The Denison review. [volume] (Denison, Iowa) 1867-current, 1920-06-30
The Test Of
Time
00
ByALvAH JORDAN GARTH
Copyright. 1919. by the Western News.
- paper Union.)

Copyright. 1919. by the Western News.
- paper Union.)
Gerard Massey, the bad boy Of tho
village, was expiating the crime Of
some one who had fired an apple at
farmer Warmers horse and gig, pre-
cipitating runaway. Gerard was
sQuirming in the powerful grasp OF
the outraged agriculturalist and,
ablaZe with pain and resentment,
smarted most under the realization
that half dozen of his comrades at
q distance We're witnesses of his casti'
CATION. Nearer by little Ef1ie Warner
his true friend, though q sorroWful
mourner over his constant escapades,
was sobbng as though her heart
would break.
The farmer had snatched up heavy
leather strap and doubled it to rain
the singing blows on Gefard's Shout
ders. At length he gave Gerard a fling
and the strap after him.
"There, young man." he painted.
There's more in store for you If you
come meddling about my place again.
e II could kill you!" Kissed out Ger
ard in wild paroxysm Of rage. Il
hate you, and I'll raise Il crowd and
hang you to tree with this very
strap!" He seized it as he spoke. Ger
ard, gaining Il grove just beyond the
farmhouse, flung himself down, his
mind TEMPEST tossed with thoughts OF
direful revenge.
'Pll keep this strap" he declared.
"I'll face that man with 1t sometime
when the odds are equal" He was an
orphan and his life with distant rel
alive had few charms to hold him to
Rushville. He was in disgrace, he had
been whipped publicly! a gentler spir-
it came to him as he thought OF Elite.
He left Rushville that night. His
last act was to indite Il rude pencilled
scrawl to Eftie. II shall never forget
YOU" he wrote, land you have been
kind to me like an own sister, but
1 will never forgive your father, l new
er threw the apple. Think I'll give
away my friends, though! I'm going
away to make my living and grow big
enough to some day make your father
pay for disgracing me-
Gerard's plans for the future were
vague. It seemed, however, that for
tune favored the homeless lad from
the start. Ten miles from Rushville
he was overtaken by a man driving
an automobile. He looked pale ana
weakly as he hailed the foot traveller.
care you going far?" he inquired.
Anywhere to get work." responded
Gerard.
"rll hire you. I am on five hun
dred mile trip to Chicago and am an
an invalid. l can manage the wheel
we'll enough, but it exhausts me to
get out of the machine. I'll pay you
well to attend to the, various little
chores for me-yes, and maybe ma
you further work when we reach the
city,"
They later went to a large hotel for
the night and Gerard slept on cot
in the room occupied by his employer
ready for any service required. 1t was
just after midnight when Gerard
aroused to dread alarm. The room
was filled with smoke, beyond the WIN
dow was glare, yells. and screams
echoed through the building. He ran
to the door and tore it open. Beyond
a roaring mass of flames presented.
1--WE are hedged in from below; our
only chance is by the window" said
Gerard, but a glance there was scarce
Iy encouraging. His invalid charge
was practically helpless. Quick wltted
in action, however, Gerard followed
out the only desperate plan in view.
After he had accomplished, this he
peuld scarcely credit the details. Five
feet below was jutting section OF
roof. Still further below that was the
projecting cOrnice Of an adjoining
building. The strap was the only
medium Gerard could adopt. first to
lower his companion. But for this frall
strand of life both would have per-
lshed.
Endeared to him by his courage and
daring the invalid took up Gerard as
a protege. Five years later when the
former died he left Gerard large
and the emotions and i'm
pulses Of the latter drifted into the
mature experience Of the successful
business man.
"The strap has brought me luck
many a time" meditated Gerard. But
for it would never have left home.
but for it 1 would have lost my life
at the hotel fire. What wild hater
was Of old John Warner in those
days. and l wonder what has become
Of little Fife"
One day there came to his desk
young lady. Diffidently she told that
she had applied for position to the
manager subject to the approval of
his employer AS Gerard looked up
the past suddenly burst upon his as
tonished vision. Then the applicant
started and the light Of recognition
came into her face
Gerard gently spoke her name and
took her hand. How lovely had Eftie
grown! He encouraged her to talk,
not as to a prospective employer, but