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About Medford mail tribune. (Medford, Or.) 1909-1989 | View Entire Issue (Oct. 28, 1911)
MUDKOIH), 01. M ION, SATURDAY, OOTOIUUIt 28, 1911. "' PXQE THR15HJ t MIODKOm) MAIL TMIUJNI'J, JW$L .P . i ESa til Ul!iB Ym 99 Y$wJ BS al 7 a mm i s firA WV9B. rlWEm bl It I Ur7f INN T I ! a DS I -"-r2l nN& r. tfimfipyjf 11 I ifi7 HBlftr E In hw$3v fTK 33' tf SI &,sH '"-j-4- In one of Rudyurd Kipling' writings he tell of "the ship thai found herself," unit in "Tho Fortune Juntur" wu htiva tliv fatictmiting tuirrtitivH of ' a youth who found himtwlf." Tln youth i like (ha ship -ha had to imva his cauru luitt straight ha for a his oaraur hogan to tnakv tiubalantiat headway. The tory of Nat Duncan (a one that in dramatic form, an written by Wincholl Smith, ki.i attracted the attention of thousands of playgoers throughout the coun try. As a novel, written hy Louis Joseph Vance, it becomes a nar rative of profound appeal to the young and old and especially to those of us who in our youth dwelt in a rural district far enough removed from the metro polituit centers to he practically a world in itself and to itself. Usually it is the country lad who ventures into the great cities to seek fortune and fame's favor. Hut here we find a down to date city youth, who, a failure at ev erything he had undertaken, in vades the rural districts to make a millionaire of himself. That which befalls him prompted a great New York newspaper editor to say, ' livery American should reud this great story," for "The Fortune Hunter," in sjite of its enjoyable humor, sublilaly point ed by its talented authors, teaches the vital lesson of the need of charity ami tolerance for the less fortunate of human beings, CIIAl'TKIt I. KOHIMCIt ut our, Rimulillu, of MuMNrri. Atxviitur A: Sjiuulil lnu. iiiiiortcr.i of motoring KiinnuiitM anil iicctxMorktt, lis UiikmI to tlio n lii.Iihonnt optntlor'i4 iiiiiiDUiu'cmt'ut with Kitivo ntli'iitloii. iicUiiowIuiIkIiik It wlili it tonnltWH "All rliiht; Hiiiiil him 4u." Then, IiooUIiik lit tlif iliwl; toloplioiio. ho HWtiiiK rotiml lu lilii clutlr lo fuco tliu iloor of liln prlvntii oilU'K mid In n lirk'f uiiHUltiK liilurvtil pulimliiMiiKly Iront'il out of Iin fuco mid iiltltudo ovury liitllcutlon of tho fniuio of mind lu which ho n unit ed IiIh culler. It wiin, us ii inuttur of ftii't, miytliltiK I'l't n plenum t one. 1 lu hud u dlstimleful duty to perforin, hut Hint wim tho hint tlllliK he (IohIkihiI lo Itecoino ovlduut. l.IKo tnoat kooiI IximI nemi moil, ho unwed n put miperHtltlou or two, mid of tho iiuinlier of tliene tlio Hint wiih Hint ho ititut In nil lilu deiilitiKH proKoitt mi in.st'nituliU) front, lllio u poller plnyurJH. CnptnliiH of In ditHtry wuro ittilformly lll;e tliut, Kimildliii; unilerhtood, If they eiitoi tnlned otnotloiiH It wiih strictly In lirlvnlu. OeoiiHlonnlly this nttlltulu deeelvod oIIioih. Noluhly now it hewlldered iMincmi iih lio onleieil on Hie eeho ol rtiiiulilliiK'H "C'oniur lie hull iipitre liemled tho vltiu(;u of n HiuudiTHtorm with ii ruttlo of liniH(iio eoinpliilnth 11m oueouutureiJ Kpnulilliiu an ho linil nlwnyH Hcoined-u llllli', urlmiio Ukuiu with a blank fuco, tho blanker foi kIiihhim wIioho Iuiisos wooiiicd alwayH to en teh tho light and, kIiii'Iuu. iiiiikI, tho 'oyoH behind tlieiu; a piosperotm man of affaliM, well moomed both as to body and an to niliid, a machine for tho IriiiiHiictlnn of btiHlnoHS with allji inaclilno'H vivaclly and tempom niunial roHpoiiHlvoiiusN, It waa JiihI that (ptnlliy In lilui (lint Oiincau en vied, wlio waa vatiuoly linprensed Unit If ho himself could Imitate, howovor minutely, tlio plilein of a uiaehliie lie mlKlit learn to apo Homotlilinr of It h elllcleney and' no ultltiintely prove lilui HOlf of Homu worth to tlio world ami Incidentally lo Nathaniel lUincun. "Good afternoon, Mr NpnuldhiK." lit1 Haiti, renl.vlim lo u nod an ho dropped K Into tlio chair that nod hm Indleatcd iis m $Jy BBSNSwr E2 VSfia - A mint