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PECULIAR FORM OF GRAFT.
Little Margie came running in from school with I
a small bank in her hand, which had been given her
by Fred Amos, a young friend, employed at the
First National Bank as collection clerk. Holding it
high above her head she shook it. strongly that her
mother might the better hear tin* rattling of the
coins which Fred had placed in it. Her wealthy
aunt, Mi's. Anna Martin, who had been in the habit
of ignoring the McLanes, including her own sister,
because of the family's poverty and the honery posi
tion which Mr. McLane held with the citv govern
ment, took the little girl by the hand and asked her
many questions concerning what she would do with
the money in her purse if sin' put it all in tin* bank.
“Whv,” said Margie, “I'd save it until I got a hun
dred dollars, and then. 1 would buy my mamma a
nice, new dress, my papa a new hat, and a boat for
George; if I had any left I would use it to put a
tomb over the grave of my brother Koy. Oh, Aunt
Ann. vou never did see my little brother that died
until we went to bury him, did you’ I wish you
had. for he was pretty before he took sick, and did
not look at all like he did the day you saw him at
the grave.’’
Mrs. Martin admitted that she hadn't and that
she was really very sorry for it, as tears came into [
her eyes, for she had not forgotten the death of her
own first-born, which the conversation with the child
brought back fresh to her mind.
Opening her rich purse she took ten dollars from
it and deposited it in the child's bank, all that she
had with her, and promised to add to it from time
to time if Margie would take it to her home in pass
ing on her way to school. Margie kept her promise
to do so faithfully, and each time that she found
her aunt in, went away better off by one dollar or
more.
Her bank was now quite full, and she consulted
her mother as to how she had best spend it what
color annd style of dress to buy for her, the kind
of hat to get papa, and if she would not go with
her and select the stone to cover her brother's grave.
Although her heart was set upon making this
use of the money, her mother, who had grown old
and weary in the struggle with poverty and now saw
with her little daughter’s money an opportunity to
take advantage of an investment advertised in the
afternoon paper, readily persuaded the child to allow
her to use it in purchasing a home for them.
“Just the thing to buy." exclaimed tin* little
girl, clapping her hands and beaming with delight,
“for then poor papa won't have to work so hard to
pay the rent and we won't have to be moving any
more and leaving our pretty Howers and garden.
Besides, we can wait until Aunt Ann gives me more
money to put the tomb up and get George's boat.
Aunt Ann won’t be angry.”
THE REASON
By E. Lamar Parker.
So Mrs. McLane took tin* money, amounting to
S7S.‘H. ami went hastily down to the elegant offices
of the “ Home Purchasing (’o-operative Associat ion, ’
with which she deposited six dollars for a certificate
which at maturity (?) would entitle her to a loan
of $2,300. ami signed an agreement to pay monthly
into tin* coffers of the association the sum of $15.60.
These payments she kept up until not only was the
last penny of the child's money gone, but all that
she could rake, scrape and borrow elsewhere. Much
of tin l rent money had been expended in this way ami
Mr. McLane had gotten so far behind in his payments
that he had been notified to vacate the premises.
Tin* grocery bill for the lasi month remained unpaid,
and tin 1 family was without food to (‘at. In the
meantime, the certificate had not yet matured, ami
Mr. Lasseter, the association's manager, couldn't tell
to save his life when it would mature. He was very
sorry that he could not extend the payment of the
monthly dues and unless the amount was received
by noon of the next day he would be compelled,
under the rules of the association, to serve notice
upon her of tin* cancellation of the certificate.
This is what he did do. for tin* McLanes had ex
hausted everv resource in Irving to raise the monev
and had failed. “They simply could not keep up
their obligations and so lost out," said Mr. Lasseter,
in explaining the cast* to an attorney from the Legal
Aid Society, who had called for information concern
ing' the matter at the request of a society for the des
titute. which had been appealed to for aid now. since
Mi'. McLane had lost his position ami had no means
of support.
“May I ask." said Mr. Simpson, who was regard
ed as one of tin* society's shrewdest lawvers. “if you
would lose out if you were to fail to keep your obli
gations .’ ’ ’
‘‘ Most assuredly," replied the fat manager. ‘' We
have to require prompt settlement from our patrons
to keep on good terms with the sheriff, and 1 suppose
that all businesses do the same, because they. too.
have to. ’’
“Well, let. me tell you very plainly. Mr. Lasse
ter,” said Mr. Simpson, “you are to lost 4 out. for
you know very well that you cannot keep your obli
gations to investors and do not intend any such thing
on making contracts. Another thing that I want you
to understand is that you and tin* sheriff will not
remain on friendly terms very much longer, as 1 am
determined to see to it. backed by our society, that
you and your business is decently prosecuted. hi
tin* meantime, please hand over to me without further
delay the sum of S3SO. which Mrs. McLane has paid
into your hands, and arrange* to meet other claims
of a similar kind as fast as I present them, or take
your chance with a lot of trouble 1 am prepared to
cause vou in the courts of law.'
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