The Storyteller

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XXXVI, Issue 3, 30 January 1908, Page 3

The Storyteller

A FRIEND IN NEED

It was close to three o'clock --in the afternoon when Amos Garner returned from luncheon. He was a busy man, and lunched when he caught the favor**" able moment. The- cares of a great mercantile establishment weighed heavily on his shoulders. He showed the buruen' in his seamed and knotted face. He was not reckoned a kindly or a sympathetic man, and his appearance, his sharp glance, his hooked ' and his aggressive chin bore out the "popular opinion.. As he entered his private office he brushgd by two young men when were seated on a settee near the door. One of the two was a mere boy of nineteen, perhaps, a. pale-faced young fellow, who manifestly shrank back as the elder youth took him by the aria and led him into Amos Garner's room. The great merchant- was hanging ~up his heavy coat as- they entered. He turned quickly and looked at the pair. ' Mr. Garner,' said the older youth, 'we have a little business to transact with you, and will make it as brief as possible. ' The merchant looked at them sharply, and then sealed himself at his desk and drummed nervously on the polished surface before him. 1 Business of interest to me ? ' he asked, with lowered brows. ' Yes,'\ replied the older of the two. ' Make it brief,' said the merchant, and pointed to seats. ■ ''- The other youth drew his chair close to the desk, - the boy sitting in the -shadow, a little behind him. • Mr. Garner,' said the older youth, ' I was on my way to Buffalo last night by boat. I saw this boy in the cabin writing, and his appearance attracted me. His agitation., his trembling hands, the tears in his eyes, drew me to him. I know he was in trouble.' The merchant raised his head a little and cast a sharp glance toward the boy. But the latter • had drawn back behind hiifr companion and was quite* shielded from view. \ I watched the boy,' the speaker proceeded, ' and when he % had finished his writing and placed the sheets in addressed envelopes and^ left them lying on the table 1 picked them up and hurried after him as he ascended to the deck. I was close behind him when he threw down his hat and clambered on the rail. I drew him back. - V, did my'- : best to calm him, and presently he told me his story,' and 'I • gave him the best advice I could, ' - The merchant leaned forward to have a better look at the speaker. * Are you quite sure this interests me ? ' he said. . ' Quite sure,' replied the - older youth", gravely. ' One of the letters written by this unfortunate bey wis addressed to you, the other was to have been forwarded to his invalid sister. The boy was running away, sir, running away from you, and then, when he saw the futility of- such a course, he determined to end his troubles at once and forever. He sees things in a different light now, and the first morning train from' Buffalo brought him back here to tell you.' 1 That's very thoughtful of him,' said the - great merchant, grimly. ' Here is the letter,' said the older youth. The merchant took the envelope and stared at the address 1 . — __ ' . - ' It's a" very pretty story,' he said, with a. half sneer. ' : 1 It's a very ugly story,' said the older youth. /Of course I am to understand^ that, this young fellow has been stealing either my money or my stock,' the merchant went on._ " « ' The letter Will tell you that he has embezzled 262 dollars,' said the older youth. _ , ' Then it's a case for the- ~pol'ice, ' said, the merchant, and his hand reached for the electric button at the side of his desk.' . Then he hesitated, his gaze meeting that of the older youth, whose eyes were gentle and yet steady, and fearless. He slowly drew back. 1 I ought to send for an officer at once,' .he growled. . • - • ' But you .will not.,.' said the older youth. The merchant raised his heavy eyebrows and stared at the speaker again. ' What's the boy's narre ? ' he asked.; 1 John Heathcote.' ■ - " ' ' Where was he employed ? ' • 'He was an, assistant in the cashier's department:' 1 What was his salary ? ' ' ' Ten dollars a week.'

