The Wolf Point herald. (Wolf Point, Mont.) 1913-1940, 1926-10-14
COPYRIGHT By FREDERICK A. STOKES co

anu litH pdlt.
Does your father know your
here, Lydia?" he asked.
She clasped her mittened hand
in sudden agitation.
"Nobody knows but you" she ex
claimed. "Ohl you mustn't tell tn,
mar out there my name. I'm II
quarantine and I'd be arrested, i
the health office knew!"
II won't tell" said Dave, gently
Come over here by me, Lydia
"Margery Is away on a visit, so Tn
not afraid for her"
Lydia crossed the Mar
shall took the skates from hel
shoulders and unfastened her coat
"Sit down on that chair and lett
talk this over. You know what 6
note Is, do you, Lydiaf"
Its money you owe" she said
her blue eyes anxiously fixed or
Marshall's face.
He nodded. Yes. When your
mother was sick, your father asked
my bank here TO lend him a thou
sand dollars for two years. Now,
your father is very poor. He
doesn't own anything that's worth
a thousand dollars and | knew he
could never pay ii back. So / told
him he must get some n TO prom
Use to pay that money for him II
he couldn't, at the end Of the two
years. Understands
Lydia nodded.
"Well, he got John Levine. Now
The two years are up and unless
That thousand dollars is paid, the
people whose money | take care of
IN the bank, will each lose some
Iof that thousand. Seer"
Lydia stared at him, struggling
70 take In the explanation. II see"
she said. But If you'd pay a thou
sand dollars for me, that would fix
III all up"
"Why Lydia, do you mean you
would leave your fatherf"
Il wouldn't want to- she an
|sweTed earnestly, but Lizzie could
take care of daddy. He doesn't
really need me. There isn't any
body really needs me-needs me
how"
She swallowed a sob, then went
on. "Mr. Levine just mustn't pay
lt. He's awful worried. His lands
fixed SOS he'd never get over It.
And he's the best friend we have In
all the world. He just mustn't pay
III. 1t would kill mother, If she
knew. Oh, she hated borrowing
So
Marshall chewed his cigar. lie
vine,' he growled, rs a long{egged
crook"
Lydia few out of her chair and
shook her ifs. in the bankers face.
Don't you dare say that! !" she
cried. Hes a dear lamb, that's
what he is"
Dawes fat jaw dropped. "a dear
lamb, eh? Ask him some time
what a land shark is-a dear
He went on chewing his cigar
and Lydia returned to her chair.
Whether 1t was the anxious round
eyes, above the scarlet cheeks,
whether 1t was the wistful droop of
the childish lips, whether 1t was
the look that belongs to ravished
motherhood and seemed grossly
wrong on a chiId's face, whether
1t was some thought of his own
pampered little daughter, whether
1t was that curious appeal Lydia al
ways made to men, or a cOmbina-
ton of all, that moved Marshall. he
could not have told. But suddenly
he burst forth.
Good God, I've done hard things
in my life, but l can't do this!
you go home and tell your
I'll renew that note, but he's
got to pay the interest and 10 per
of the principal, every year
till he's paid 1t up. Here, I'll write
down. And tell him that I'm not
doing it for him or for that skunk
of a Levine, but I'm doing it for
you. Here, I'll write that down,
too"
He folded the bit of paper and
put it in an envelope. Come here"
he said. He pinned the note into
the pocket of her blouse. Under
stand, LYDIA" he said in a low
voice, fitting her head up so that
he looked down into her eyes, I'm
your friendship with this.
You go on living with your father
and taking care of him, but I'm
your friendship for me and
Margery-for good and ALL" He
out of the window with a
curious air of abstraction. Then,
Button your coat and run along"
Il haven't thanked YOU" eX-
Lydia. II can't thank you.
Oh, but thank you, Mr.. Marshall
II" she began to trembIe vio-
"Stop!" roared Marshall. "And
YOU tell your father to look out
for your nerves. Now skip" And
trembling stopped and she
skipped.
She did not tell Lizzie of her or
rand and that faithful soul was too
glad to see her eat her dinner to
think to ask her why she had skat-
ed so long. She laid an envelope
at her fathers plate and when he
sat down, silent and distracted,
without needing the fish, she shook {
her head at Lizzie who was about
to protest.
"Where'd this come from?' he {
asked, absentmindedly opening the s
envelope. Then. "For Gods sakel
how" '
at was like this" said Lydia.
And she gave a full history of her |
mornings visit, to her two speech
ess listeners. i,