Sudden Jim

tory can begin to march; for if clothespins had grown in fields inclosed by rail fences, and were gathered by the aid of a self-binder, there never would have been an individual known fro

in the first paragraph hereof lies at

you discovered them to indicate the signature "James Ashe." But it required more than a passing glance

hearty, and ripe for adventure. Also he figured that fifty years of hard

he clothespin business, and took him into the library, where there lived in ease and idl

olks call you by whe

im, I

Nothing des

t's

hy

on, father. Why should th

what I'm gettin' at in my feeb

my," replied hi

he first dollar I ever handled-because I earned it. Folks call me Clothespin Jimmy because I've done things with clothespins-things that amount to somethin'. Men don't git names like that by settin' in one spot till their pants wear thin. Now, take

ood job. I'm supporting myself

pectable and self-supportin', but so's twenty million other boys in this country. You're just a good average human

dad. When do

s we don't s

hy

thout any description to it." The old gentleman took a package

u could pick and choose between two things. I'll come to that in a minute. But first, about Californy. I started supportin' myself when I was fifteen, and I've been hard at it ever since-fifty years. The time's come for me to git out with your ma and have a good time if we're ever a-goin

be worth a quarter of a million to somebody. I can make it so in a year. What I got you in here for was to offer you your choice. You can take the mill and the business and have it till God does you part-and buc

ppose I don't

es grew anxious; the hand that hel

u as the object of it all. I wanted to fix things for you, son-and I've done it. You don't need to take the business if you don't want to. Your ma and me can keep on like we've been goin', and have consid'a

as he looked out he reviewed his own plans and scheme of l

efuse both. I'll ta

my's face show

favor instead of giving away what folks not addicted to polo or divo

r sat thumbing the bonds and waiting.

ll starts runnin' you h'ist a debt of seventy thousand dollars onto your shoulder. You'll be pinched for money, and you'll have a devil of a time. But I could pull it through-and so can you if you're any good. You ain't steppin' into a snap-no

" sai

r mind m

t, dad. Suppose we put

half the time, but he's right a whole lot more than the fellow who has to have a decision jerked out of him with an ox-team. If you expect to

e occupied the position of spectator very briefly, however, but popped back inside of himself and took possession again-with a noticeable change. He felt different. He did

We'll deci

Jimmy, his fingers ti

he mill,"

his fat

ther pocket he drew an envelope holding two long, many-times-fold

ay. This is Tuesday. Your ma and me l

uspiciously. "Had the

es

e going,

took the mill." Th

ty sure how I'd de

certificates, all indorsed over to you, inside of it. Take 'em. You're the proprietor of the Ashe Clothespin Company now. I'm through with it. Fifty years of work to earn a couple of years of play for ma

said you