The evening Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1918-1920, 1919-03-22

Dung man, WnaL on eafLn are you
talking about? Who are you, any
way?"
"My names Purse. I'm foreman
at the local newspaper office.
"And what is it you're all wrought
up about?"
"My wife coming here to ask you
for money"
"But your wife hasn't been here
to ask me for money"
"Then Pm glad and relieved .
and all can do is to apologize.
"But what should prompt her to do
such a thing? What kind of a wife
have you got, anyhow"
"a better than l Deserve" Jack
answered. He moved toward the
door.
"Wait minute, young man! This
is a fine way to come in here and
interrupt and mystify an old fellow.
What's back of all this, anyhow"
cts too long a story to bother
you with. I'd be only taking your
valuable time"
"I'm the best judge of that. What's
the matter with you? Are you ill.,"
"I'm sort of wrought up with over
work and worry. When a man faces
the proposition of bringing up six
boys and educating them on the
wages of a printing office, he realizes
that unless he gets into business
sometime, sooner or later. he's go
ing to give out. Maybe Pm reaching
that time"
"Six boys! Have you got six
boys?"
eyes, sir"
"And a wife that goes around look
ing for capital for her husbands
busines5?"
"Y es, "-miserably.
"Wait a minute, young man,-don't
be in such damned hurry"
The canny old fnancier and dealer
in human nature saw suddenly dis
traught, over-taxed, grimly honest
young workingman who had reached
place in life's struggle where he
knew not how to turn or what to do.
He took note of the high forehead,
the fine face, the direct eyes, the
threadbare clothes, the bonifde en-
barrassment. And something in the
picture touched him. Maybe the
melancholy November night had
something to do with it-and the
rain tapping against the glass. May
be it was the sorrow which had come
our townspeople at the time had
learned nothing. Maybe it was
something deep within the reference
to six growing boys and wife who
went after capital for her husband.
Anyhow, old man Ezekial was sud-
denly kind,-just a very human and
sympathetic old man who came a.
round the corner of his desk and
/ showed an enormous leather chair
before the blazing logs for Jack and
brought forward another for him
self
"Sit down, young man." he invited.
"Sit down and let's visit for little
while. You look sort of played out. .
"But your time is
"I'm tired of business tonight. 1t
would be well for me if laid it aside,
was only busying myself try
ing to forget something. Won't
you sit down and-have a smoker"
Have a smokei With old mar
Ezekial whose name was a financial
furry in six statesi Jack moved for.
ward in dazc,-as though the re-
, quest was a command.
He sank down into the patriciar
chair, putting his wet cap behind him
His trousers legs Immediately begar
to steam. The old ,fnancier opened
the top drawer of his desk ant
brought out long thin cigar-box
Jack took one of the Havanas will
raw red fingers.
sNow then, just for the SAX,
of some memories of my own,
tell me about the wife and six boy.
and the-struggle to get into bust
ness.
"Mr. Ezekial, how can you pos
sibly be interested in that"
I "We've all been there, sons,-we'v
| all been there"