Mtllltf lightened (US '-Spri'SHIOH mid mailo II 'illf (Miiriik'liiK. "(I'd afternoon." Hpnulitlng survey M hlui Hwirtly. then lawd his fnt llille lliiKcr hihI ooiiloinphitod llii'in wlili detached liileptmwH. "JiiMt ft In. Imuran?" "On Hut :i::iO from I'hiongo. I got I your wire." In resumed "I moan It 1 i;ot nif- overlook mi- hi MIiiik'hwII.i." I "Uui liiivin't wasted tlmo." "I fnm-liil the mailer might be urgent, Nilr. I gatheri! from lli fact 1 1 tit L - 1 1 1 wired lnu to ciimu homo Unit )'Mi wanted my udtlco." A second tlmo Hpaiilillng gotured with IiIm eyebrows, for onro fairly mir- prled out of liU H)u. "Your udieo?" "Yes." wilil Duncnn evenly, "iim to whether you ouaht to give up your customers on my route or muni Ilium u linn wild t'niilil soil gotHls." "Well)" Hpuuldhig nilmltti'il. "Oh. iliin'l think I'm boasting of my iiciiii'iitmn. Anybody could tin o uuittii oil ii much from the grout number of heavy oidera I liuvu not bwn sctullng j on." "You've ltnl linil luck." "Von uiiMiti you liuvu, Mr. Hpnuldlng. It wtm good luck for mo to bo draw- n mr muiuM. ItiK down my wuekty cluvkM, Imd lurk to you not to luivo a man who could Mtrn tlieiu." IIIh detipernto lionexty touched SHiiililliiK n trlilo. At the risk of nut NiMtuliiC a htiHluuHH man to hlineir he Inclined dubloiiNly to relent, to le Duitcmi nuottior clinnco. "Dunctiii," ho mild, "wbat'a the troii hie?" "1 thought you knew that: I thought that wax why you called mu lu with my route half covered." "You mean" "I mean 1 can't hoII your lino." "Why?" "(Jod only knows. I want to badly oiioukIi. II'h Just general ' lucompe (once, 1 promt mo." "What initkes you think llial?" Duncan Htalled bitterly, "i:perl once." hu Haiti. "You'vo trluil-what olso?" "A llltlo of everythliiK. all tho Jobs open to a nmn with a kuowleilKo of I.ntlti mid Greek and (he higher inutile matlcH HhlpiibiB clerk, tlmekeoper, cashier, all of 'em." "And yet KollngK bellevas In you." On nen n nodded dolefully. "Harry's a Reed friend. We roomed together at coIIoro. 'Xhat'a why ho stands for mo." "Ho ways you only need (he r1j;lit opouliiK" And nobody knows whore that U oicopi my loriuntuu employers. i (he back door koIiir out fir initio over, tlmo. Oh, Ilm-ry's been a prince to tiio. Ho'h found mo four or llvo Jobs with friends of Ills, like yourself, Hut 1 don't fieeni to last. You see, I was brouKht up to be ornamental and Ir rcKiihir rattier than useful, to blow about In motorcars mid keep a valel busy sixteen hours a day, and all thai Hort of thliiR. My fiitlivr'u fnlltire you know about that?" HpaiiltlbiB nodded. Dutiean went on eloomlly, tnlkliiK a Rroat dial more freoly than lio would have talked at any other tlmo sufferlm;, lu fuel, from Hint species of auto-hypuotW Induced by tho Hound of Ills own voice recount Inj? Ids misfortunes which hcoius espo chilly to nft'ect a man down on hi luck. "That BiiinBh enmo when 1 was live yearn out of colleue I'd never Uioii:h' pf turnltiB my hand to miytliliiK lu nil Hint tlmo, I'd always had more coin than I could upend-never had to con Bldor tho worth of money or how Inrd It Is to oarn. My father saw to all Unit, lie Hcoincd not to want me to work; not that 1 bold (hat aualnst him I'o'd mi Idea I'd turn out a koiihh ii "fo. " - r. jj ;V j St " I I I 1 ..v ' i Home Hort or other, I liollcu' l 'i fillnl ti -til lili't ii 'i I li i wim'u imI I f mini tn.i Ht'lf lift I ti .in '' Ii-UhIic U.imIioIm'. epi'li-Hc tnxti H. ft linplio lleill edlieiilliiti mid It'll h nun h of Hint lli.il w.ti'il leitli'e It- inn) iM t a -ftii ' I urn ton protul lo fiHik It. ii , filemlN foi help In iIiiiki' day mill piilmtM thill was iih well: I ttotlKhl hIm4 on iiia own Old )iiu over keep honliH In ii INIi iiiarkel?" "No" ?iHiiilillitV oyoH twinkled be llllHl III" liirise. nlilliy Kliowen I Jill Him IV Hie life of my Imrlnir .inn'" I unit mi iiinile it" If to Umo. mul ilt-nly reilii'iulii'rlliK lilnielf. 