She thanked him right from the Bottom of her heart. Then she sent a
Messenger Boy to hunt up the High-Roller, because she wanted to know
if it was all True or merely a Cruel Slander.
When she sprung his Record on him he leaned right over against her
and cried and said that no matter what he had been, she was the one to
make him a Good Man. Then she stroked his Hair and begged Forgiveness
and he asked her who had been Knocking and she gave the whole Snap
away and begged him not to do anything Desperate. He said that
whatever he did, he would do out of Love for her.
After which he went home to oil up his Pocket Hardware.
[Illustration: _Fatherly Advice._]
Next Morning the Man who wanted to help Everybody did a Flying Leap
down the Back Stairway of his Office. Just as he ducked a Bullet and
cut into the Alley back of the Post-Office, it occurred to him that
the True Friend Gag had its Drawbacks.
He escaped with his Life, but there was always more or less Dark Talk
of his being mixed up in a Woman Case.
He is now what is known in Obituary Notices as a Practical
Philanthropist. That is, he refers all Hard-Luck Tales to a Society
which was never known to give up. The Office Boy has Instructions to
admit only those who are listed in Bradstreet. And, of course, he is
never called in to smooth out Family Fights because of the Blot on his
Character.
* * * * *
MORAL: TO be a successful Benefactor, wait and put the whole Lump Sum
into Libraries.
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