Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1925-10-21
When the Worm
Turns
By M. and r. M. TERRELL
(0, 1928. western Newspaper Union. }

10, 1879, western Newspaper Unl0o.)
A LII his life Phineas Olmstead had
"A been a good Samaritan. He had
benefit Of the doubt. The night was
bitterly cold. the thinly clad man wait
ing before Olmsteads book store, his
face As expressionless as though 1t had
been gnawed out Of rock, needed no
story to portray his condition Good
old Phineas didn't hesitate second.
he took the stranger by the arm, took
of his heavy mackinaw and forced 1t
on the coatless derelict and marched
off swiftly for his homelike little bun
galow.
They finally reached the CHEEKY
bachelor home. Phineas, who kept
impossible hours at his book shop, was
accustomed to midnight homecomings.
In jiffy he had a fire going on the
old-fashioned hearth and something
hot for his chance guest to drink.
Mr.. Olmstead, your name should be
Mr.. Prince" the stranger summed up
his sentiments as they smoked In front
Of the cracking fire before turning in.
1--WE heard Of your pranks, Sir. But
you're too keen gambler; you're tax
ing a long-shot chance on me. My
story7 It's as old as the hills and as
much a bore I'm down and out.
Well let 1t 90 at that. And you took
me in-the right way. / would have
frozen to death out there. No.
didn't see your light in the back. Mr..
Olmstead, are you making q habit Of
this good samaritan bunk? Most men
aren't worth It,"
you're wrong there, Mr-er-"
Call me the exception that proves
the rule"
Most men are good at heart II you
give 'em q chance, Exception There's
no risk, my boy. I'll share my dough
bag with the very first fellow that
comes along who needs It. He may re-
turn the lift some day"
zone question, Mr.. Olmstead, and
then you can show me some corner to
hit the hay in," he remarked. Haven't
you ever had that admirable faith Of
yours nicked by somebody"
"Only three times In twenty years.
truthfully. "A poor young devil in
here once over night switched watches
on me. Dick Todhunter;; who Is our
leading banker now, once did me out Of
a hundred, and Clay Hastings, who Is
our towns terrible example, has never
GOT 7 1AornH 70
his daddy out Of Jail" He chuckled.
"You see. Experience, old cynic, you're
barking up the wrong tree. I'll make
up that davenport II you'll move over
here. No, I'll trust any man once"
well, you'd better hide that wallet
sticking out Of your coat pocket, Mr..
Olmstead It's making faces at me-.
There might be money in It,"
''I1 take the chance on you. Ex-
ception"
Suppose a burglar took 1t before
morning. Where would your faith be
In me7
Phineas awoke the next morning, the
same old determined believer in his
fellow men. A few minutes later, for
the first time in his life, the worm
turned. Phineas found that Mr.. E1cep-
ton had proven the rule-he had de-
camped; with him went Phineas'
watch and his wallet from the coat
pocket. The strangers bed had been
made neatly back into davenport
There were signs Of a hasty breakfast
in the kitchen; Phineas could remem-
Der no noise, that was ALL
Olmstead dressed quickly and sought
his old friend, Detective Jack Saywood
and poured forth his worms turning
into that wise birds best ear Say
wood was a decent sort he didn't say
II told you So" and he didn't laugh.
Together they searched most Of the
fale gathering places below the dead
line" Exception was long shot; he
never showed at all
Saywood walked over to the book
shop with Phineas. As they entered
Phineas' cubbyhole Of an Office, Mr..
Exception, who was the only occupant
and who strangely was reading, jumped
to his feet and started speaking at
once.
"Mr. Olmstead" he exclaimed. I've
been looking for you everywhere.
Here's $1N. Todhunter wasn't so bad.
only had to scare the devil out Of
him. That blackjacker, Hastings-I
had to lick 1t out of him. Don't look
at my right eye. It's knockout, sir"
"Todhunter7 HastingsT" sputtered
Phineas The detective contented him
self with a near smile. which would
let him out all right. either way the
story went.
why. Mr.. Olmstead," the young
fellow cried. "A man with a faith like
yours has got to have a clean slate
no exceptions. 1t was up to me. Then,
you're the only good Samaritan who
runs 100 per cent to the good"
Phineas heard himself saying, "Ah.
Exception. you forgot my watch"
mo, I had that last night, but
held 1t over. I'm the chap who ex-