The Denison review. [volume] (Denison, Iowa) 1867-current, 1918-03-13
THE STACKER
BY PAUL J. FAY.

nave rev more Gays anu We en"''
pay you the rent. Father Is still sick,
but mother and l are working as hard
as we can. And it is so hard to take
care Of father and work besides"
The girl, while speaking, covered
more and more under the glance OF
the man. Finally she fell on her knees
before him and burst into tears.
"Come y her tormentor snapped, .
sneer distorting his face. "This Is no
place for dramatics. You've got mon
ey to pay your rent, and Il know 1t.
If it's not paid by this noon out you
60. Get me-"
Chester Randolph was not a hard
hearted man naturally. From his
father, who died few months before.
he had inherited a successful real
estate business and square Jaw.
Chester managed the blocks Of tene-
ments which he owned with the same
heartless, businesslike manner with
which his father before him had man
aged Them.
On the day after his argument with
the. girl about the rent another girl
entered his office. She walked haugh'
tily up to his desk and glanced at him
with an imperious, not timorous, light
flashing In her eyes. From her card
he saw that she was Eleanor Malette,
the daughter, of a. prominent state Of
fcial.. :, Chester arose and courteously
offered her a chair. ~, x, -
mo, thank you. came on business,
not pleasure. cane TO- ask you how
large a subscription you will make
to the Liberty Loan ~ d ,--. n.
An angry CLEAN came into the mans
eyes. "Another charity seeker" he
thought. II am very sorry" he an
swered. "But I do not think will
be able to donate anything" H..
"What?' The girl looked pushed.
"Donate? But this Is not donation.
It's an investment, the safest one you
can make. You get three and one-half
per cent interest and no taxes. You'll
be helping Uncle Saln win democracy
for the world. The whole world will
be your debtor" T..
II said 1 did not want any, and that
ls all there is to it. Good day." His
voice was little too sharp. IT. i !,
Slowly the red stained Elean0r's
face more and more deeply. The color
dropped from her face like curtain.
"You-you Stacker" she said an
grily. =: *''''& :. .:
"Leave this Office at once" he COM
y at'.Er1.
"Oh, yes; because I tell you your
duty you. order me to leave. I'll leave
when get ready" Defiance sprapg
from every muscle Of her rigid body.
She pointed an accusing finger at him.
Yes. you're a Stacker and coward.
You're tearing your money out of the
very souls Of the people and then yon
refuse to give up cent to your gov
l despise you, you Stacker"
i. Eleanor stared at him moment,
then turned and went out. ~-!'e,* +.
Chester ran to the door and slammed
It shut. He paced the floor rapidly
until his rage cooled from white 70
q red heat. .
That night he slept not wink. The
next morning he did not 60 to his Of
fee, but remained ut home. There he
fought with his biggest enemy-hlm-
self. All day long he struggled. while
the sweat poured from his brow In
streams. Another night passed In
and restless tossing. At
dawn Chester was completely exhaust
ed. The struggle was nearly ended.
After breakfast, as Chester sat in
the library, thought suddenly came
to him. 80 So. ,:s.. ~.
by George! I'll do It'll" he cried,
and, throwing on his hat, he literally
ran down the. street. 49,
, Two days later Eleap0r's maid IN
formed her that q visitor wished to see
her, but would not give his name. 6he
hurried down into the reception room,
Here she found a man In the uniform
Of the United States marines. A. he
turned toward her she gasped.
"Chester-I mean Mr.. Randolph, are
you a" ~"
"Yes. am" He spoke in a low, ap-
pealing tone. Il finally plucked up
nerve enough to join. I came to ask
you to take my subscription Of one
million dollars to the Liberty loan.
And I'd like to have you watch over
my people In the tenements, to see
that they come to no need while IM
gone. Will you say goodby to met"
She came closer. -
Eyes, Chester. And Id like to have
your voice tell me what your eyes do
before you leave me. I could manage
your affairs better if-if- She
looked down.. q, a.a .-,-
He seized her and drew her to him.
almost fiercely. ,r.... .r4 r.. ..,
Il do love you,"' he breathed. "Will
you wait for me, Eleanor2 How can
you love IA slacker?'
Il loved you the first time, I saw
you" she whispered. Il thought the
method !. used would be the best way
10 save you to yourself, to your coun-
try and-to me-"
And, the uniform Of the United
States marines was not deSecrated by