The central record., 1921-03-03
fIFTY-FlFTy
sy DOROTHY O GRAVES.


seemed very thin aud mach apart from
an old and wealthy man.
lie was aroused by the respectful
knocking of his Once boy.
'Good morning. Tom." the wcalthiest
man greeted the boy.
"rcp o N. mornin' to yc. yer hon
or"
Tho wealthlest man smiled. "why
do you call me that. TonY'
The boy blushcd and twisted his
nngcrs In his cont but his eyes never
waverc'i. 'iiccausc, SIR" be stressed
the sir. Il forsot. sir"
Forgot What. Tomf
Yer honor"
The oid man pondered and shook
his head "A don't understand yet.
my boy Tell ne sgaln"
The boy grew redder under his
frcckle~. hut be- stood stanch Its u
game. sir"
"uh. yes. I see" The man twisted
the crystal vase between his thumb
aud forcnngcr lie watched the heavy
blossom tilt back and forth while be
questioned further. And n I told you
] llk~i gaines. Tom. would you let M.
play. toor'
The wcalthlcst man graspcd the
vase In his entire palm
The slender crystal stem cracked
and broke. \ stream 20 water trickAsi
over the piN.rs ou ihc desk aud min
sled with drop - rci blood from
the wealthlest mans hand The white
orchid seemingly shuddsrei and
writhcd lts delicate petals turned gray
and crumplc, II fadei into an ash
aud was gone
Tho boys face was white and awed
he locked ap4rehsnsi,ely at the man
"Oh. lr d" be said. his voice
veal
u gone. Tm.~ The man spoke
ughtly
Yep likc death. sIr-
"Nos. Ike fcath Tom or dreams"
"ph. no. yer honor. oh no slr.
mean dreams they amt Ike that II
ye believe 10 'cm aud pu, faith Ia 'rn
'heyr bound sir. bound 20 com"
true
And why DO you think SO. TONY"
Me mother. she says -. yer sir.
mean
could you get into college. Tony
asked the vcalftirs' man. Its awful
ly hard There's exams aud school
ing"
Toms vhole boiy was tense with
ragcrrrss "Oh. sIr. we've doin that
Mary and me I'm goin' 90 nlght school
and Mary hclps'mc too May's NY
sister
"And may asked the man
sob. ma. velL there's her eyes, you
know. sIr"
"Ah. yc~. her eyes" The old man ~
r~aied.
what De- you want most. Toni"
Don't you know. Tom1
"No. yrr hon sir. ! mean. II amt
time Ter mother raise yet. m Mary
can't 80 90 college causr she's got an
other year 10 higi school"
and your mother Tomi"
"Aud ma gonna rit her eyes nNei
a. so"n's I save enough money Tom
smiled confidently a. the man "Nop".
don know Unless ."
Unless what Tum1'
a aooss sir"
a goose
Yep Ike At the old place that ma
tells about"
a Christmas Fcos, stuffed sir"
The wcalthicst man smiled kindly.
"There shall be r. stuffed goose. ~
"Yc- yer honor" Tom IN his uuy.
iety forgot thr sir
III can help eat u. I'm goose hun
gry. too"
"You hungry. ,lrf" Tom expressed
unconditionsd doubt
"Oh. yes and Tom NV family died
this morning all the family had old
Scout. l called him and he was the
finest dog man ever had"
The hoy nodded seriously
n haven't any Mary. nor any mother
with BIZ soft cyes. Tom"
"Ain't you.c got nohodyr
Nobody AZ all. Tom"
Gee '" the boy looked M the man
with feeling Gee"
Gee ' repeated the wcnlthlcst man
Tom laughed p,adily "Say ! guess
you do need somethin'." lie moved
closer to the mau. Say. n youse come
home with me after work aud see ma
she'll help YOU. honest she will.
How will she hrlp me. romT
We'll" he edged n,arrr and whls.
psrcd conhdrntiaily Mary. yuu know.
hadn't anybody. and so We Jest took
her in-Wc adopted her" The ho,
paused thinking Maybe. yer-sir. !
mean. lf youse wanted 20. and II you
tell ma. We could iusl adopt YOU. too"
The oid man turned his face away
from the boy Gould you AFFORD 90
keep another. Tom Ills voice was
husky
Tom answered readily. yep. Ilthink
10. You see. could work nights again
like used TO. and"
And give up night schoolT'
"Nep. jest fer nov. YOU know. and
youse could help with the goose money.
we'd let that go Ter now-nfty -hfty.
you know
"All rlght. sir" The wealthiest man