New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1921-01-09


farm, q slim, STRENGTHENING little
trotting FLY and a knack for han
ding horseiiesh. Young Charlie had
q college education of his own &C
QUESTION, about nineteen dollars and
an overwhelming desire to move
into Muncie and marry Elizabeth
Coates. This was toward the last
Of May. BY the first Of June the
mortgage, having eaten everything
else On the place. swallowed the farm
and young Charles nineteen dollars,
leaving him the filly, the knack, the
education and the overwhelming de-
sire.
Now. none Of these four things is
exactly what q banker would cal a
quick asset. and the first thing a
banker wants to know is the nature
and amount of your quick assets.
Elizabeth was the youngest daugh-
ter of Old Henry Coates. of the First
National Bank. The three elder
Coates girls had not done very well.
Henry Coates was positive that .lZ-
abeth should make no mistake in q
matrimonial way. When Charlie
went to talk with him old Henry
promptly discounted Charles horse
manship, his FLY and his college edu-
cation. AS for the desire, it was
not listed as an asset in the first
place.
"You see, Charlie said Mr..
Coates, leaning back in his swivel
chair and cIasping his hands over
his stomach, at wouldn't be fair to
you, nor to Elizabeth, either. A lot
of the boys could fall in love with
her easy enough. What Pm waiting
Il see is a boy who al stay in love
with her after he's found. out whit
her bills are, and has paid for them
FOR a month or two"
But, Mr.. Coares'-- Charlie
protested.
"Wait a minute" the banker CON
tinued. She's a pretty girl, and
pretty girls come high. Her upkccp
Is something tremendous. You're all
right and ike you, out you couldn't
support Elizabeth"
"But'- Charlie was again
suppressed.
II know what you're going TO say.
You've got a college education, and
that's fine. What You ought to do is
put it to work. Sell your little trot-
ting FLY and start yourself in bust
ness. When you can take care Of
Elizabeth come ard talk to me again.
If she hasn't found another boy by
chat time" he added, mahciously
winking at the youngster.
well, I will,' said Charlie deter
minedly, sticking out his lower jaw,
land size won't
Sore at heart, Charlie got up and
took his hat.
IF l can do anything to help you,
call on me-" said Mr.. Coates.
"Thanl: you" was Charles spo-
ken reply. To himself he added the
comment: at 6 per cent, not re-
newahla." But it was hard to dis
ike Mr.. Coates, who, besides being
Elizabeth's father, was a nice
enough old fellow. AS he reached
The door Charlie heard Mr.. Coates
calling him, and, when he understood
the bankers question, even the re-
sentiment softened somewhat.
"Oh, Charlie" called Mr.. Coates,
"how's the little FLY coming along"
"Stepping high and handsome"
Charlie replied, smiling.
~ hear she's good" said the
banker. But. Charlie, take my ad-
vice and sell her"
Charlie shook his head.
"Tel! you what III do persist
ed Nj. Coates. "Just TO show I'd
ike to see you get head, ri buy
that filly of you. III give you $500
FOR her, Of cordition that you take
the money and use it 10 get yourself
started in a business Of sorne kind.
That's fair enough. What do YOU
say?"
The boy stood without answering.
Il could use her for the family"
SAID the banker. at is too big a
gamble 70 spend a summer and a lot
Of money getting rerdy to race when
me may not trot at all for the races.
fou can use the $500"
Charlie shook his head and turned
to leave the bank.
Think it over, Charlie" Mr..
roates called after him.
The boy vent down the steps blner
than any debtor with a past-duc note
called in a tight place, He walked
~ y his whole future had been fore
clozed. lie could not part with he
FLY. She was worth more than M.
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