Askov American. [volume] (Askov, Pine County, Minn.) 1914-current, 1926-11-18
antine and I'd be arrested, If the

health office knew
II won't tell" said Dave, gently.
Come over here by me, Lydia. Mar
gerry Is away on a visit, so I'm not
afraid for her."
/ Lydia crossed the room Marshall
took the skates from her shoulders
and unfastened her coat.
"Sit down on that chair and let's
talk this over. You know what note
Is, do you, Lydia?"
"It's money you owe," she said, her
blue eyes anxiously fixed on Mar
shall's face.
He nodded. "Yes. When your
mother was sick, your father asked
my bank here to lend-him thousand
dollars for two years. Now, your ia
Their Is very poor. He doesn't own
anything that's worth a thousand dol
lars and knew he could never pay 1t
back. So told him he must get
someone to promise to pay that money
for him If he couldn't, at the end Of
the two years. Understand"
Lydia nodded.
swell, he got John Levine. Now
the two years are up and unless that
thousand dollars Is paid, the people
whose money I take care of in the
bank, will each lose some of that thou
sand. See?
Lydia stared at him, struggling to
take In the explanation. 81 see," she
/, said. "But If you'd pay thousand
dollars for me, that would fix it all
up"
"Why Lydia, do you mean you
would leave your fatherw
II wouldn't want to-" she answered
earnestly, "but Lizzie could take care
Of daddy. He doesn't really need me-
There isn't anybody really needs me-
needs mellow"
She swallowed a sob, then went on
"Mr. Levine just mustn't pay it. 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 it. It would kill
mother, If she knew. Oh, she hated
borrowing So"
Marshall chewed his cigar. LIE
vine," he growled, els a long-legged
crook"
Lydia flew out of her chair and
shook her fist In the bankers face
"Don't you dare say that!' she cried.
"He's dear lamb, that's what he is"
Dawes fat jaw dropped. "a dear
lamb, ehf Ask him some time what a
land shark is-a dear lamb?'
He went on chewing his cigar and
Lydia returned to her chair. Whether
1t was the anxious round eyes, above
the scarlet cheeks, whether it was the
wistful droop of the childish lips,
whether it was the look that belongs
to ravished motherhood and seemed
grossly wrong on child's face,
whether 1t was some thought Of his
own pampered little daughter, whether
it was that curious appeal Lydia al
ways made to men, or a combination
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 can't do this Lydia,
you go home and tell your father I'll
renew that note, but, he's got to pay
the interest and 10 per cent of the
principal, every year till he's paid it
up. Here, I'll write it down. And tell
him that I'm not doing it for him or
for that skunk of Levine, but I'm
doing it for you. Here, I'll write that
down, too"
He folded the bit Of paper and put
1t in an envelope. "Come here" he
said. He pinned the note into the
pocket Of her blouse. Understand,
LYDIA" he said in low voice, tilt
Ing her head up so that he looked
down into her eyes, sim buying your
friendship with this. You go on nv-
ing with your father and taking care
of him, but I'm buying your friendship
for me and Margery-for good and
ALL" He looked out of the window
with curious air of abstraction.
Then, Button your coat and run
along"
II haven't thanked your exclaimed
Lydia. II can't thank you. Oh, but
thank you, Mr.. Marshall-I-I-" she
began to tremble violently.
"Stopl" roared Marshall. "And you
tell your father to look out for your
nerves. Now skip And Lydia's
trembling stopped and she skipped.
She did not tell Lizzie of her err
rand and that faithful soul was too
glad to see her eat her dinner to think
to ask her why she had skated so
long. She laid an envelope at her
fathers plate and when he sat down,
silent and distracted, without heed
ing the fish, she shook her head at
Lizzie who was about to protest.
"Where'd this come from?" he
asked, absentmindedly opening the en-
velope. Then, "For Gods sakel Ly-
dia-where? how?"
'It was like this" said Lydia. And
she gave full history Of her morn
ing's visit, to her two speechless lis
teners.
. Amos looked from Lydia to Lizzie,
from Lizzie to Lydia.