The Beaver herald. [volume] (Beaver, O.T. [Okla.]) 1895-1923, 1920-02-05
The Test of
Time
cN1
copyright. 1918. By IN. western News.
paper Union-D
BY ALvAH JORDAN GARTH


cipltntlng runaway. Gerard was
squlrmlng In the powerful grasp of
the outraged agrlculturalist and.
ablaze with pain and resentment
smarted most under the realization
that half dozen Of his comrades at
a distance were Witnesses of his castl-
CATION Nearer by little Ellie Warner
his true friend. though q sOrrowful
mOurner over his constant escapades.
was sobblug as though her heart
would break.
The farmer had snntchcd up n heavy
leather strap and doubled II to rain
the singing blows on Gerard's shoul-
ders. At length he gave Gerard a ding
and the strap after him.
There. young mani" he panied.
There's more In store for you II you
come meddling about my place agnin."
81 could KIN youir hissed out Ger
ard In wild pafo..y sin Of ruge. Il
hate you. and I'll raise a crowd and
hang you TO a tree with this very
strap" He seized II as he spoke Ger
ard. gaining a grove just beyond the
farmhouse, flung himself down. his
mind tempest tossed with thoughts OF
direful revenge.
"I'l keep this strap" he declared.
"rn face that man with It sometime
when the odds are equal" He was an
orphan and his life with a distant rel.
ative had few charms 10 hold him 10
Rushvllle. He was In disgrace, he had
been whipped publicly A gentler spir-
1t came to him as he thought Of Enie.
He left Rushville that night. His
last act was to indite a rude penclled
scrnwl to Ehie. Il shall never forget
you" he wrote, "and you have been
kind to me like an own sister, hut
j will never forgive your father. ! 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
ray for disgracing me-"
Gerard's plans for the future were
vague. II seemed. however. that for
tune favored the homeless lad from
the start. Ten miles from Rushville
he was Overtaken by 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.
IN hire you. am on 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 10 the various little
chores for me-yes, and maybe find
you further work when we reach the
city"
They later went 20 a large hotel for
the night and Gerard slept on u cot
in the room occupied by his employer
ready for any service required. II was
lust after midnight when Gerard
aroused to dread alarm. The room
was filed with smoke, beyond the win
dow was glare, yells and screams
echoed through the building. lie ran
90 the door and tore II open, Beyond
roaring mass OF flames presented.
"We are hedged In from below; our
only chance Is by the window" said
Gerard, but a glance there was scarce.
U
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 Iuttlng 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
protege Five years later when the
former died he left Gerard large
business. and the emotions and i'm.
pulses of the latter drlfted into the
mature experience of the successful
business MAN - --.----s--
"The strap has brought me luck
many a time" meditated Gerard. "But
for IL would never have left home,
but for II would have lost my life
nj the hotel fire. What a Wild hater
was OF old John Warner In those
days. and | wonder what has become
OF little Ellie"
one day there cana TO his desk
young lady. Dindently she told that
she had applied for position to the
manager subject TO the approval OF
his employer As Gerard looked NJ
the past suddenly burst upon his as
tonlshed vision. Then the applicant
started and the Hight OF recognition
came into her face.
Gerard gently spoke her name and
took her hand. How lovely had E0lt
grown He encouraged her TO talk
not as to a prospective employer but
20 her friend. u was wearisomc
story OF struggle and toll aud loss that
Fife reclted. 1T has been bad luck
for poor father" she said. He Is all