The $500 Check — page 17: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

4 THE $500 OCHEOK. ‘Thank you, my boy. Your kind welcome does me good. I hope your mother is weil and happy.” ‘¢ She is a widow,”’ answered Bert soberly. ‘When did your father die?” ‘©Tw years ago.”’ ‘*T hope he left your mother in comfortable circumstances.” Bert shook his head. ‘* He only left the small house we live in, and th: t is mortgaged for half its value.”’ ‘*Then how do you li e?”’ ‘Mother covers base-balls for a firm in the next town, and I am working in the big shoe shop.’’ ‘*Doesn t Squire Marlowe do anything for your mother ?”’ ‘¢He gave mea place in the shop—that is all.”’ ‘Yet he is rich,”’ said the old man, thought- fully. ‘*'Yes, he lives in a fine house. You can see it down the street on. the other side—that large one with a broad piazza. He keeps two horses and two handsome carriages, and Iam sure he must have plenty of money.” Gomichoo <Sii