The Kentuckian. [volume] (Hopkinsville, Ky.) 191?-19??, 1919-12-25
The Test Of
Time
g~~D
By ALvAH JORDAN GARTH


Gerard Massey, the bad boy Of II
village, was expiating the crime (
some one who had fired an apple 8
| farmer Warmers horse and gig, pr
cipitating a runaway. Gerard wa
sQulrming in the powerful grasp Q
the outraged agriculturalist ant
ablaze with pain ans resentment
smarted most under the retaliation
that half dozen of his comrades a
distance were Witnesses OF his cast
cation. Nearer by litde Efie Warne
his true friend, though a sOrrowfu
mourner over his constant escapades
was sobbing as though her hear
would break.
The farmer had snatched up heavi
leather strap and doubled 1t to raiE
the singing blows on Gerard's shout
ders. At length he gave Gerard a films
and the strap after him.
"There, young mani" he painted
There's more In store for you If you
come meddllng about my place again..
II could kill your Kissed out Ger
ard in wild paroxysm of rage. Il
hate you. and I'll raise crowd and
hang You to tree with this very
strap ~ Herseized 1t as he spoke. Ger
ard, gaining a. grove Just beyond the
farmhouse, flung himself down, his
mind tempest tossed with Thoughts OF
direful revenge.
"Tll keep this strap" he declared.
"Tn face that man with it sometime
when the odds are equal" He was an
orphan and his life with distant rel
alive had few charms to hold him to
Rushville He was in disgrace. he had
been whipped publicly A gentler spir-
II came to him rs he thought of Efiie.
He left Rushvilie that night. His
last act was to indite a rude pencilied
scrawl to Effie. II shall never forget
yon," he wrote, land you have been
kind to me like an own sister. but
/ VIII never forgive your father, l new
er threw the apple. Think Iil give
away my friends, though! I'm going
away to make my living and grow big
enough to some day make yosr father
pay for disgraeing me-"
Geratd's plans for the future were
vague. 1t seemed, showeveF. > that for
tune favored the homeless lad from
the start Ten milSe from RHshSiiIe
he was overtaken, by man driving
an automobile He looked pale. and
weakly as he hailed the foot traveller.
"Are you going farT' he Inquired. Z
"Anywhere to get9wsrk. . responded
Gerard. .sS -
I'Dshire y6se ef=<a1fi on Eve hun
dred mile trip to Chicago and am an
an invalid. I can manage the wheel
but Il ..exhausts me to
get out of the machine. I'll pay you
wcll; TO- attend to the various little
Chores for ne-Ses, and maybe find
you further work when we reach the
city,.
TR~ later went 20 large hptcl for
the night and Gerard slept on a cot
IN s.e room occupied by his employer
ready for any service required. II was
Just after midnight when Gerard
lroSsed to dread alarm. The room
was filed with smoke, beyond the win
low was a glare, yells and screams
echoed through the building. He ran
IL the door and tore it open. Beyond
4 roaring mass of flames presented.
.i":Nve are hedged In from below; our
,nly chance is@by the window" said
5erard. but n glance there was scarce
y encrura g'ng. Ills invalid charge
was petically helpless. Quick witted
n action however, Gerard followed
mt ne nly desperate plan in vieY
Aftc. BE had accomplished this he
.ould arcely credit the details. Five
'cc, ov WIS o jufiing section Of
-oes e further below that was the
uu i1g cornice. of an adjoining
Duneme The strap was the only
ncdum Gerard could adopt, first 10
over tas companion. BIT for this frail
strand Of life both would have per
shed
Endeared 10 him by his courage and
iaring the invalid took up Gerard as
protege Five years later when the
'orpier died he left Gerard large
business, and the emotions and im-
,ulses of the latter drifted into the
nature experience OF the successful
business man.
"The strap has brought me luck
many time" meditated Gerard. ''3ut
or It would never have left home,
rat for Il ] would have lost my life
II the hotel Are. What q Wild hater
was Of old John Warner IN those
lays. and'T wonder what has Rsesms
n little Enie!"
One day there came to -hle desk
! Young lady Dihldentiy she told that
the had applied for a position to the
manager snhject to tlse approval Of
his employer AS Gerard looked mp
he pas, suddenly bufst upon his. as
Ionished vision. Thep the applicant
started and the light of recognition
anne into her face \
Ge-ard Gently smoke her name and
ook her hand. How lovely had Efae
'rowni He encouraged her to talk.