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

Old Zeke arose and went to his
desk He sat down there smoking
violently. Then he got up and paced
the floor, his footballs making no
sound.
"Young man." he said huskily at
the end of five minutes, you've re-
| called things to me that I'm not
sorry to have recalled-tonight. Only
I'm left in sort of soft condi-
ton to talk business. Suppose, young
man.. that you come back and see me
"Tall business, see you, tomorrow
afternoonr'
eyes, tomorrow afternoon. Pm a
little bit upset-after all that's hap
pened today-to attempt to fix any
thing up with you just now. But"
Jacks face went white. The
breath left his lungs.
elk anything up with mev' he
whispered. "You don't mean that
you'll"
81 don't give a damn about your
measly little pasture mud-patch but
man ballasted with six growing
boys and faithful woman who'll
take five thousand dollars and put it
into paying up debts that bank
ruptcy court says haven't got to be
paid, is wasting his life in a country
printing Office. l only wish to God
I had a dozen such chaps in some of
my companies. | can use 'em right
this minute-and pay 'em five thous-
and a year for their-their-unim-
peachable honesty. I've only heard.
of one other case like this; it was
an Illinois country storekeeper who
walked several miles through the
rain to return some change on which
he'd made mistake. l believe some.
folks made him President of the
country through quite trying spell.
The world is starving for that kind of
men, You come back tomorrow,
young man. I'm going to make you
a proposition
"But MI. Ezekial," Jack began. af-
ter his first emotion had passed,
"-the money in that ochre bed"
"To hell with the small change in
that ochre bed! I'll pay you three
thousands dollars year commencing
next Monday morning to go to New
Y DIRK, take a place in certain office
and leaven a bunch of crooks who
think they're smart enough to take
away my eyeteeth without Old Zeke
knowing. That is, providing what
you have told me tonight stands in
vestigation!'
"Mr. Ezekial, /" 50
"You take my advice and go home
and sleep from now until tomorrow
afternoon Have your wife soak your
feet in mustard water and put you
to bed with a dose of castor oil
se-grease on your chest and old
stocking round your neck. Come
and see me around toward four o.
clock. I've got a place for a chap
like yourself and in due time you'll
understand why. Now"
A soft tapping at the closed door
interrupted him. The plain-faced,
sweet-tempered, democratic daughter
Martha looked in.
"Is- Mrs. Purses husband here?"
she asked. ave were passing through
the hall and we thought we heard his
voice." isi rs 9i
ayes, roared old Zeke impatiently,
"and if Mrs. Purse is out there, tell
her to come in. want to see the
wife of a man in debt five thousand
lollars worth who'd spend her leg
acy to get him out! ifst3f7f M
Mary came in wonderingly, caught
sight of Jacks bedraggled appear
ance and haggard face. lsH
"What :. has happened?" she
demanded f1ightendly.
GIVE just made your man an offer
to go to work for me in place
where can count on his adamantine
honesty Would you go with him
and live in New York?''
"I'd live anywhere that means
Jacks success" ssEEs -
Old Zeke was suddenly softened.
"You are a good GIRL" he said.
"Take your husband home, Mrs.
Purse. He's i'll. Get hims on his
feet again and then send him around
to see me. Well fix this thing up
SO he doesn't need to worry over his
future. | know what six growing
boys can do to. a man to keep him
hustling, loyal, on the straight track e
aMr Ezekial, began Jack, 81
don't know how to-
you're sick man, young fellow.
| Go home.' -
| Jack suffered himself to be helped
down the stairs. The servant helped
tuck him into the buggy behind Mon
| day Washing. Old Zeke and his
daughter waved them goodbye from
the steps and Timothy Bailey who
had been waiting for just such a
l fGnntiuund an unro ~