Vernon Parish Democrat. (Leesville, La.) 1917-193?, 1921-04-21
ortoise" and
"Hare"
" By MURIEL. BLAIR
10, 1921, western Newspaper Uhion.J

Hare Snyder; and never~Were- two
sobriquets more fairly earned. Sny-
der was the particular bright boy Of |
the class, and always at the top, while
Tortoise" Mowbray Jagged respect
ably near the bottom of it.
After college it was the same.
"Efare" Snyder and Tortoise" Now
bray obtained positions, in the same
corporation, Snyder through a pull"
MOwbray because the straightforward,
cleancut appearance of the young man
favorably impressed Henry Davenrich,
the president.
The "hare" made money and spent
1t recklessly, while the tortoise" put
his aside, added to it, and lived mod
estly and soberly.
The test of their friendship came
when they both fell in love with the
same girl. Cynthia Lanfrey was a
niece of Davenrich and lived in a big
building on Madison avenue where
she kept house for him. At this period
the hare" and the tortoise" had been
working with the corporation for
nearly ten years. Snyder was pretty
near the top, thanks to the pull"
aforementioned, and was a constant
visitor at Davenrich's home Now
bray was invited casually, on some
grand occasion; but Cynthia liked him
and he was invited again.
Then, one evening, MOwbray told
Cynthia his story in a plain, slow
spoken, manly fashion.
you're too late" she said, with a
little sob and a following laugh.
"James-NIr. Snyder-asked me yes
terday."
1t was about this time that the "tor-
tOise" was temporarily placed in
charge of the books of one of these
tOadies and discovered something that
made him sit up all night, thinking.
In the morning he went straight to
Snyder and told him what he had
found. Snyder leaped out of his chair.
"My God, Tortoise" he yelled, "did
old Davenrich put you in charge of
the books?" Then he came to his
senses.
you'd have done the same if you'd
been in my place, Tortoise" he
whined. "How did you suppose was
going to keep up my style of living
on seventy-five dollars a week? Be
sides, it wasn't really a crime, for
Davenrich is going to make way for
me next year, and he owns half the
stock in the concern. Then, when I've
married Cynthia, it will be practically
my own business, won't it? What are
you going to do about it?N
"These defalcatiOns," said the "tOr-
tOise" slowly, clenching his fists-for
somehow he always hated to hear the
"hare" pronounce Cynthia's name
"amOunt to nine thousand dollars and
seventy-three cents"
"Cut out the cents" said Snyder.
eyes, 1 guess that's about the fig
ure."
81 have four thousand dollars" an
swered the tortoise" 81 can borrow
five thousand more. I will pay the
amount if you promise me. to run
straight in future for" he clenChed
his fists again-"for Miss Lanfrey's
sake"
"YOu good old Tortoise. OF course
I WILL" said Snyder, clapping him
upon the back. "And when I'm in
Davenrich's place I'll make you as
sistant manager"
"When you are in Davenrichs place
I shall look for another position" said
Mowbray quietly, and turned on his
heel and went back to his desk.
The wedding was set for June, three
months ahead. The tortoise" went
no longer to the house on Madison
avenue. Davenrich retired earlier
than had been expected, for he died.
Then rumOrs began to spread con,
corning the financial condition of the
corporation. Inquisitive men, connect
ed with the state, began porting night
ly over the books. Then one day they
summoned MOwbray before them.
"There is an item of nine thousand
dollars paid in by you on March
last, according to the books" they
said. Can you explain this?'
Eyes" answered the tortoise" un
finchingly Il stole that money t
play the races, won, and paid the
money back. What are you going t.
do about it?"
"Where is that nine thousand dol
lars?" asked the chief depositOr. 81
was entered but never deposited"
The tortoise" could not thinl
quickly enough to answer. SO the!
arrested him and closed the business
Next day the world learned that near
ly two hundred thousand dollars haC
been embezzled by a high official il
the corporation.
The lock clicked and the jail gov
ernor stood before him, accompanied
by the lawyers for the state.
"You want me?" asked the "tor
toise" quietly.
"Yes," answered the lawyers. "a
witness. You are free Snyde
blew his brains out"
Good Lord" said the tortoise.
Then "I am really frppP" he asked, g