it, fol
the letter was addressed to Elizabeth
Ruth Emery, Prosperity Indiana
On Monday morning, Elizabeth Ruth
Emery and her sister arrived, and
| Elizabeth Ruth sent down word that
she would like to see Miss Williams.
That young lady promptly went up to
the room, and was confronted by a
girl almost as pretty as Jimmy had
tried to describe.
The two girls shook hands, and If
there had been any distrust in the
bosom Of Miss Edwards it melted in
moment as she looked into the
truthful eyes of Bessie Williams.
Where is Mr.. Carroll?" asked the
girl from Prosperity, with trembling
eagerness. How i'll is he? Has he
a good doctor?"
I'm his only doctor" responded
Miss Williams, "and the only pre-
scription I've given him was the one
wrote to you. You see, it isn't his
body that's sick, it's his mind
Jimmy CAROLS a good boy, but he's
a fool"
Miss Emery flushed a bit, indig-
nantly, but her sister smiled.
81 suspected as much" she said
Il think your description is about
right Miss Williams. He is a good
boy, and I'm afraid he is the rest
of it."
81 guess he's cured of that" said
Miss Williams, laughing, but after
all, he's no bigger fool than the crowd
that put him on the reefs He thought
he could play the bucket shops, and
no living man has ever kept at that
and finished on the coy side of It,
For about a month he thought he
owned New York. and now he's down
and out; that's all tried to get him
to go home, but he wouldn't go, so
sent for the sheriff"
The girl from Prosperity was non
plussed; also she was honest
II don't quite know whether to
thank you for inducing me to take
this trip or not" she said, a little
coldly.
wait until you see Jimmy" re,
sponded Miss Williams easily, for
she felt quite confident of the out
come.
1t was about two o'clock when he
came, looking worse than ever He
was pale now and also shabby, and
she judged that maybe he was hun.
cry, too, but he was shaved and his
clothes were brushed. She looked at
his hand. The ring was gone He
had made that sacrifice to appear
neatly in case the partnership
chance" should come out right, and
he was tremblngly eager to know if
she had heari anything favorable
She took him up to the girl from
Prosperity Just as he was. He will
not be whittier when he is dead than
he turned when he saw her. For a
moment they just looked and looked
They were both trembling Then
slowly she held out her hands to him
SuddeDlv with sob ho dropDod m