Jasper County Democrat, Volume 12, Number 65, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 27 November 1909 — PAID IN FULL [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

PAID IN FULL

Novelized From Eugene Walter** Great Play

By JOHN W. HARDING

SYNOPSIS OF PREVIOUS CHAPTERS. CHAPTER I—lntroduces Captain Amos ■Williams, president of the Latin-Amerl-can Steamship company, in very, bad humor over a threatened strike of his dock laborers. Joseph Brooks, underpaid accountant and collector for Williams, expresses his sympathy for the strikers and Is ridiculed by his fellow clerks. H —The president sends for James Smith, superintendent of the company's docks, and instructs him to spare no expense In crushing the strikers. Smith advises pacific measures, but Is overruled and prepares to obey orders. Ill —Mrs. Emma Brooks, the handsome young wife of the discontented clerk, tries to encourage him on his return to their bandbox apartment. but he Is bitter against his employer and also against his wife’s mother and sister, who dislike him on account of his Inability to gain position. In his desperation he turns on his wife and suggests that she must regret her choice of him when she might have had Smith, who had offered himself. IV—Smith, who Is the Intimate friend of the family, makes his appearance on the scene, and Brooks continues his bitter arraignment of his employer and violent protest against his own impoverished condition. The discussion becomes rather personal, and Brooks takes his hat and leaves the premises. V—Accompanied by Captain Williams, who is an old friend of the family, Mrs. Harris and daughter Beth, mother and sister of Mrs. Brooks, enter the room. During the visit Brooks returns and makes a scene, accusing Williams of being the cause of his unhappiness. Mrs. Brooks reminds her husband of his breach of hospitality, and he apollglzes and leaves the house. VI When Brooks returns he astonishes his wife and Smith by Inviting them to go to the theater. Smith offers to lend him 110, but he declines. Brooks extracts ♦lO from a roll of money collected for the company. Vll—Smith prevents a Strike. VIII —Williams and Smith go to South America, and Brooks’ prospects Improve. Brooks tells his wife that he has been promoted and money Is plentlxul. The couple move Into an expensive apartment hotel, and Mrs. Harris ceases to reproach them for their poverty. IX— Smith makes his appearance suddenly and informs Brooks that Williams knows of his dishonesty and that the going to Bouth America was only a scheme to entrap him and that he Is shadowed by detectives.

CHAPTER X. TTJLLY Is credited with belug the first to remark what essayists have pointed out ever since—that friendship Improves happiness and abates misery by the doubling of our joys and dividing of our griefs. This was the sort of friendship that animated Jlinsy Smith. His regard began in love for Emma j Harris, but when he found that this love was not requited he did not for that reason withdraw his interest in her. Accepting the cold reality with his usual philosophy, he thrust deep down in his heart the passiou that never could be eradicated, and his Sterling, unflinching honesty transformed it in time into a fraternal affection as self sacrificing as it was loyal, which he extended to the man Emma had chosen for her life partner. tWltb his keen perception he had soon Been that that man was morally weak. Irresolute of purpose, incompetent in business and that his love for his wife was not of that kind which counted sacrifice for her as a privilege and forbearance, indulgence and unfailing consideration for her gentler and purer nature as a duty. But it was not for him to Judge or to condemn That Emma was satisfied was sufli cienL No other consideration mattered a particle. And he esteemed himself happy in being admitted to the little household on terms of the intimacy of an elder brother. In all the world there was no one else he cared for or who cared for him. When Mrs. Brooks and he re-entered the apartment and she turned to him and told him that it was good to see him back she meant it. "It Is good to me to be back ugaln,” be ndmtttcd, “if only for a few hours.” “Why a few hours, Jimsy?” "Williams expects me to take the midnight train for Boston. There is some legal tangle about our dock lease there." '*Dh, 1 see. Did Joe tell you about tour good fortune'/ Of course you can see the change," and she made a gesture thut took in the whole room. “You mean the raise in salnry and back pay ?" “Yes. Wasn’t it splendid of Captain .Williams?” “it certainly has agreed with you,” he responded evasively. “Never saw you look so well.” “Did the captain tell you about it?” “No; he uever mentioned it.” “Why not?” * “Captain Williams has a habit of keeping a whole lot to himself." “It came as a complete surprise—at least to me." “Seems to have done your mother a Whole lot of good. She never did shine up to that Harlem fiat” “In all the years I’ve known you. Jimsy, you’ve uever spoken of your mother or father. 1 suppose you don’t care to." An expression of pain Qltted over his face. “No; It ain’t pleasant" he confessed, lira. Brooks was sincerly sorry for her rather thoughtless remark. “Forgive me, Jimsy. 1 wish I hadn’t ■aid that Could I help to make It more pleasant? I’d like to,” she said sympathetically. He gased at her with a queer look and for a few moments did not speak. He'appeared to be debating something In bis mind. “My mother, as near as l have beep

