Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1919-02-24
CHAPTER XIII-CContinued)

TIME threat of the man with the
l. hound, that half Of them were
"yappers' and half were MOWERS n
that he would post them near the
house and stir them TO make a whole
nights riot, did not impress Cyr. lie
kicked one Of the dogs and shook MS
fist in the mans face. But he had a
~handclasp for Netal anu
grur greeting for Rot.
There are men who are waiting Tor
you" he informed the smuggler. lie
tvitched his shaggy brow 20 indicate
that they were within,
A h~alf-dozen men We're lettering in
the main room of the tavern. Netal
knew most of them, for he had had
abundant opportunity for making ac'
quaintances along the border, one
was the hard.faced son OF Blaze Con-
don. One he knew as Zealor Whynot
who made a business of smusgling
lieuor into prohibition sections, and
wore n tin tank fitted to his body
under his coat, like a corselet.
81 sent word TO a few OF the boys
to meet US here" Roi informed Beau
lieu. We'll take 'em along north
with us. If there's anybody who is
interested in making a scrap out OF
this, my boys will come in handy"
Beaulieu bridled a bit.
You take my business and run It
for me, eh?"
You have shown hat YOU need a
manager-and the girl needs one, too.
There isn't going to be any more fool.
ing about this thing"
One person in the room was not
of the group OF Roi's men. Netal saw
him and seemed to lose interest
promptly in the recruits. lie strobe
across and shook his finger under the
mans nose.
why don't you come when o
agree and pay the money, eh?'
The man mumbled a reply, darting
furtive side glances Of shame at the
listeners. He rubbed his palms ner-
vously on his patched knee.
You may as well talk loud when
you tell me another lie about why
you dc not come and pay" shouted
Vetal. These men, maybe, would like
to learn lies about how not to pay"
"I haven't lied; l have told the
truth to you. l haven't the money to
pay. That's the truth. I have worked
hard. The money has come slow"
"Ah, IL you swallow a straight nail
you will cough It up turned into a
corkscrew! No straight truth comes
warning. 1 shall come and take the
horses-I shall take the cows"
The man was pricked into rebellion
by this attack before them all.
IF you take my horses I cannot
earn money TO pay you. II you take
my cows my children will starye."
"I shall come and take them"
The man leaped to his feet. He
had covered at first, a shrinking debt.
or before an accusing creditor. His
shame became the sudden anger OF a
weak nature.
IT have already paid you two dol.
lars for every dollar I borrowed. And
I still owe you more than you gave
me in the first place. I have been a
slave to you. I have worked hard. My
wife and children have been without
the things they need so that you
might have. 1t is not right.
You borrowed - you came and
begged for the money and agreed to
the interest. / did not hunt you up
and foroe the money into your hands
II borrowed TO send to the big city
for q doctor to make my poor wife
well when she was dying" declared the
man, p~assionately. He was appealing
TO them all now-seeking TO justify
this debt concerning which he hat
been so insolently tainted. IT'S only
what a man would do. He would not
fight about interest rates then. liz
would save his poor wife. / have
tried to do right. But the man whC
takes advantage OF suffering and sor
row. that is the man who ought to b.
ashamed. I have paid you over anC
over"
And now propose TO whine an
sneak out OF the rest Of the debt
eh7"
mo, but I ask for time. l am
slave to you; but a slave must hsv
time"
st shall come and take the horse
and the cows"
They are taking the land away from
the settlers across in the Yanke
country" cried the debtor. But tina
is not so wicked as what you ar
doing TO me-what you have bee
doing on this border for years. l an
going 70 say 1t out. You have mad
yourself rich put OF drunkards an
nave taken the money which ought I
have gone TO women and children. Blu
even that is not as bad as piling u
more riches By taking advantage @
sickness and distress and making
man a slave to you"
Il lend my good money. l have len
money for years TO men who come an
beg for Il. i do not ask them TO boz
row. And all the men who borro'
come back like you and make har
talk TO me. I get nc thanks. So m
Rood disposition a been spoiled.