Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1930-08-08
How Jabez Got
Revenge

By H. IRVING KING

(" L is indeed. long lane that has
no turning" thought .Jabez Martin
grimly. as he rode along the country
road, bound for the farmstead Of his
lifelong enemy. Mathew Scott. Mat
hew and he had been at school to-
gether--and had fought. even as little
boys. Then they had grown up and
had courted the same girl and Mathew
had married her. Jabez never mar
ried. He devoted the rest of his life
to making money-and hating his sue
cessful rival. And Mathew had pros
pered, too; though not to the same
extent as Jabez. Mathew had gone
in for apple raising and, everybody
said, had made fortune.
The prosperity Of Jabez had come
from cultlvatlng mortgages and maxi
ing loans at ten per cent. Also from
an uncanny instinct he possessed with
regard to investment in stocks. He
had an Office In the city and spent his
time there-but he had never ceased
to lay low for a chance at Mathew.
And now he had him. For Mathew,
instead of sticking to his apples and
peaches, had been lured afeld into the
thorny and troublous ways of financial
speculation. And there was just this
difference between Jabez and Mathew
when Mathew bought any stock It
went down; and when, Jabez bought
any 1t went up. Secretly. through
ouantS Of HE oxun Toha1 hod POlloua1
on Mathews trail-and was now pre-
pared to take his financial scalp.
Clarissa Thornton-the girl who had
preferred to become Mrs. Scott rather
than Mrs. Martin-had been dead a
year now. Jabez's slit of a. mouth
grew 6rmer and his little eyes gloweh
with a wicked CLEAN as he considered
the things he would do to Mathew
in the near future. Just then he came
to where the road forked and stopped,
hesltatlng which fork to take. II was
years since he had been along that
road.
Lets see," unused he, II think II is
the right fork that goes by Mathews
I'll ask that young man just passed"
and he waited for the young man
who was walking behind him to come
up.
Take the road to the left" said the
young man; then the first turn to the
right. I'm on my way to Mr. Scott's
myself. If you will allow me to jump
in I'll pilot you"
Jabez fixed his eyes upon the frank,
open face Of the youth and strange.
inexpllcable feeling came over him
Something seemed to be calling to the
old man out Of the past, something
stirring within him feelings long dorm.
ant-dead, as he had supposed. for
ever. Jump in," he said.
After a moments silence he turned
10 the young man and asked: "Do You
know Mr.. Scott?"
"Why, yes" replied the youth with
a laugh; "ratherl He is my father"
"Clarissas boy" escaped from the
old mans lips in murmured tone.
"Clarlssa was my mothers name,"
said the young man. aid you know
her. STRIP
"Yes." replied Jabez, II knew her
and your father, too" ne added
grimly In his best diplomatic manner.
lie drove very slowly, purposely, and
before they reached the Scott place he
had turned the young man inside
out" ms the saying Is.
He had learned the old, old story
Af
much in love and kept from marrying
by stern parent who was resolved
that his son should marry a girl picked
out for him and not the choice of his
own heart. "Y0u are quite sure tina,
you love this Helen BarstOw?" asked
JabeZ.
II shall never love another woman
rs do her." was the reply. 1--WE shall
marry. anyway. In this matter | Gun
not conform to my fathers wishes.
But, you see, we will have to wait
long time. | must get a little money
ahead first. | must get a Job some
where, somehow. And | do hate to
break with father, awfully. But II
must be done"
Jabez, while talking with william,
had mellowed to an extent which
would have caused his business nc.
qualntances In the city, had they seen
and heard him, to conclude that the
old man had lost his mind But be
hadn't; he had only changed It.
NOW, William" said he when al
last they arrived at the Scott place,
"yOu show me into the parlor and
go and tell your father am whiting
for him there. And don't worry about
Helen. Your father and | are older
-acquaintances. Perhaps | can per.
suade him."
Jabez and Mathew were closeted to
getber for two hours. Then the con
ference was over treaty had been
signed which appeared to be saiIsfac.
tory to both. That night Mathew said
to his son: william, II you really
are set upon marrying that Barst0w
glrl-why. | suppose I'll have to give
my consent"
"Hurrah +" cried Willlam--and then.
renectlngly. did Mr.. Martin say any.
thing about ltT
why. yes" replied Mathew. II be.
Iieve that, IN the course OF our bust
ness talk, he did alude to something
OF the kind"