Oxford eagle., 1918-10-17

--S-1 1NAA- A4dA " Al nE dAl a-s-IfL
She can pay for it. if she does. out OF
her butter and egg money. and ! osn
take the bond and PIT il in ny safe
deposit vault ard wear the button t1a+
sne viii get That will beat taking $50
OF my good money
Publicity Threat.
Sept. 2e This business looks ser4-
ous. The Loan Committee is threat
ening TO publish the names Of all who
fail to buy bonds. I think that threat
is aimed al me ] don't like it. car
talk just as patriotically as anybody
but ! can't do il if l am published as
one who refused to buy bond. The
Loan Committee hunted me or the
streets today. They are frying TO
~put the town over in a week. as they
say. and friend Of mine told me that
had been set down By the committee
for So 900 worth Of bonds, That V,,l
ruin me Think Of the difference be
tween ~ per cent and at least 7 per
cent And a great deal of the time I
manage TO get 10 per cent.
Sept. 2s. This is Sunday. but I I'm
staying away from uptown. The Loan
Committee is working. They have no
respect for the Sabbath or for the
man OF property. il seems. I am trv-
ing to figure out a way to pull the
wool over the eyes of the committee.
Inc trouble is that / am known as a
moneylender, but that is no reason
why should loan my money To the
government. It's mine. amt it,
Haven't / schemed and plugged for
years to get hold of it? And what has
The country ever done for me. except
70 make me pay taxes when l couldn't
.tool the assessor into making the right
kind of an assessment
Sept 80. ! have bought a bond. That
makes two in the family now. 1 think
VIII wear my wifs's bond button and
my own. too. The buttons are the
same, whether you take a bond for
$50 or one for $1,000. bought this
bond OF mine from a Boy Scout-that
Is. pledged myself for it-and now [
nope will be left alone. The Boy
Scout didn't seem TO want me 10 sign
Up for bond of that size. / found my
wife's bond button a while ago and
have 1t with mine on the lapel of ny
coat ! think everything viii be all
right now, but don't feel quite sure
Becoming Serious.
Oct /. This thing is getting more
serious / explained today to every
body that had bought my bond. but
they all listened sort of silently. Then
they walked away The bank Iresi-
dent stopped when he saw me coming
up the street and turned his back 10
me as / passed Some OF the other
directors passed me without speaking.
though / spoke just as / always do
People began TO stare al me today in
q way that ] have never noticed be
fore found a card pinned on the
seat Of my car this afternoon. with
the word Stacker" printed on Il in
yellow paint And somebody had paint
ed the same thing Oh the hack OF The
car. and 1 newer naiiesd Il III ! sos
home Ny wife l. very silent and
gloomy. too. she didn't say anything
about my wearing her button WHAT'S
the matter with this country. anyway
L Ia interfering with business-with
my business
Oct z Tbs morning found . lei
ter in my mail ]; WAS from the hank
anc stated that ny resignation as 4
director is desired al once went
over TO see about H. The president
told me nai-footed that he wanted no
slackers on MS board % directors and
that was 10 get out quick And you
might as well fin oui that blank for
$4,000 worth Of bonds Il you want 70
play the part OF an American" he told
me. We've got your number. b.
went On. and my advice 70 you is 20
buy and buy quick But thar won't pu,
you back OF the bank board ! felt
rather dazed about IL Bur ! left nv
resignation in his hands. ] had been
proud OF being on tha' bank board Il
gave ne standing i is a funny sorl
Of q situation. No one but strangers
~ AON1 cNtAA ~ Sc mt U = pa ~
me. When ! went into the posroffice
though. everybody stopped and stared
and then turned their backs on me.
went into the grocery store and
well. Bill Simms. the grocer. refused
TO sell me thing not even a loaf OF
bread You need not dsrken this
door again" he told me 4 don't
need your trade and ] owe you moth
ing. but I've got boy over in France
He is IN q hospital. wounded II
thought that this country was made
up OF people like you would be sick
and sorry that he ever put on 3 uni
form You won't back him. That but
ton you are wearing or your coat-We
know about that Now get out OF here
and go wherever you please"
Wife Goes Away
Ny wife faced me across the table
tonight. / couldn't eat much. though
il was a good meal. hadn't told her
anything about what happened 10 me
today. But she seemed 10 know about
1t. This can't go on. she said This
country has been good TO YOU You
have made money and have PROS
hot Eafrra tho