The Meeker herald., 1919-08-02
His
Friends
'o.o,ns,.. is,s. y w.ssss x.vs.ss us,ssI
b. BKvERLY AARsroN

C,oynsAt, 1913. n western Nsvaass usiss.l
When Drury Paine died. leaving
his fortune divided among some 20
heirs, his second cousin. Wilbur Tyr
rell, shared In the same to the extent
Of over $4,000. Young. prodigal. pos
sessed of a rollicking. generous spirit.
he gave up his position as clerk In
the general store Of the village and
proceeded to spend his little fortune
royalty. He bought an automobile.
fine raiment, moved from his humble
boarding house to the most expensive
suite In the local hotel. and proceeded
to loan. or waste his money upon any
old friend he came across.
1t was only q day to q year when
Tyrrell one gloomy afternoon sat in
the office Of his lawyer. ndgety and
worried. Having always seen to It
that his fees were kept closely collect
ed, and assured that there were no
more feathers to pluck from this ex-
travagant spendthrift. the attorney
did not hesitate to inform Tyrreli
oluntly that he was a ruined man.
"worse than that" added the law
| yer. "they levied on your auto at the
garage this morning. and a. you know
attached your account at the bank.
Gregson Is making some big threats
MS to his hotel bill. He says II you
don't pay II he'll lock you up"
"What does he mean by thatf In
| CURED Tyrrell. q tribe anxiously.
"a mean. grasping man with money
and influence can just about wear out
the soul OF debtor. II 80 inclined"
declared the lawyer. ~ advise you
to slide. It's husks and a far coun-
try for you. II you want to preserve
about all you've got left-your lib
erty."
Wilbur Tyrrell made q wry face
and swallowed a lump In his throat.
Cold facts confronted him and he had
to act quickly. He was aware that
the hotel bill included charges not at
oil appertalnInE to himself indIvid-
ually. but contracted by the group Of
hangers-on who had helped him waste
his Inheritance. He reflected a few
moments, his lips closed firmly and he
placed his watch and q diamond ring
on the desk before the lawyer.
THAT about strips me-" he observed
with an uneasy laugh. "settle Is far
ing to-slide."
Obscurely Tyrre,l left the town at
nightfall. He shrugged his shoulders
lightly as he found less than . dol
lar In his purse. A Maynard impulse
seized him to drift whittier fate might
lead him. The quiet moonlit beauty
Of the woodland road fascinated him.
He tried to forget the year he had
wasted. He must have tramped 20
miles when. wearied and sleepy. he
climbed fence and lay down to the
sweetest sleep Of bis life beside hay
stack.
"You don't have to do that.
stranger" aroused him at early dawn.
and looking up he met the pleasant
glance Of an old man with q pltchfork
over his shoulder. "We'd have given
you comfortable shakedown up at
the house. As 1t Is, you're welcome
to q free breakfast"
"Why. thank you" answered TyrreIl.
his heart warming to the kindly i'm
pulse Of man he had never met be-
fore. He was hungry. and a. he was
ushered into Q bright, wholesome
looking kitchen with q radiant young
girl Of about eighteen busting about,
whom his host called Althea. he drank
In q vast sense OF comfort and home
illness.
Tyrrell might not have reached q
permanent goal. but certainly here
was an oasis, blooming, inviting. offer
ing Q warm welcome. Mr.. Burton
read clearly that he WIS no tramp. but
dlscerned the attire Of q young man
out Of sorts and luck. Within the hour
Tyrrell was at work. within q week q
well-liked member Of the household.
Althea Burton had q berry garden
which was her especial care. and from
Its product she received quite an In
come. Her pleasant ways and the
geniaiity Of her father won upon the
exile and at the end Of q month hl
was like q new man. Then came dis
covery. Tyrrell was busy near thu
house one day, when q passing auto
mobile halted suddenly. it, drive,
stared steadily at him and ther
urged up full speed.
'hen be after me a. soon a. III
can get out the papers," unused Tyrrel
disconsolateiy. and that night stol,
away from his cherished haven o.
peace and plenty. He had recognised
his prosecutor, the hotel man.
He decided to 90 to the former HON,
town Of his uncle. and see II anon
his relations he could not borrow III,
$50 due the persistent and ava
ricious Gregson. A vast surpris'
awaited him. A heavy insurance pol
Icy Of his uncle had been discovered
and rs one Of the heirs Tyrrell n
celved $1,000.
NJ wish To nav the monev 4 don,