'You'ri1 not. Ho on " "1 didn't me in In. MHy. 1 ire siiiue. I've been bluuderltiit rotitul an explanation "f ICillinV kliidliew to inc. lu my iwutil inerfwliinl wny. but I felt mi eiliumtloti whh due you. us the Intent lo milftr HiroiiKli his iiiIh pliireil Interest In mu." Torhripi." said Kpntiltllni;, "I am be Kliiiibik' to umlersimid (Jo on, I'm Inienmted About the tlsb market?" "Oh. I Just liappetieil to think pf It n.i n sample oxiivrletice. and the lust of that partleulHr brautl. I ;ot $1) a week and earned every cent of It Inliiillnu tl:o utiuoMpliere. My boanl cost me J ftj and the other f'.l affordtil me n chmieo to ileinoiiHtrittit myself n cn)- ' tnln of IIiihiu-. pnyltu,' laundry bills nntl clothlnx inynelf, besldus buyltn; liitielies mid Much like sumll umtters. I did Hie whole Uiliic. you know, one wiiooncr of beer a day and uiiido my own clKiirettes Nevur could uiiiku up ! mv niltid which was tho worst. The h .tirs were easy, toe: didn't have to pt lo work until (i In the inorubiK. I lasted live weeks at Hint Job before I was tn ken sb-k. .Shows what a KrciU ci munition I've KOt." "And Uit-n"- Oh" Ouncati rotisciL "Why. , then I fell In with ICellocp upUn: he found me trjlnjr the open air cure on a bench In Washington square. Slnro tlien he's In en llndltic mo one berth nfter another. He's a suru enough ot tltntst " Kp.iuldl'ix shifted uneasily In bis chair, stirred by an Impulse whose imwltdom he could not doubt. Dun ci n had nsturtill) done his cast) no pHd by pHluMnc his xtiortcombiRs In colors so ilvbl: yet somehow, strong ly. HpauldliiK liked him the butter for Ills open hearted coiifuslou. "Well" SiwuldbiK btuniblctl awk wardly. "Yes; of course," said Duncan promptly. rlsliiK. "Sorry If 1 tired you." "What do you mean by 'Yos, of course?' " -That you en I lot J me In to fire mo und so Hint's over with. Only I'd be sorry to have you soro on KoIIork for I saddling me on you. You see, be bo- lleied I'd make good, mid so 1 did In u way; ut least I hoped to." "Ob. Hint's nil rluht." said Spauldlnj; uncomfortably. "The trouble Is, you see, we've iiothliif; olso open Just now, but If you'd really like another clinnco on Hie road I I'll be glad to spenk to Mr. Atwater atsmt It." "Don't you do It!" Duncan counsel ed him sharply, aghast. "Ho might say yes. And 1 simply couldn't ac cept; It wouldn't bo fair to you, Kol Kick or myself. It'll bo charity, for I've proved I can't oarn my wages, and I haven't como to that yet. Nol" bo concluded with determination and picked up his hat. "Just a minute." Spuuldlng held htm with a gesture. "You're forgetting something nt least 1 am. There's a month's pay coming to you. The cash ier will hand you the check as you go out." "A month's pay?" Duncmi snld blankly. "How's that? I've drawn up in the end of this week already, tf you didn't know It," "Of course I know It. Hut wo novor let our men go without a mouth's no tice or Its equivalent, and" "No," Duncan Interrupted firmly "no; but thank you Just tho snmo. I couldn't 1 really couldn't It'a good of you, but Now," ho broko oft abruptly, "I'vu loft my nccouuta, what there Is of thorn, with tho bookkeep ing department, and the checks for my sample trunks. Thcro'Il bo n fow dollar coming to mo on my oxpenso account, ami i u seuu you nly aouress as soon as I get one." "Hut, look hero" SnauldJng got to his feet, frowning. "No," roltorated Duncan positively, "there's no use. I'm grateful to you for your toleration of mo and nil ttiat, but wo can't do anything hotter now than call It all off. Good by, Mr. Spauldlng." Spauldliig nodded, accepting defeat with tho bettor graco becauao of nn hiutito conviction that It was Just as well after all. And, furthermore, ho admired Duncan's stand, bo ho olTored his hand an unusual condescension, "You'll mako good somowhoro yet," hu assorted. "I wish I could bollovo It." Duncan's grasp was tlrm sinco ho felt more as sured of ROtno humanity latent In his Into employer, "Howovor, goortby." "flood luck to you," rang In tils onrs as Hie door put a period