Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1920-09-01
A Queer
Savings Bank
By PERcIvAL kEENE

Copyright. 1920. Western Newspaper Union }
When Alvin Dorsey married Sec
ond time he found within very few
| months time that he had welded trou-
Bile and tartar. He had thought in
selecting Myra Cloud, spinster, he
would have comfort and peace, for the
| lady In question he had always looked
upon as circumspect and sensible
woman and neat and economical
housekeeper. All that Myra cared
about, however, was the well-ordered
and productive farm that Alvin owned
and possible outside resources
At the end Of the first year she In
PRODUCED into the house her invalid
brother, Jefferson Cloud.
All Alvin really had was the farm,
and when Myra found this out she
insisted on his making it over to her.
One thing, however, Alvin sturdily in
sisted upon-he would run 1t in his
own way. Myra grumbled when he
declined to strictly account for every
cent of the income. but he told heI
firmly:
you interfere and I'll let you run
the place yourself, and I won't lift a
finger to help you.' And this silenced
her, for he was thrifty, Industrious,
and an excellent manager in line he
thoroughly understood.
One morning, Alvin Dorsey, going
out early to begin his days duties in
the field, was attracted to the front Of
the farmhouse by a low. wailing cry.
1t was to find In basket set on the
doorstep a little boy baby less than a
year old. There was no note or other
clew as to the cause of its abandon
meat, and none was ever later discoy-
cred. A stray waif on the sea of hui
mainly, Its parents had left 1t to the
chances Of Circumstance. Alvin loved
children. He aroused his wife, excit-
ed and pleased over this break in
home nonotony.
"Tll have none of It'll" she at once
declared. Nor shall you. either. Take
the brat to the poorhouse, where 1t be-
longs"
4 Alvin tried persuasion, even bribery,
but Myra was immovable. His heart
went out to the little abandoned refu-
gee as he started upon his enforced mis-
sion. A mile from his objective des-
ltination he halted, gazed ylongingly at
the innocent faced child and reflected.
Just OFF the road was an humble cottage
where lived Ralph May and his wife.
The former was almost an invalid.
They had lost their child only year
previously, and what with the bereaye-
ment and the hard fight to get enough
10 eat they had little of joy in life. Al
yin made decision and entered the
house. y ys!. s.s. ID g3E:@ss Il s5Sy
Mrs. May greeted him eagerly and
with tears as he told Of the aban.
doned child, and asked her to take
charge of him.
II can help you some inNthe way. OF
occasional money" he told her, but
she paid no attention to this.
ooh poor as we are, it will be a
blessing to our lonely home!" she
cried, and took the little sleeper in
her arms and rained welcome kisses
upon its face.
After that at least twice week
Alvin visited the May cottage, always
bringing something from the farm to
help out the family larder. One day
he appeared with an old-fashioned
globe, a circular map set in a stout hol-
low stand.
Thought 1t would please the little
fellow to see, it turn around when he
gets big enough to push it, he
chuckled. II was great on geography
when was boy, and unearthed the
thing from the attic and fixed it up and
cleaned It,"
Then after that he would take the
child, whom they named Alvin, after
him, in his arms. whirl the globe, and
sing childish nonsense to it.
Then came dark days. In telling a
tree the old man was struck down by
a branch and lay in bed for, months.
Myra tired of his care He seemed
helpless physically and mentally. She
arranged for his care in sanitarium,
later sold the farm, and disappeared.
A year afterward the neighbors
learned she had died and the worth
less Jefferson had a royal time dissi-
pating her little fortune.
Two years went by. One day Mrs.
May was in her garden. with little Al
vim following her about chattering hap
PLY, when familiar figure came into
view. bent, decrepit, but recognizable
as Alvin Dorsey.
SCOT all well, Mrs. May" he hailed
cheerily, "and this is little Alvin! I've
got neither home nor friends left. but
/ hungered for a sight of the dear lit
tie fellow"
''You have both" declared Mrs.
May. "as long as we have a roof or a
dollar"
'The old globeg" observed Alvin In
aspleased way, as his hostess led the
way into the house, little Alvin hold
ing TO the hand Of the luckless wan
derer returned.
Mrs. May fastened to prepare a
meal When she returned to the sit.
ting room there lay the globe broken
from it's standard, and the old man,
with glowing eyes, STRENGTHENING out
bank note after bank note.
81 fixed a slot in the standard the
day brought the globe here" ex-
planned the old man, "and every time
came put a bill in our queer savings
bank. Fifty or hundred, always.
See, Mrs. May, over $1,000. Take 1t