The Kennewick courier-reporter. [volume] (Kennewick, Wash.) 1914-1938, 1933-06-08

tective did not seem particularly
interested.
Vernon" he remarked. Maxwell
Vernon. eh?"
"Yes. They call him Max"
"Friend of yours?"
81 like him-if that's what you
mean"
what sort of kid Is her"
Fiske hesitated, then leaned for
ward with q sudden burst of conf
dence. eff | give you my honest
opinion of that boy. Hanvey-will it
prejudice you against him?"
"Golly, no." @ ~
"He has faults"
"Who hasn't? Only men I'm afraid
of are these goody -goOdy, ANTI
honest ones. They're the cute ba-
biesl Now about Vernon?'
ut isn't a long story. You know
we have college here. Vernon en-
tered as freshman three years ago
hes finishing his junior year now.
met him when he came into the
bank and opened ninety-thousand
dollar checking account 1t was
rather unusual"
II should guess yes"
-aAnd naturally had a chat
with him. This money was the re-
mainder of an Inheritance from his
mother. she having been his surviv-
! ing parent"
"Orphan?' ..z-.s. -.s-.,-.c1.. 49,.
Exactly. In the past three years
Max and have been quite friendly
so friendly that at times I'm
afraid he has rather resented what
must have seemed like interference
on my part"
"What were you interfering about?"
Vernon has been running through
his money pretty fast. He start.
ed slowly in his freshman year.
but the word got out that he was
very rich and he gathered around
himself a group of friends rather
more mercenary than genuine. Max
Vernon is weak; about as weak as
young man who is not vicious can
be. really believe. though, that
there isn't a vicious bone in his body.
His first year at college he spent
money lavishly. Last year he spent
it faster. This year he has run
through every cent of what little
was left"
"Gosh! He must be a bird !"
Too many friends for his own
good. One in particular"
"Who?"
"I'll tell you about him directly.
To stick to Vernon; when saw his
money dwindling started having
sensible, fatherly talks with him
He always confessed his weakness
and always promised to draw in his
horns Then the next thing knew
there'd be wallOping big check
come through the bank"
did he have all his money
here?"
Every cent. That's why I'm In
position to know so much about
him. About a month ago he had
run through his money. Didn't have
two hundred dollars left. About a
week ago he came to me and asked
for loan. He admitted that he was
broke. He said he was in q rotten
fix-owed big gambling debt-and
felt that his honor was at stake
Does he gamble much?"
"a good deal But that I'll touch
on later. He wanted to borrow
money OF course. explained that
couldn't lend tat least that the
bank couldn't did offer to lend
him trifling sum personally. but
he said that the hundred dollars
offered wouldn't help bit He need.
ed five thousand"
No piker. at any rate"
ut isn't that. Harvey. He just
doesn't know anything about money
or If he does, he's learned II
in the last month, which isn't very
likely. He always had thought that
ninety thousand dollars was mex.
haustible. Then suddenly. II was
gone. It took him long time to
understand that there was no more.
He confessed to me that he had
been a fool. He wanted to know
what to do. and | suggested that
he leave the college. get a Job and
begin to take life seriously. His
gambling debt-.the debt of honor
he rather grandiosely called IT.
seemd to be preying on his mind
Once or twice he even talked about
killing himself spoke to him like
a Dutch uncle"
"Yon thought he meant II?
"He meant It; yes. But knew
he'd never do it. was merely try.
ing to snap him ont of his despon
dency All his lightness and bright
ness were disappearing. But there
was nothing could do about it."
"And he?"
"No one in the world could have
II