to tho Inter view, Ho stopped ami took up tlio battorod suit caso and rusty overcoat which ho bad left outside tho Junior partner's olllco, then wont on, shaking Ills head. "Much obllgod," ho said huskily to himself, "but what'a tho good of that Tlioro's no room any wherp for n professional failure, and (lint's what I mill jiiHt ! iie'ar-tlo-well. I newt' ruuliiufiK wh.il that meant rwilly before, anil It's certainly taken me n damn' long time to Hud out. Hut I know now, nil riuiu." Dwpomleutly he went down to tho nldewalk and merged ulinnolf with tho crowd, moving with II. though a thou wind miles apart from It. mid. prenently diverging, struck nen town toward the Worth street subwny utmlon. "And the worst of It Is he's too nharp not to llnd it out -If he hain't by this time mid too decent by far to lei me know If he has. It can't go on this way with us. I can't let him. (Jot to break with blm somehow now today. I won't let lilui think me what I've been all along to him. Hies Ids foolish lienrtl" There was no deprecation of Kol logg's goodness In his mood, simply de termination no longer to b a charge upon It. To contemplate the sum to tal of the benollts he had reoelvod at Kellogg's hands since the day when the latter hud found hlui III mid lialf starved, filoudless as-a stray pup. on Hm bench In Washington square stag gered his Imagination lie could never repay It, ho told himself, save Inadequately, little by llttle-uiostly by gratitude and such consideration as ho purposed now to exhibit by removing himself and bis distresses from the other's ken. Here was an end to comfort for him, nn end to living In Kellogg's rooms, eating his food, busying his servants, spend lug his money, not so much borrowed us pressed upon hi in. There crawled In his mind n damn y memory of the iort of housing bo bad known In jmst days, and ho shuddered Inwnrdly, Kindling ngnln the ellluvla of dank oilcloth and musty carp"', of llshbnllM mul fried ham. of old style plumbing mid of SI) a week humanity til the unwashon raw, (lie odor of mis ery Hint permeated the lodgings to which Ids lock of means had Intro duced blm. Ho could see again, and with a painful vividness of mental vi sion, the degcuerate "brownstono fronts" that mask those hniiuts of wretchedness, with their flights of crumbling browustono steps leading up to oaken portals hacgnrd with Hal. lug paint, Hanked byiuares of soiled note paper upon whlcll Inexpert hand. had traced the warning, not "Abandtn hope nil ye who enter here," but "Fur ulslied rooms to let w Ith iKiard." And to this he must rot.irn. to that treadmill round of blighted days and Joyless nights must set his face. Alighting at the Grand Central sta tion, he packed the double weight of his luggnge and his cares n few blocks northward on Madison avenue ere turning west towurd the bachelor rooms whlcll Kellog-; bad established lu the roaring Forties. Just the oilier side of the avenue Fifth avenue. Tlio elevntor boy, knowing him of old, neglected to announce his arrival, and Duncan had his own key to tho door of Kellogg's npartmont. He let hlmsolf In with futilu stealth. As was quite right and proper. Kellogg's man Itobblns was lu attendance, a stupe tied Itobblns. thunderstruck by the un expected return of his master's friend mul guest "Good Lord!" he cried at sight of Duncan. "Meg your pardon, sir, but-but It can't bo you!" "Your mistake. Itobblns. Unfortu nately It Is." Duncan surrendered his luggnge. "Mr. Kelloggtn?" "No. sir. Hut I'm expecting him nny minute. He'll tie surprised to bee you back." "Think so?" said Duncnn dully. "lie doesn't know me If he Is." "You see, sir, wo thought you was out west." "So you did." Duncan moved to ward the door of his own bedroom, Itobblns following. "It was only yesterday I posted a letter to you for Mr. Kellogg, sir, and the address was Omaha." "I didn't get that far. Fetch along that suit case, will you please? 