Weekly Caledonian. (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1919-1920, 1919-03-19

'H i'l NfiP l'l bll'll'lt. w men SNp
drew chrck ON Il hg New York
icMrllY house for II sum tha, would
have supported the Purse family for
Il year and At the same time Herb
had TO sell the Holland place to meet
some of his notes, the Judge knew
the end WAS only Il matter of time
The directors Of the Peoples Nation
al called in Herbs paper. That fin
i>hcd him. He made an assignment
Bud MatherSon was placed in
charge to run the business for time
for the benefit of the creditors.
Herb appeared one night at the
Purses. His clothes were wrinklcd
and his face unshaven. His eyes
were Il tritle blcared and his voice
cracked But he was far from being
intoxicated.
Most bankruptS make frantic and
hopeless efforts to rccoup. They try
to convince their friends that the
embarrassment is only temporary.
They go around Swapping rubber
bands on papers and looking
hopeful and important and then
us the tide goes against them
explaining to everyone who will lis
ten, exactly how it happened and that
everybody else in the business was to
blame but themselves. But Herb did
none of these things. He was listless
and silent and seemingly relieved that
the responsibility had slipped from
his shoulders. He got down on the
floor and played with the little Purse
boys until Jack came home from the
shop and then with sigh he got up
and sat in a chair and became apol-
ogctic.
"Jack," he said unevenly, "-I amt
ever asked many real favors O. you
folks cXcceptin' to come over now
and then and take your kids to a
circus, have II"
"No," Jack replied.
81 got just one big favor to ask
of you now"
Jack thought Herb wanted to bor-
row money. He would have loaned
it gladly had there been any pros
pect of getting it back, despite the
fact that because of the youngsters
and doctors and clothing and grocery
bills Mary's fifteen-hundred odd dol
lars remaining from the legacy had
gradually dissolved until but eight
hundred and fifty dollars were left.
"What is it, Herb"
GLOW much money you got, Jack?
That's personal, but I'd just like to
know before speak what l cor
for"
"We'vc got several hundr
dollars"
Herb fingered baby's toy he pic
ed from the floor. He dropped it
couple of times and picked it
again.
"Jack, I got an idea I'll do lit
tlavelin," he said. 81 don't mean ],
down to New York and back.
mean some real travelin' somewher
Things has got pretty we'll snarl
up here. l amt got the stomach
try to straighten 'em out. Pm tir
Jack. want a change O. scene
a rest"
eyes"
"I've done the best l could
Mibb. My conscience don't hurt
none on that score. And this go
away now-will be the best thing
ever did. After three years she
be able to get divorce for desertio
there amt no other reason she CO,
get one for. But, Jack, l can't
away until-untl-"
GLOW much money do you want
1.-TWO hundred amt far out o.
way, Jack"
Jacks heart sank. Two hundr
dollars with practically no prospe
of getting it back meant diminish
the legacy to siX-hundred and fl.
dollars.
"That's rather steep, Herb"
eve won't argue about price
tween friends. said two hundr
warn't far out o. the way becau
she's worth that. But if you was
ly able to pay twenty-five dollar
Jack, I'd take it because l do
know anybody on earth I'd want
have her besides you and Mary"
"What on earth are you talki,
about? Who's she? Don't you wa
to borrow money!"
"No! | want you should ha
Monday Washing, because you
treat her as I'd O. treated her if j
stayed around. l can't take no hor
and rig where I'm goin'w
"Herbert" cried Mary, anxious
from the kitchen. "You'
not going to do anything foolish?"
"No Mary. I'm goin' to do t
visest thing I've ever done in my Ii
lust goin' away that's ALL"
"Herbert-you'rc not going to
o."
eyes, I'm goin' to part with Mo
lay Washin'. And I want to knt
you folks have got her. 1t amt t
ash; it's you takin' care O. her un
he dies that / want to rememb.
We had some nice rides behind Mo
lay Washin', Mary"
Like a flash Mary's thoughts fl
'ack-the night when her stepfatt
lad assaulted her and how she h
rst come to Paris behind the lit
nimal; the ride with Herbert
unday afternoon in the autumn;
ay in the office when Mibb had I
AIDED her finery and Mary had wis
d that Monday Washing might ha