The Liberal democrat. [volume] (Liberal, Kan.) 1911-1924, 1918-02-21
HEART STRINGS THAT
REACH To- Ed ANCE

kEACH ID fkANCE
Somewhere on the Atlantic Ocean
ship is carrying Henry ]. Allen of
Kansas to France, with more mes
sages from "the folks at home," per-
haps, than any other man ever car
ried to friends abroad before. For
Mr.. Allen is going to France for that
purpose. He is on mission from the
Red Cross to connect the American
homes with the boys in the fighting
line at the front.
One Of the messages he is carrying
is from an Independence, Kans., faith
err and mother to two boys over there.
The night before Henry left Wichita
he was in the Beacon office, his news
paper, in consultation with H. H.
Motter of Mcpherson, one of the
Kansas men who is helping conduct
the Allen campaign for governor dur
ing the absence of Mr.. Allen in
France. 1t was o'clock at night
and Allen was to leave Wichita at IL
o'clock for Kansas City. From Kas-
sas City he was to take the train for
New York preparatory to his sailing.
He was going over file of personal
letters concerning his candidacy,
which he was leaving with Mr.. Motter
for attention. He was rushing
through the work, after very busy
day Of clearing up his business af-
fairs. He wanted to get away from
the office to go to his home for fare
we'll visit with Mrs. Allen before leav-
ing.
Presently there came call which
Mr.. Allen answered. ~
II am awfully sorry can't see
you," Mr.. Allen explained for the
fiftieth time that evening. "I'm just
closing up some very important mat
tiers preparatory to leaving town for
several months and / must get away
for few hours visit with Mrs. AL
len"
whats that, from Independence?
What do you want to talk about, bus
mess or politics? Can't you talk to
someone else, please? Oh, about
your two boys in France? Well,
come on up"
Mr.. Allen hung up the receiver.
"Man coming up to see me who
has two boys in France, Harvey" he
said to Mr.. Motter. ~ couldn't say
no to him. He's come all the way
from independence to see me-
There was a knock at the door, and
a man came in. He looked like a
farmer of moderate circumstances.
He sat down at Aliens desk.
~ know you are very busy" he be-
gan, "and did not telegraph you for
fear you would put me off. | made
up my mind that if did not catch
you in Wichita, l would follow you
clear to New York. will keep you
only a moment.
81 have two boys in the army.
They are in France. Here is their
company and their regiment, and
here is a letter we have just received
from the oldest boy. The two went
to France together, and the letter
says they were both poor sailors;
they were sick all the way over.
"When they got there they were
separated, one company going one
place and another to a different
camp. The letter says they have not
received their pay checks, from the
government for long while on ac-
count of their trip, and when they
arrived in France they took stock and
found they had just thirty cents be-
tween them. They split the money,
each taking fifteen cents, and parted.
Now Tom says they are getting along
all right, but they need some little
things such as underclothes, but that
they will manage to get along, some
way, until their pay reaches them.
when we got the letter." the Wis
itor continued, with tears yelling
from his eyes, "Ma said: PA, you get
right on the train and go over and
see Henry Allen before he leaves for
France and send them boys some
money. l have read in the papers
that he is going over there to look
after our boys and so, just got on
the next train and come over.
"Now, Mr.. Allen" he said as he
reached for his pocket, and his words
were choking now with sobs, 81 have
brought you draft for $500, and /
want you to take it with you and buy
them boys any damn thing they
want"
The last words broke out in sobs,
and Mr.. Allen himself was weeping,
and so was Mr.. Motter.
"Thank you, Mr.. Allen, and God
take you safe across" the father said
as he left the office.
Henry stood up at his desk, wiping
the tears from his eyes.
"Here, Harvey" he said to Mr..
Motter, brushing the pile of letters
across the table. "This meeting is
over. Take these letters and do what