able to find out hiked out Into Colorado when it was a territory. There wasn't much law and. 1 guess, no conventionalities. Everybody kind o’ drifted along the beat or the worst they could, the majority voting the straight ticket for the worst A shake es the band was as good as a bond, and there wasn’t any Jaw 1n the land except that between man and woman. Some of them out there yearned as much for the sanctity of the marriage vows as an Arab in the Sahara does for a sun bath. It was a loose country, full of loose people. My mother fell in love witb a roving miner, and be promised to marry her, but before the parson wandered into the camp to make a little loose change tying matrimonial knots pa got Into an argument concerning alcobolic capacity and got plugged witb a 45 ” “Killed 7"

“Tea. He passed on. Later I was shoved into the midst of an unsuspecting public. My coming into the world without the usual legal credentials hit my poor mother awful hard, and before I could open my eyes she died. Then there was gn awful argument about where I belonged.” “How?" “Two cities claimed me. Denver said I was born Id Omaha, and Omaha blamed It on Denver. Those that looked after me when I was a kid got a little careless about my education, and finally the city of Denver adopted me ns a favorite son. Father’s only known name was Jim. I grabbed it I had to have a last one on the handle, so I chose Smith, feeling tolerably certain it would pass the scrutiny of an inquisitive world without raising a storm of curiosity .” He paused, then concluded, with a wan smile: “You see. Emma, I am some shy.” “I’m awfully sorry. Jlmsy, but It doesn’t make a lot of difference, does it?” she said consolingly. “No, only that’s why I came east The west ain’t conducive to pleasant recollections.” “It’s nothing you could belt#’

“No I figure you can’t always blame people for what they can’t help If a fellow comes into the world shy. he’s shy, and the chances are he’s doing the best be can the very time be goes to the bad.” “How? In what way?” “You seem puzzled.” he said, moving his chair so that it brought him squarely facing her. “Well, for instance, out in Denver I knew a fellow who married a girl who’d had pretty much what she wanted, but he’d been in hard luck, it was a love match all right, both parties being clean foolish over each other. Well, he didn’t get on, and she had to work pretty hard. Finally he thought her health and spirits were about busted up on account of the work, and he commenced appropriating other folks’ money—got ’way In. and the harder he tried to get out the deeper be floundered. Finally the big exposure came off. He was a thief. Now, what do you think about him, Emma? Do you think because he was long on love and short on honor he was all bad, eh?” She hesitated, pondering the question as something so utterly beyond ordinary cogitation th|at It could not have presented itself to her and was not to be lightly decided. “1 don’t know what to think.” she mused. “I’ve always loathed a thlet and a liar. 1 know there’s an awful iot of dishonesty—in business. Father always declared that a man to drink or gamble or dissipate might be weak, hut that a man whq stole or lied to injure people was vicious. Somehow 1 think that too.’’ “Maybe you’re right, but 1 wondered if you’d beeu in his wife’s place you’d sort of forgiven the man and helped him get right” “Perhaps—l don’t know,” she replied i doubtfully. “But I think if anything 1 like that ever happened it would almost kill me.” Her thoughts were diverted from the subject by the ringing of the telephone bell. She answered it “Captain Williams calling." she said to Smith, then through the phone: "Ask the gentleman to come up, please.” Jlmsy, anxious and much troubled, regarded her thoughtfully. She turned from the telephone and advanced to him, holding out her band, lie took It hesitatingly and wonderIngly. “Jimsy,” she said earnestly, “I’ve never quite understood you before." “No?" he Interrogated. “But after what you told me tonight." she weut on, “I’ve had a little peek behind the curtains. You are a good man. Jlmsy—a good man. That means everything.” For the second time in his entire life—the first having been when ne proposed to her—Smith displayed trep- j idation. “Now, Emma, be careful.” he re- 1 proved. “There ain’t no celestial uied als pinned on my coat signifying an angelic career, and don’t \you start tossing bouquets in my direction.” The doorbell rang as he settled himself in his chair again. “Ah! There’s the old sea dog,” said Mrs. Brooks, hastening to let the captain in. “Good evening, Mrs. Brooks. Jllad to see you." Captain Williams grasped her hand as his eyes wandered over the comfortable room, and he added: “Hello. Bmith! Meet you every time I come here." “One of my hangouts," agreed the superintendent genially. “Sit down, captain.” invited Emma, motioning him to a chair. “Thanks." be ssld. “Where’s your husband?" “He’a Just gone out. He’ll be back Id u little while Jimsy has been telling us about your eventful trip “ “Eventful trip?"

