Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1921-12-29

devil that has had to sell his furniture
and books 20 pay his creditors. didn't
realize II was as much as that"
"Then I'm glad 1 came" she said
iubilantly. "Of course you won't like
to 20 back on your pledge-none of the
Orton men ever do. But you see they
gave me this list of the men who hadn
sent in their pledge money because 1
thought could make 1t easy for them
to pay. Some Of the men have families
and oil that and II really is hard.
You're down as a bachelor" she said,
looking again at her list.
"Yes," said the man, 'Im ell of
that, but what are you going to do to
make il easier for me to payF'
"Why, you see, when college women
have TO raise money for their alma
mater they do something to earn the
money. You know-make sealing wax
beads, or batik blouses, or baskets, or
something. / even know a girl that
baked bread for her pledge money. SO
Il seemed to me that the men who find
IL hard to raise their money could do
something in their spare time and get
their money that way without really
having to scrimp for 1t. OF course you
couldn't do Just that same sort OF thing.
could do"
"what, for instance?" The man
looked in vain for a chair. I'm sorry
TO keen you standing. Let's sit down
and talk things over on the stairs.
| So they sat on the bottom tread of the
narrow bungalow stairs that led to the
attic above the ground floor and talked
matters over. IL man lived in the
country, Helen suggested, he could raise
mushrooms. One man she knew was
going to raise guinea pigs and rabbits
| for the college laboratory. The profess
ors In the biology department at Orton
had promised to patronize him.
II don't know as that would appeal
to me-" laughed the delinquent alum
nus. "I'd probably get so attached to
the poor creatures after I'd raised them
that I'd be unwilling TO ship them off
to their execution. But, seriously,
what do you think a fellow like me
could do to raise money that way?"
Helen looked him over with careful
"Well," she said, "if it weren't that
you were moving out of town l would
suggest that you come over to our place
in tho spring and summer whenever you
have any spare time and pick berries
and fruit. Anybody can do that, and
we always have more work than we can
find men to do it. You don't mind be-
cause / suggested II. do your
"Why, not in the least" His smile
showed that the proposition both pleased
and amused him. Besides, I'm moi
really moving away-that is, not fai
away"
ut isn't as If you would be doint
it for strangers, Helen explained. IN!
father and brothers and uncles anC
grandfathers back as far as anybod.
can remember have gone to Orton--"
But 1 wouldn't want to meet then
whilo l was picking berries and cher
ries and things. I'd only do it on con-
ditlon tha they didn't see me-"
THAT could be arranged beautifully,
soothed the girl. "They have given nj
charge of the farm. When I'm no
busy collecting pledges for Orton In
trees and pigs and things. Really. I'm
quite farmer
Arrangements having been made TO
this Orton aiumnus to report for worl
at her country place the third Saturda.
afternoon in May for strawberry pick
ing. Helen started away.
Every Saturday afternoon and oftel
whole days during the week the younl
man reported for work at the Grange
estate. Always he worked under Helen
personal supervision and never once di
he encounter any of the members of he
family who might know the secret wa
in which he was making good his pledg
to their alma mater.
One warm day in August. durin
peach picking, Helen was not at han
when her fruit picker arrived, but h
found his ladder in the accustome
place and proceeded to work, unchal
lenged by the farmhands in adjoinin
orchards.
When Helen did appear she cam
running breathlessly aud ordered he
employe to come down from the ladder
An open letter futtercd in her hand
What in the world does this mean?'
she said accusingly. Here is n lette
signed Robert Jones, class of 1918. bu
it's not your writing. And it couldn
be from you anyway, because 1t contain
a check for hundred dollars. The not
says: i am sorry to send in my p!edg
money at this late date, but last yea
, l suffered financial reverscS and / hay
only just found myself in a position t
pay my obligation
The fruit picker put hand to hi
brow meditatively and left upon it
moist surface smudge of peach stain
ihere must be some mistake some
|, "hStS' uc sdlu. IerndpS there ar
two Robert Joneses. That's probably il
There must be two Robert Joneses.."
But don't you know whether thcr,
were two Robert Joncses in your class
silly?" asked the girl. She had be
; come very well acquainted with tn
impecunious Orton graduate and dare,
to call him silly il she chose.
Further explanation was unneces
sary, for not far of came the sount
: OF the voice of Tom Granger. Helen
brother. Say, Helen" said Tom com
Ing IN quick strides, here's good news
stopped at the Orton Club on m,
, way home from the office. Lawrenc
carter has come across with his chccl
for $4,000 to swell the fund. The,
nave been hoping he would. That
quite lot, even for n blcatcd bond
; holder like him. Good Lord" Ton
Granger stood still and turned vislbl,
, white as his hand clutched his sister
shoulder for support. lie was lookin,
him.
"Why, bless my eyes-Lawrenc
Carter. How did you drop in here?'
!, Lawrence Carter" echoed Hele,
, weakly, and she in turn laid a droop
ing hand on Mr.. Carter's arm for SUP
port.
"I was just going to tell you-'
stammered Mr.. Carter, the bloatc,