The Washburn times. [volume] (Washburn, Wis.) 1896-1976, 1920-01-29
The Test Of
Time
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BY ALvAH JORDAN GARTH

Gerard Massey, the bad boy of the
/ village, was expiating the crime oil
some one who had fired an apple al
farmer Warmers horse and gig pre-
cipitating q runaway. Gerard was
squirming' in the powerful grasp OF
the outraged agriculturalist and
ablaze with pain and resentment
smaried most under the realization
| that half dozen of his comrades al
a distance were witnesses of his casti
! cation. Nearer by little Fife Warner
his true friend, though a sorr0wful
mourner lover his constant escapades
was sobbing as though her heart
would break.
The farmer had snatched up heavy
leather strap and doubled 1t to rain
| the singing blows on Gerard's shout
ders. AT length he gave Gerard fling
and the strap after him.
'"rhere, young man, he painted.
There's more in store for you if you
come meddling about my place again
II could kill your Missed out Ger
ard In a wild paroxysm Of rage. Il
hate you, and I'll raise crowd and
hang you to a tree with this very
strap" He seized 1t as he spoke. Ger
ard, gaining a grove just beyond the
farmhouse, flung himself down, his
mind tempest tossed with thoughts Of
direful revenge.
"TlI keep this strap" he declared.
''Tll face that man with it sometime
when the odds are equal" He was an
orphan and his life with distant rel
ative 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 Fife.
He left Rushville that night. His
last act was to indite rude penciiled
scrawl to Effie. Il shall never forget
you" he wrote, "and you have been
kind to me like an own sister, but
will never forgive your father, new
err 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 d,sgracing me-"
Gerard's plans for, the future we're
vague. 1t 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 and
weakly as he hailed the foot traveller.
"Are you going far?" he inquired.
Anywhere TO get work" responded
Gerard.
'Tll hire you. / am on a five hun
dred mile trip to Chicago and am an
an invalid. l can manage the wheel
well 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, ard maybe find
you further work when we reach the
CITY,"
They later went to 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 a glare, yells and screams
echoed through the building. He ran
to the door and tore 1t open. Beyond
roaring mass of flames presented.
I'VE are hedged in from below our
only chance is by the window" said
Gerard, but glance there was scarce
ly encouraging. His invalid charge
was practically helpless, Quick witted
in action, however, Gerard followed
out the only desperate plan In view.
After he had accomplished this he
could scarcely credit the details. Five
feet below was d 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 frail
strand Of life both would have per-
iShed.
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
business, and the emotions and i'm
pulses of the latter iTifted into the
mature experience Of the successful
business man.
sThe strap has brought me luck
many time" meditated Gerard. "But
for it would never have left home,
but for it / would have lost my life
at the hotel fire. What wild hater
was Of old John Warner in those
days, and I woaler what has become
of little Fife"
One day there came to his desk
a young lady. Difiidently she told that
she had applied for a 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 Effie
grown! He encouraged her to talk,
not as to a prospective employer, but
to her friend. 1t was a wearisome
story of struggle and toll and loss that
Effie recited. 1T has been bad luck
for poor father" she said. HE is all
broken now, and we are both depend
ent upon my efforts for livelihood"
at seems that / have had all the
luck" mused Gerard Massey, alone in
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