He echoed the words with a bewildered air Smith pushed bis chair back so that Mrs. Brooks could not see him without turning in bis direction and. unobserved by her, motioned warning signals to bis employer, wbo did not understand them. “Spinning a yarn about that little revolution down at Guatemala,” be prompted. “Eh? Guatemala—oh, yes—the revolutlon—very bloody affair—very serious,” replied Williams, wbo had' suddenly realised that be was expected to confirm a story that Smith bad found it expedient to relate to Mrs. Brooks. “Jlmsy said there wasn’t a shot fired.” she told him. Smith, seeing that the captain understood, drew bis chair forward. “Emma, don’t you let the captain fill yon full of yarns. He can lie fatter than I can.” be laughed. “No,” protested Williams; “there ain’t nothing can beat you. Smith. Well. Mrs Brooks, how have yon been?’’ “Splendid. When did yon get In?” “When did i get In? Let me see. Smith, when did 1 get inf “You look as if you bad Just got,” suggested the superintendent “Today—yes. But what time? I should say at 10. maybe 11 o’clock.” “That’s probably why Joe hasn’t seen you,” observed Emma. “He’s • just taken mother and Beth as far as the theater I don’t know what keeps him. He should be back before this” “I guess be aiD’t run away,” opined the captain, with a suspicion of grimness. “I’ll wait” “You know. Emma, that’s one of the best things the captain does.” said Smith “What?” “Waiting. WheD it comes to patience and persistency he’s got most Indians beat a dozen city blocks.” “Don’t you mind what Smith says. Mrs. Brooks,” grinned the captain. “The years he’s beeD working for me be never showed any special signs of hurry or nervousness How’s your husband?”

“Fairly well. I think he seems a little worried over business.” “That so! What’s the matter?” “You see. in his new position he feels his responsibility.” Williams looked surprised. “Has he any special new responsibility?” he asked, his eyes wandering inquiringly to Smith, who did some more warning signaling unobserved by their hostess “Well, since you raised his salary, captain, and gave him his extra work naturally he’s anxious to make good.” again prompted the superintendent. “jfiixious to make good|? Well, he’ll have a chance, and soon at that.” * Mrs, Brooks rose, hand outstretched, and went to him. with a happy, grateful smile. “Now that it’s out I want to thank you ever so much,” she said. “Thank me?” “Y’es. for Joe’s raise and that six months’ hack pay.” “He told you that?’

“Sure he did.” put in Smith. “He has fqrbiddeij me to speak of it to either you or Jlmsy,” Emma told him, “but since you mave mentioned it first I can thank you, can’t I?” He did not return a direct answer, but rubbed his chin dubiously as he said: “So I raised his pay, eh? And dated it back six mouths?” “Of course you did,” asseverated Smith with emphasis. “Don’t let him fool you, Emma.” “You dqn’t know how happy it’s made us all,” went on Mrs. Brooks gratefully. “I feel like a new woman, and mother appreciates it.” “Well, seems that I done all these things’’ i - He stopped abruptly as the door opened and his eyes rested on Brooks. The latter’s underjaw dropped, and he turned livid with fear at the unexpected presence of the captain. He was, in fact, bo startled that he nearly collapsed. “Ca-captain Williams!” he stammered. advancing tremblingly toward him. “W-will you shake hands, captain?” “Sure!” replied Williams In a firm voice. “How are you. Brooks?” “I—l’m all right, 1 guess.” “You know, Joe, you told me not to thank the captain. But he brought it up—the raise and the money,” Bald his wife, still full of the subject and her gratitude. “No, I did. Joe/’ corrected Smikb

