The Washington times., 1932-07-06
Works for Family


Works for Family
"Too uncertain as to the out
come Of a new business ven
ture to add any extra expense,
he refused to hire a house
keeper. With the help of his
eldest daughter, he himself
managed the household duties.
The years passed, and if he
held in his heart a yearning for
wifely companionship none
knew it but he. His love and
affection was all laviShed on
his children.
Through 10 years of pros
perity and thrift, Smith man
aged to enlarge his business, to
build Q home in the best Sec
ton Of the suburbs and to
send his children to college. If
he made sacrifices, he didn't
deem them as such. He felt it
was his life'S duty to make GER
tain they had the opportunities
that he had missed.
Nov that the children were
all at the State University,
Smith felt sadly alone. The
house was quiet and dull. Let
terS from his children grew less
bulky, even as their requests
for money grew larger. But he
would always send the money
and find pleasure in the
thought that the best was none
too good for his children.
Nevertheless, Smith was wor-
ried. Ready money was be-
coming harder to get. The eco
nomic depression was being felt
in all walks Of life. The trades
man was compelled to increase
his credit to the limit as well
as to extend credit to his GUS
toners in order to continue in
business. Smith realized that
outstanding debts were eating
up his assets, while borrowed
money paid his bills in order
to keep an established credit.
Hard Times Arrive
"On a spring night, which
brings us to the present year,
Smith sat in his office. He
was sorting a bundle of papers
that he had taken from his
safe. The first four were stock
certificates that had so depre-
ciated as to make their value
negligible. The next five were
life insurance policies; three
for the children and two for
himself.
Setting the other policies
aside, he opened one that bore
his name and began to read.
His brow became puckered as
though he were trying to con-
centrate entirely upon the doc
ument before him. Then, when
he finished, the paper rested
quietly upon the desk, his open
palm upon it. His eyes held a
faraway look, as thought he
was seeking outside Of himself
for an answer to an unspoken
question.
"He nodded. Slowly he gath
cred the papers together,
snapped a rubber band around
them and carried the bundle to
the safe. Closing the safe, he
put on his hat and left the
building.
Outside the night was clear
and cool. The stars Shone
brightly in the sky. The moon,
q saffron ball, seemed suspended
between heaven and earth.
Pausing before entering his car,
Smith looked up at the sky;
the same pucker between his
eyes. Then, stepping into the
car, he started toward home.
Twenty minutes driving
brought him to the outskirts of
the city, and as he sped along
the well-paved road, he watched
for the sign he had passed so
many times with but a casual
glance. The sign took shape
before his eyes as the car
leaped forward to take the
curve ahead. The front wheels
swung to the right, and the
next instant there was a crash
ing sound as the car plunged
through the guard rail and
rolled down a 60-foot embank-
ment.
"As the car came to rest near
some trees, a beam Of moon
light filtered through the leaves