? What did he do with it ? ' ' Supported himself and an invalid sister.' . ' He had bills to collect, last week, and he failed to turn in all his collections. 1 ' What did he do 'with the stolen money ? ' 'It went into a gambling shop. He was lured into it by some of his fellow-clerks. He didn't know the danger, and the stories they told him of sudden gains turned his head. He lost from the start,, andit was the attempt to retrieve these early losses that swelled the defalcations.', """".' 4 That's an old story,' said the grim merchant. - 1 Painfully told and painfully true,' asserted the young man. 1 There is a proposition, I suppose '! ' growled the merchant. • There is,' Before the old man could pursue his queries there was a rap at the door. ; ' Come in,' said the merchant. A clerk entered. \ ' The gentleman from Atlanta, *who desired to see you at three o'clock, is here, sir,' he said. • • Tell him I'm engaged this afternoon,' said the oldi merchant. * I will see him at' nine to-morrow morning.' - ; 4He wished me to say that he will be obliged to return home to-night, sir.' 'If he can't see me at nine, let him write,' said the merchant sharply, and the clerk withdrew. Then the grim old man turned back to, the youth. • Before we- go any further in this matter,' he said, ' I want to know what interest you have in it.' .* An interest that has nothing to do with dollars and cents,' said the youth, with, a little smile. The old man shook his head doubtingly. ' Friend of the sister's, perhaps ? ' The face of the youth flushed a little. 1 I have never seen her,' he said. 1 But why should you stick by the boy ? ' 1 Because he needs a friend,' said the 4 young man simply, and stretched his arm back and laid his hand on the hand of the boy. The boy, crouching behind his friend, uttered a quick sob. • Stop that,' said the old merchant sharply.. 'We can't have any disturbance here.' There was a little silence. 1 What's your proposition ? ' he abruptly asked. 1 It's very simple,' replied -the man. 'We propose that you take back this erring but contrite boy and that you give him the chance to pay back the amount ' he has taken. Let. him pay a part of his salary each week until the delinquency is wiped out. In the meantime you hold that letter as proof of his misdeed.' s The old merchant frowned. ' That would be establishing a very bad 'precedent,' he growled. ' There is one other condition.,' the young man went on. ' The affair is lo remain a profound secret, known to no one outside of this room.' The old man opened his eyes. 1 Are you awake to the fact that' l am considered a hard man ? ' he slowly asked. ' Haven't -you heard that most of my five hundred ■ employees regard me as a soulless tyrant ? ' 1 I have learned to distrust popular prejudice in these personal matters,' replied the young man. •My Own father has been held up to the world as an example of heartless greed and cartooned and vilified, when I know he is the best of men.' But the old merchant did not heed his words. He was looking at the boy's letter. • In the first place,' he said, ' we might as" well destroy this. It could make trouble in the future.' And he tore the emvelope and its contents into fragments. Then he looked up. ' Boy,' he said, ' come here.' The lad arose and stepped to the desk. The old man looked him over. ' You nay go- back to your place,' he said. ' Each Saturday afternoon you will bring to me two dollars from your salary. If I find that .you _ are faithful and ambitious, you may rest assured that I will recognise the fact in- a practical way. Should your sister notice that your Salary is apparently decreased, you may say to her that you are investing it in a sin .- ing - fund by my personal advice. That is all. Return to your work and tell the cashier that you were detained by me.' . ■ [ , ; Thank .you, sir,' sad the boy, brokenly. 'I fancy your thanks are all due to this smiling^ Samaritan here,' said the old man. 'He has saved both your life and your honor, ar.d if you ever forget it you are— well, certainly not the boy Tarn willing to ai<V The lad caught the youns man's hand and- pressed it and then hurried from the room.

' One moment,' said the old merchant, as his- visitor arose. 'If you -are not employed or wish a change, I ■ would be glad to offer you a place.' 4 ThanK you,' said the young man, ' but I am. well satisfied with my present place as I" ever hope, to be with any form of labor. I'm a natural- idler ,* s you -know.'' The old, man shook his head as though he doubted this," and there" was a wistful look in his eyes as he regarded thte young man. ~ . l -, V I regret that you cannot come,.' he said. ' I wou\d like to have you near. me. You are a-iVery unusual sort of young man. But you'll promise me one thing — you'll come in to see me from time to time; won't you,?' ' With pleasure,' replied the visitor. 'It will give me the chance to inq/uire after my protege. And Trom what he told me I think- 1 would li c to -know more about hisjinvalid sister.' He 100 ed at tEe old man arid -smiled.- ''Perhaps we might do something to make her dull life a little brighter.' The old man nodded' as if in answer to an appeal. ' I feel sure we can,' he said. Then he put out hi& hand. ' Before you. go I want io know your name:' '"Greer, Dunham Grerr,' replied the young" man." .' Greer,' repeated the old man. ' You said something a moment ago about your father. * I didn't quite ca^tch the remark. Is he the railway king ?' ' ' He has been called so,' Dunham replied. _ ' Understand me,' said the old man, ' I don't think any more of you on this account.' ' Why should you ?' cried Dunham, lig|htlv. '.At tiroes I have found it a positive handicap. ;A rich man's son tfet.s . credit for very little useful -behavior in" this' prejudiced world. It's quite d : scouragirig.” But he lau.G-hpd as he said it. - ' „ ' Thank God that richts haven't spo'led you,' said the old man, solemnly. And their hands met in a warm clasn. That .evening Dunham critically stared at himself in x the glass in -his Hotel room. / 'Well, Dunnip, my boy,' he said to his smiling reflection, 'you' missfd an important business fifcagement. in Buffalo, and, what is *vorse, you don't look- as" if you regretW it in the Rnst. You are quite a hopeless case," old fellow. Good-night.'— Exchange' -