San Antonio light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1911-1993, 1923-08-05

as sorry as you want 10 pc 1or the
common laborer, but if the worst
comes to the worst, he'll take TO
panhandling or porch-cilmplng,
and then the world'll have to give
him a living whether it owes II
to him or not. But"
'I don't see that"
"Why, because" he said toler-
antly, "the public pays the bills
for Blackwelrs Island and Sing
Sing. And then, again, that's the
kind of man who isn't ashamed 20
take charity; but the fellow win
a little education, with a little am
bition beyond three meals a day
and a place to sleep, with a little
nr;de-the white-collar man.had
Won ever thought about him.,
His NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS., when
had no whine concealed IN 1t, re-
doubled her interest. -,
eyes" she said, 81 had. Ia
thought about it a lot. AND
You're an educated man yourself
aren't you?" ., ro,,
"Why. not in the sense you you
mean. / didn't go to college, put
I've read a good deal--and watch
cd neople, And that's pretty
fa;r education all by itself" :,
"I should have thought you'd
have wanted to go, though %
You're the type. You could nave ,
worked your way through
couldn't you? d.,
81 wish 1 had gone-now. bu'
it's rather too late"
After a pause. she said: THE
reason l stopped at that meeting
was lust because / wanted to help;
And then that man on the box
Even the recollection OF IL
brought the color back to her
"AIl I cared about was to do
something where I could and wnen
I could. But what can l 90;
What could I do for any OF them!
What could I do for you?
The Young man stoned iingl,ng
the coins. "That's funny. NO
body's said that to me for a long,
long time"
"Well, what can I do?"
He made a sudden grimmace.
l"There's something you could 90
for me, all right; but wouldn't DO
it, anyway" ,,.,y
aHow do you know wouldn't"
He was regarding her critically.
"To be perfectly. frank, I'm hun
pry. and this" he displayed the
little pile of silver-"is every cent
I've got in my pocket. Anc 1or
the last two weeks I've been eat
ING in hash-houses with that same
gang. This is pretty far down,
even for me. What I'd like is a
steak and some human society
and the society counts just as
much as the steak. SO If you're
so anxious to help me personally,
take me over to the Plaza and puy
me a lunch"
The girl was thunderstruck.
"Take you| .o,
His grin was broadening. "Oh,
of course you wouldn't do It,. l
knew that. You're sorry, but
some of your swell friends might
see YOU, so you'll offer to slip me
a five-dollar bill instead-in spite
of what / said about the society
counting as much as the steak
How's that for a good guess"
His whole manner was so anus
edly indulgent that it aroused,
first, her contrariness, and after
that. her pride. She believed,
now, that she understood him-he
wanted her to give back to him.,
for an hour, the full arrears OF
his self-respect-a bit Of luxury,
bit of responsibility. And SO
few of the platoon would have
thought to ask for the pleasure
of her company.
She laughed. "No, it isn't
good guess at all. Do you want
to 60 over now?"
As they crossed the threshold
of the dining room, she almost
wavered. Once seated. however.
she gathered poise, and no small
part of it from the nonchalance
of her companion.
He had said that he was hun
cry. and his order bore him out;
he held strict allegiance to his
steak. This, he said, with a vege-
table and coffee, would satisfy
him. And then he tossed the
menu aside and smiled straight
into her eyes.
"Tf you don't mind my saying
So" he told her, "you're a darned
good sport" :,
She smiled back at him and
then became serious. "1'm glad
YOU think so. I meant to be.
But that wasn't the only reason
l brought you" ;,
"Then you're going to preach,
he said.
"Not very much" she promised:
"But there was one thing did
want to tell you. It's this: I've
always believed that life won't
give us much of anything Iree;
but it'll always sell US anything
we're ready to pay for. / mean
have to pay for. one way or an
other. And you can get practical
ly anything you want if'you care
enough about it to pay the price.
Don't you agree with that"
He nodded. "Of course. Only
you don't go far enough; you've
got to pay regular installments-