Mountain advocate., 1919-05-02

Mlifer. too. seemed 70 be I'm the
clutch OF perturbation that would
not be shaken on Twice he cleared
his throat az he looked at Corwin; and
the second time he spoke.
Looks like Falltown's going 10 fail
again." he said.
Corwin looked sharply at him, for
Millers voice was hoarse and low
quite unlike his usual high.pitehed,
lssertive tenor.
"Yes," said Roberts, shortly
The three men exchanged slances.
Failure is getting TO be a habit
with Falltown," remarked Corwin. In
a former day he would have said that
exultantly. Now his voice was er.
pressionless. nat. The other two did
not even smile at his words.
Roberts. though, spoke heavily.
THE Liberty Loans are not popular
with the people"
Miller cleared his throat. That's
a mistake" he said He seemed to
look accusingly at the others. do you
know who is responsible for the fail
urc of Falltown TO subscribe Its
quota?"
"In this loan? asked Roberts.
"In every loan!" snapped Miller. II
was the first fash OF feeling he had ex.
hibited. And 1t seemed to Corwin and
Roberts that he looked accusingly at
them.
Its the fault OF the people who can
subsCribc-and WON'T" declared Mil.
Ter. 81 know. There are Ave hundred
small subscriptions to one big one.
Almost without exception the little
fellows are coming forward with their
subscriptions. The big fellows-most
OF them--are holding back. What's
the answer? I've got 1t or what
think is the answer
"The little fellow works hard. He
usually gets only one newspaper a
day. He gets few books-he has no
time to delve into the shelves Of the
library to read yards and yards of po-
litical economy by this and that writer,
none of whom know enough about run
ming the Government to stake out a
pig.pen. He does not get time to az.
l
nor to join cults that profess to pre-.
pare a man sfOr higher thought. He
does nor get into the critical mental
attitude Of the reader of ancient phi.
loSophy-he is not carping, cynical.
theorist. All he knows Is enough to
work for his family, to save what he
can. to get what few luxuries he can.
L.. MT ItRI
He knows enough to be patriotic.
. And when the Government tells him
there is to be a war and that 80 much
money will be required to finance II.
he goes right down in his sock and
gets ii!
Now" went on Miller; the little
fellow has made all the subscriptions
he can carry. He is buying all he can
buy of this loan. He has done his share,
and he's through. We're still q hun
dred thousand dollars shy OF the
quota" He now looked straight at
COrwin-and then from Corwin to
Roberts. DO either of you fellows
know two men in this town who are
able to subscribe to fifty thousand
dollars worth right off the reel
without it cramping them any fnan
cially?"
Corwin and Roberts exchanged
glances, and both Redeemed.
81 see you do" grinned Miller. ma
liciously.
1t was Corwin who answered.
you've changed your tune little,
since last week" he said. 1T was
only last week that | heard you say
you thought the Government was 60
ing too far"
We'll, I'm waking up!" declared NIL.
Ter; "Tm beginning to see that I've
been too narrow minded and tight.
got to thinking that ! spend hundreds
of dollars every year for things could
do without. got to thinking that
maybe | was too selfish about this
thing. make my money here, and
the Government has made ii possible
for me to make it-by protecting me,
by giving me opportunities to make
1t. get my money out Of the country
out OF the land and its products;
and think owe it to my country to
come across when the Government
needs the money. And last night
subscribed to fifty thousand dollars
worth"
Miller had raised his voice. There
had been an exultant note in tit
sounded like the voice OF man who
has triumphcd over some base passion
that has threatened him; he was
mocking 1t, laughing at it.
None Of the men had heard q step
on the stairs--two. in fact-a heavy.
uncertain dumping. and a lighter
step. But the three turned stimuli
taneously when they heard hearty
voice from the direction Of the door
way II scid
Il want to shake hands with the
man who said that"
When Corwin's gaze went TO the
door he got up quickly and stood. lean
ing a little forward, his body rigid,
- Il