Grand Forks herald. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1916-1955, 1918-09-25
ADAMS. GARDEN.
A NOVEL
Copyright by Paget News s
CHAPTER II.
Adventure into Poverty.
BY NINA WILCOX PUTNAM

CHAPTER II.
Adventure Into Poverty.
looked down = discover who had ad-
dressed him, and found, standing close
at his elbow, the ragged figure Of q
man, who turned pathetic, dog-like
eyes upon him. The creature was an
Italian, apparently, a man of indefi-
mite age. in nondescript clothing
which was 30 shapeless as to disguise
efectually:the vigor Of his figure. His
eyes wore red, as though he had been
weeping, and as he stood with them
turned upon Adam with the simple
appeal OF a child, his cap in hand, he
presented a pitiful figure, curiously
touching and helpless. The man was
evidently in dire distress, and after q
moments pause of sloY scrutiny.
Adam questioned him.
You speak strangely, for a beg
gar" said he. Whats it all about,
did vol say?"
The mans eyes filed with sudden
!. I'm no beggare usually, meester,"
he said. 81 gotta good h~and-organ.
See. over there. She play the fine
tune. But I media money very bad.
Wy Ate'ie s!ii: sAAe SICK. one come
with me an sing. most time. But now
long time she been sick. We no get
the money for the doctor or medicine.
She at my home. You can see for
your ownself If you come, Meester,
that I no lie. And I come to getta the
money. So early I have come out for
more longer day in which to earn.
But ! putta de pride away. now,
meester. and ask you to help my girl.
o rich, meester. you can give!"
$50 I'm rich, am I, old sport!" said
Adam. We'll, next to you, I suppose
I am"
He stood in thoughtful silence for q
few moments while the man watched
eagerly without interrupting, feeling
somehow that his quest was not being
disregarded. Then Adam sighed and
smiled a little, and turned to the
waiting Italian.
Look here. john" said he. "Come
over by the fence and sit on that tool
chest while we talk this thing over"
The man looked his humble amaze
ment. but followed Adam willingly
enough, to where a tool-chest stood
by the curb. From each end Of it, and
from the rudely constructed rail which
depended little red lantern lights,
cutting to their death in the bright
sun. after their night-long warning.
In the shelter a few feet away, the
watchman snored peacefully. Adam
swung himself up on the chest and
dangled his heels. The Italian leaned
upon it at a respectful distance, still
looking up at him with those humble,
hopeful. dog-eyes of his.
$50 your daughter is sick!!" COM
mented Adam. "And you have no
way to are for her? Well. well.
That's too bad"
"ver' bad" said the man.
But how do l know it's true" said
Adam. "I'd be a fool to help you
without proof; you'll admit that?"
Isl. signor," said the man. "But
I swear! Oh If only the signor would
come. Then in my attic I would
show him! Come. kind meester. I
will show you I am no liar!"
earnest: Tears sprang to his EYE as
he spoke. and there was a terrible
strained look about his mouth.
Adam was silent for a space
much longer this time, and all the
while he sat drumming his heels
against the echoing chest and staring
hard at the organ, a large and glisten-
ing instrument, which rested on its
shafts against the curb. A policeman
SoAAA~ y SySAA6 AO OAuAy'oSoO kOA
pair sharply as he passed. The silence
began to be too long, and the italian
twisted his cap painfully between his
grimy hands. Yet he dared not leave
Adams side, but stayed, patiently, as
though under a premonitfon of some
miracle. Abruptly Adam broke the
pause with q question.
How much is the damn thing
worth?" he Fasked. +,
THE organ?"" asked the a
1.-THE same" affirmed Adam. .
"Signor, I pay for it one hundred
fifty dollar" he said. II save and
save. while I work on the street, and
then I buy"
zone hundred and fifty dollars"
said Adam. well, old chap, I've an
idea There's lots Of things I've tried.
But I've neve been a beggar-until
this morning. What's more, I've
never been trained to any work. I'd
rather be shot than be a clerk in an
Office. And even If I were to become
one, I could never in this wide world
pay of my bills OF get married or go
to Java, which I've always wanted to
do. So that settles the Job question.
I won't take a job. And ii I don't
take a Job, I'll goodwin and out. And
bumps. I don't intend, understand
me. that my descent shall be made in
that fashion. I am going to the bot
tom with one jump. I'm going to buy
your hand-organ, thereby relieving
myself of the temptation to slump into
a clerkship, which might assail me If
I kept any money at all. So I'll get
rid Of it by giving it to you"
incredulous but joyful. "You buy"
las the lingering conscience Of a
| narsim oniOus ancestry at last fOrbfds