South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1920-09-05

shown the map OF saiado county. a
leisurely possibly old
HAMPER himself-will bring Il 20
you. II Will be four feet square. on
heavy drawing cloth. The lettering
and the figures VIII be beautifully
clear and distinct. The title will be
IN splendid. un6ecipherable German
text. ornamented with classic leu
tonic designs-very likely Ceres or
Pomona leaning against the initial
letters with cornUcopias venting
grapes and weiuers You must tell
him that this is not the map you
wish 20 see. that he vii. kindly
bring you its official predecessor. He
will then say. "Ach sOt' and bring
out a map half the size OF the first.
dim. old. tattered and faded.
BY looking carefully near its
northwest corner you viii presently
come upon the worn contours or
Chiquito river. and. maybe. n your
eyes are good. discern the silent wit
ness 70 this story.
The Comm Issioner Of the Land Of
fec was OF the old style MS antique
COURTESY was too formal for his day.
lie dressed in fine black. and there
was suggestion Of Roman drapery
In hts Long cOat-skirts. His collars
were "undetached' (blame haber-
Casherv for the world. bis tie was
narrow. funereal strip, tied in the
same knot as were his shoe-strings.
Ills gray hair was a triGe too long
behind but he kept 10 smooth and
orderly His face was clean-shaven
like the old statcsmeu's. Most peO-
ole thought 10 q stern face. but when
it's official expression was off. a Few
had seen altogether a differe.t cOun-
tenance. Especially tender and gen
tie IL had appeared 10 those who
were about him during the last III
ness of his only child.
The commissioner had been a wild
over for years and his life. outside
his official duties. had been so dc
voted 10 little Georgia that people
spoke Of ii as a touching and admir-
able thing. He was a reserved man.
and diguided almost 20 auSterlty, but
the child had come below II all and
rested upon his very heart. 80 that
she scarcely missed the mothers love
that had been taken away. There
was a wonderful mpaniOnship be
tween them, for she had many OF his
own ways. being thoughtful and seri-
Gus beyond her years.
One day. while she was lying with
the fever burning brightly in her
cheeks she said suddenly;
Papa I wish I could do some
thing s3od for a whole lot Of chill
6ren,"
what would you like to do.
dear2" asked the commissions.
Give them a party ?"
"Oh. I don't mean those kind. l
rasan poor children who haven't
hines. and aren't loved and cared
f. as I am. I tell you what, papa!
What. my own childT"
'If I shouldn't get well, I'll leave
them you-not give you, but just
lend you. for you must come 70
mamma and me when you die too.
IL YOU can find time. wouldn't you do
something 10 help them, II 1 ask YOU
Hush. hush dear. dear child, "
said the commissioner. holding her
hot little hand against his cheek
you'll get we'll real soon, and you
and I will see what we can do for
them together"
But in whatsoever paths OF benev-
olence. thus vaguely premedi,ated
the commissioner might tread. ne
was not TO have the company or ms
beloved. That night the little trail
body grew suddenly too tired 10
struggle further, and GeOrgia'S exit
she had scarcely begun TO speak her
little piece before the foOtlights. But
there must be a stage manager who
understands. She had given the cue
10 the one who was TO speak after
her.
A week after she was laid away.
the commissioner reappeared at the
office. n little more courteous, a 1T
lie paIer and sterner. with the black
frock coat hanging a little more
loosely from his tall figure.
His desk was piled with work that
had accumulated during the four
heart breaking weeks Of his absence.
His chief clerk had done what ne
could. but there were questions OF
law. OF hne judicial decisions TO be
made concerning the issue or pat
ents. the marketing and leasing or
school lands. the classification into
grazing. agricultural. watered and
tim bered. OF new tracts 20 be opened
10 settlers.
The commissioner went 20 work
silently and obst{nately. putting back
his grief as far as possible. forcing
his mind 20 attack the complicated
and important business Of his office.
on the second day after MS return
be called the porter, pointed 10
Ieatber-covered chair that stood near
his own. and ordered II removed 10
a Iumber-room ct the top or the
building. In that chair Georgia
would always sit when she came 10
the Office for him OF afternoons.
AS time passed. the commissioner
seemed % grow more silent. solitary.
and reserved A new phase OF mind
developed in him. He could not en-
dure the presence Of a child. Otten
when q Gathering yOungster belong
ing 10 one OF the clerks would come
ckatterlng into the big business-room
adjoining his little apartment. the
commissioner would steal softly ana
close the door He would always
cross the street 20 avoid meeting the
school children when they came
6ancing along IN happy groups upon
the sidewalk, and his hrm mouth
would close into a mere line.
II was nearly three months after
the rains had washed the last dead
aower-petals from the mound above
little Georgia when tho "land-shark
firm OF Hamlin and Avery MED pa
pers upon what they considered the
--latest" vacancy Of the year.
II should not be supposed that all
who were termed land sharks de-
served the name. Many of them We're
reputable men OF good business
character. Some OF them could walk
into the most august councils OF the