“You see. the captain feels”— Brooks turned upon them, snarling like a wolf at bay. “What are you trying to do—make fuD of me? Don’t you think that’a it”— “Now, Brooks,” Interrupted the captain authoritatively, “you sure are nervous. Your wife has just been telling me—how she enjoys your new income.” Mrs. Brooks, startled and alarmed, gazed at her husband. t “Why. Joe, are yon sick?” she demanded. “No, no! Maybe it's the heat,” he replied weakly, passing bis tongue over his dried lips. There was a moment of general eqabarrussmeat, during which Captain Williams took stock of (he room. “You are fixed up mighty snug here, Mrs. Brooks,” he commented, breaking the awkward silence. “Yes, It is pleasant” she answered, pow seriously worried. Williams rose. “Well, I must go,” he remarked. “Do' you want me to go with you?” asked Joe. “No; tomorrow morning will do to see you. You know my lonely little quarters ain’t more’n half a block from here, and I like to hang out there.” “The captain,” added Smith, “lives In a little south sea island nook moved Into his fiat. He keeps it so dirty that some say it’s attractive.” “That’s what you get for being a bachelor.” laughed Williams. He moved toward the door, and the others rose. “I’m glad to see you so happy, Mrs. Brooks.” he observed, pausing and looking about him again. “Thank you,” said she. “1 uever did know before what a little money meant to a woman.” •‘Perhaps that’s because yon don’t know women.” “Ob. 1 know women—one kind, anyway. But Brooks is lucky in having a girl like you for a wife.” “Emma, he’s giving you a little south Pacific blarney,” put in Jimsy. “Maybe I am and maybe I’m not,” said the captain. “But,” he continued emphatically, “it’s a sure thing that If 1 had a girl like you I’d knuckle down and earn Enough money to make you happy—eh. Brooks?” • l suppose that’s what you’d do.” assented that Individual. “Yes, I’d work pretty bard without kicking to please you, Mrs. Brooks, If you looked to me to make good for you.”

v’Emma," declared Smith, with his quiet smile, “if you were single I’d suspect captain of getting a little soft.” •“But I’d earn the money," went on the captain, pursuing his train of thought. “That’s the only way to get along. Well, I’ll say good night, Mrs. Brooks.” “Good night, captain. Tfcank you again.” “Good night. Smith.” “I may drop over later,” remarked the superintendent by way gs reply. “Wish you would,” the captain assured him with some eagerness. “I’d like to smoke a pipe and talk awhile. Good night, Brooks.” “Gpod night, sir.” Brooks went forward and opened the door. “Try to get down to the office by 8 In the morning.” recommended the captain, gazing at him with sinister contempt. “Yes, sir.” “There’ll be some gentlemen there who may be anxious to meet you.” “I’ll be there.” “Didn’t know but what you might oversleep now that you’re so prosperous. Good night.” Brooks shut the door and stood leaning against it. clutching the handle fol support. The muscles of his face wer* twitching, and be gazed with frightened, haunted eyes from his wife to Smith. \ “Have you told her, Jimsy?” he demanded. Smith raised his hand in protest “No, Joe; It ain’t the right time yet and”—

“Why isn’t It the right time? I’m trapped, and Williams”— “Joe, see here,” he expostulated; “you can’t talk.” “What hr it? What do you mean?” demanded Mrl Brooks, very pale. Smith still sought to spare her. to keep the dreadful truth from her. “There’s Just been a little trouble, Emma,” he said evasively. “Joe here is all worked up—excited.” “I’ll tell you what happened!” cried her husband In a choking voice, staggering to the table. “You think I got a raise. I didn’t You think that man Williams gave me six months’ back pay. He didn’t. All this money you’ve been living on—all of it—l stole. I took it from the company! Williams trapped me. He wanted me to steal. Now he knows—now he , knows, and I’m done for!” He fell into a chair and doubled forward, burying his face in his hands. For once Smith was at a loss what to say. Mrs. Brooks, paler than ever, stood rigid, as though turned to stone, staring at her husband? “You mean,” she articulated in low. slow tones, “you mean that you”— "I’m a ttflef,” he moaned brokenly without raising bis head. “They know it. Detectives tre downstairs watch-ing-watching. Tomorrow—tomorrow -I’ll be In Jail.” Another long, awkward silence ensued. Smith ended it. “You see, Emma, Joe here ain’t so much to blame. He”— “And you didn’t let me know?” There was cold reproach in her voice and in her gaze. “It wasn't time,” explained Jimsy uneasily. “Tbere’a a chance things can be squa red-*-there’s still a chance.” “Still, you didn’t let me know?” “The thing to do In to sit down quietly and talk tills over To begin with

"No, Jlmsy. Please go home. I— l want to be with Joe—alone.” Smith took up his hat reluctantly and prepared to depart. “Just as you say, Emma—just as you say,” be said. “ITI do all I can tonight and let yon know. Maybe it’ll be* all right “I know, Jimsy. ’ Good night” “Good night” (To be Continued-)

A n rious to make goodl Well he’ll luive a chance."