New Ulm review. (New Ulm, Brown County, Minn.) 1892-1961, 1921-01-12
The Test Of
Time
n0
BY ALvAH JORDAN GARTH
Copyright. 1919. by the Western News
paper Union.) 20

farmer Warmers horse and gig, pre-
c1pltating a runaway Gerard was
squirming in the powerful grasp of
the outraged agriculturalist and.
ablaze with pain and resentment.
smarted most under the realization
that half a dozen of his comrades at
distance were witnesses of his casti-r
CATION. Nearer by little Efie Warner
his true friend, though a sorrowful
mourner over his constant escapades,
was SObhing as though her heart
would break.
The farmer had snatched up heavy
leather strap and doubled it to rain
the singing blows on Gerards shout
ders. At length he gave Gerard fling
and the strap after him.
'There, young man!' he painted.
There's more in store for you if yon'
come meddling about my place again.,
Il could Kill your Kissed out Ger
ard in q wild paroXysm Of rage. Il.
hate you, and III raise a crowd and
hang YOU to tree with this very
strap' He seized it as he spoke. Ger
farmhouse, flung himself down, his
mind tempest tossed with thoughts of
direful revenge.
"I'lI keep this strap" he declared.
"I'll face that man with it sometime
when the odds are equal" He was an
orphan and his life with distant rel
atiye had few charms to hold him to
Nashville. He was in disgrace, he had
been whipped publicly! A gentler spir
it came TO him AS he thought of Ellie
He left Nashville that night. His
last act was to indite rude pencilled
ScraWl to Ellie. Il shall never forget
you" he wrote, land you have been
kind to me like an own sister, but
/ will never forgive yotu father, new
er threw the apple: Think TIL give
away my friends, though !! I'm going
away to make my living and grow big
enough to some day make your father
pay for disgracing me-"
Gerards plans for the future were
vague. 1t seemed, however, that for.
tune favored the homeless lad from
the start. Ten miles from Rushyille
he was overtaken by a 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. t9.%
III hire you. I am on a five hun
dred mile trip to Chicago and am an
an invalid. I can manage the wheel
we'll enough, but it exhausts me to
get out Of the machine I'll pay you
we'll to attend to the various little
chores for me-yes, and maybe find
YOU further work when we reach the
city" H.t
They later went to a large hotel for
the night and Gerard slept on cot
in the room occupied by his employer
ready for any service required. 1t was
just after midnight when Gerard
aroused to dread alarm. The room
was filed With smoke, beyond the Win
dow was a glare. yells and screams
echoed through the building. He ran
to the door and tore it open. Beyond
a roaring mass of flames presented.
eve are hedged in from below; our
only chance is by the window" said
Gerard but a glance there was scarce
ly encouraging. His invalid charge
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 a jutting 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
q protege Five years later when the
former died he left Gerard large.
business, and the emotions and i'm
pulses of the latter drifted into the
mature experience Of the successful
business man.
"The strap has brought me luck
many time,' meditated Gerard. But
for it I would never have left home,
but for it I would have lost my life
at the hotel fire. What wild hater
I was of old John Warner in those
days and wonder what has become
of little Effie."
One day there came to his desk
young lady. Diffidently she told that
she had applied for position to the
manager subject to the approval Of
his employer. AS Gerard looked up
the past suddenly burst upon his as
tonished vision. Then the applicant
started and the light of recognition
came into her face.
Gerard gently spoke her name and
took her hand How lovely had Effie
grown! He encouraged her to talk,
not as to a prospective employer, but
to her friend. 1t was wearisome
story of struggle and toll and loss that
Efie recited. ut has been bad luck
for poor father" she said. HE is all
broken now, and we are both depend
ent upon my efforts for a livelihood"
ut seems that 7 have had all the
luck" unused Gerard Massey, alone in
~