Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1920-12-12

going to do about it He heard him
self speaking thickly: IF you'll come
back later. I'll have the money
ready"
The squire frowned. Don't attempt
to bluff Wilberforce Meek. young man.
| You're not going to find twenty-five
hundred dollars growing on trees"
TIL get it," said Bob. fighting for
time.
You won't get it from the bank"
| informed the squire. Mr.. Candee
happens to know that your crazy
scheme hasn't worked out"
I'm not counting on the Farmers
Bank" answered Bob. unsteadily.
IF you think you're going to get 1t
from your peighbors. you're nightly
fooled" continued the squire. Charley
Watkins told me everybody is saying
you ought to paint Quality off your
barn and put on Failure"
| Bob swallowed and said nothing.
The squire's mouth twisted exultantly.
You're at the end of your rope,
young man. Where's your father?"
You can't see him." said Bob,
ldarkly.
/ II have legal right to present
'! these notes."
you can consider them presented"
said the boy. swinging open the out
side door.
The squire's trim face flushed with
anger. And you, young whippersnap-
ner, can consider the fact that tomor-
row morning at 9 o'clock 1 will be in
court entering these notes and issu-
ing an execution for the sheriff."
When the visitor had gone. Bob's
mother cried bitterly on her sons
| shoulder
ITS no use. Robbie George Good
was the only man who would ever give
us two thousand dollars We're no
good. l guess. They'll sell Harry and
Bess and the cows out of the barn.
call 70 1t~x
him. like they did the bed under Ellis
| Reeser"
"They WON'T" said the boy, his face
swollen with emotion. I'm going to
Pennver. now he added.
He got out the car. drove to Three
valleys and caught the l o'clock troll
ley. Not until he entered the car was
| he aware that he had forgotten to
change his clothes His coat and trous-
ers were faded blue overall material, his
| shoes caked with mud, his hat a black
| felt discolored with hay and clover dust.
Arriving in Pennver, he went straight
to the First National Bank, where he
had carried his account He had also
| known some of the boys who worked
here. To his chagrin these latter hailed
his appearance in overalls with visible
embarrassment. One of them, Jack
Monigan, consented to take him in to
the cashier but his introduction was
| SO weak and colorlesS that Bob stam-
| mered along for fully a minute before
| he got into his natural stride When
he had finished, the cashier looked i'm
| pressive. =
"Er-we shall look into the matter,
Mr.. Murray. and advise you"
| The quick question caused the official
to stiffen. "At our convenience" he re-
piled testify. "A big institution cannot
drop everything and run to look into a
small, doubtful rural enterprise on which
| it is asked to make loan"
! I'm not asking you to drop every
thing" said Bob earnestly. But 1
have to have the money by 8 o'clock to-
| morrow morning, or I'm wiped out"
] Impossible! Erin fact, to be per-
fectly candid, l hardly, think from your
description that we shall find the farm
successful enough to favor it at ALL
! IF it was successful. I wouldn't need
you at ALL" protested the boy II al
! sir. to finance a promising business and
!! encourage and develop 1t to where it
! will be a big customer for the bank"
! The cashier rose stiffly IF you
! would know your business, young man.
as well as we are acquainted with ours.
| it might not be necessary for YOU to
! come begging us for loan. Good aft
! ernoon."
| A few minutes later Bob found him
self on the sidewalk. feeling as one Of
his wilted tomato plants looked after
! the frost
! X x y X
lie took his bearings and started
doggedly down cross-town
street until he came to a distinctive
office building. On the marble slab
above the door had been chiseled:
| "Grainger Company-maker of the
highest quality shoes in the world"
! There was a new boy on the mahog-
| any bench in the reception hall, a new
| girl at the telephone switchboard.
! sY'd like to see Mr.. Crainger," Bob