1 want to put somo clean things in it." "Then you're not htnylug lu town overnight, Mr. Duncan?" "I don't know. I'm not staying here anyway." Duncan switched on the lights In Ids room, "rut It on Hie bed, Itobblns. I'll tiack as oulckly as I can. im in a nun.. "Yes, sir; but 1 hopo there's nothing wrong." "Then you lose," returned Duncan grimly. "Uverytlilng's wrong." Ho "11KO. IWltPON, nut, nuTiroAN'r nn voul" Jerked viciously nt an obstinate bureau drawer mid, when It yielded unexpect edly with the well known linplsliness of the Itimiliuato, dumped up.ui the 7 jsik aioii LOTS JOOQDH VANGS OF TTHB SAMS "VSTEISrOHtHSLrSLf COPYRIGHT. 1010, I1Y WJNCI1LLL SMI'fri floor a tangled miscellany of shifts, .ocks, gloves, collars and ties. "Didn't you like the business, sir?" "No. I didn't like the hilm-. nnd it didn't like mo. It's the muiio o'd Mory, Kobblns. I've lost my Job again. Hint's all." "I'm very sorry, sir." "Thank you, but that's all right I'm itwi to It." "And you're going to leave, sir?" "I am. Itobblns." "l-Miy I take the liberty of hoping I It's to take another position?" "You may, but you iime a r-cond time. 1'vo Just made up my mind I'm not going to bang around here any' longer, that's all." "ltnt." Kobblus ventured, hovering shout with exasperating solicitude "but Mr. Kellogg M never permit you lo leave in this way, sir." "Wrong ngaln, Itobblns," said Dun can shortly, annoyed. "Yes, sir. Very good, sir." With the Instinct of the well trained servant Itobblns started to leave, but hesltateiL Hu was really very much disturbed by Duncan's manner, which showed a plise of his diameter new In Itobblns oxpurienco of blm. Ordinarily reverses "I'VE IOSr MY JOD AlUIX. such ns this had seemed merely to servo to put Duncnn on his mettle, to Infuse hlui with u determination to try ngaln nnd win out, whatever the odds, and nt such times he was accustomed to exhibit a mad Irresponsibility of wit and a gaiety of spirit (whether It were a mask or no) that only out rivaled his high good humor when things ostensibly wero going well with him. Intermittently, between his spa'sms of employment ho had been Kellogg's guest for several years, not Infrequent ly for months at n time, and so Itob blns had come to feel n sort of proprie tary interest In tho young man, second only to the regard whlh he had for his employer. "Ueg pardon, sir," bo advanced, hesi tant, "but perhaps you're Just feollng a bit blue. Won't you let tuo bring you a drop of something?" "Of course I will," said Duncnn era phntlcally over his shoulder. "And get It now. will you, wbllo I'm pack ing? And. Itobblns!" "Sir." "Only put n little In It" "A tlttlo wlmt, sir?" "Soltxer, of course." CHAPTER II. ST lmd been a forlorn hope at best, this attempt of tils to oscnpe Kel logg Duncan acknowledged it when, his packing rudely (lnl-di-oil, he started for the door, Itobblns re luctantly Mirrontlerlng the Milt case ii nor exnuustiug ills repertory or de vices to delay tho young man. Hut ut that instant the elevator gate clashed in the outer corridor and Kellogg's key rattled In tho lock, to an accom panying confusion of voices, nil mas culine mid nil very cheerful. Duncan sighed mid motioned Itob blns nway with his luggage. "No hope now," he told hlnnjolf. "ltut-0 Lord!" Incontinently there hurst Into the room four men Jim Long, Lurry Mll Ur, another whom Duncan did not Im mediately recognize and Kellogg him selfbringing with them nu atmos phere brooxy with Jubilation, Heforo ho knew It Duncan was boisterously over whelmed. He got bis breath to tlud Kellogg pumping his hand. "Nat," ho was, saying, "you're tho only oilier man on earth 1 waa wish lug could be with mo tonight! Now my happluoss is complete. Gad, this Is lucky!" "You. think so?" countered Duncan, forcing a smile. "Hello, yon boys!" Ho gave u hand to Long and Miller. "How're you all?" He wanned to their friendly faces and unfeigned wel come. "My, but It's good to hoo you!"' There was relief lu tho fact that Kel logg, after n single glance, forebore mIr 1 lmffli?lm& ' I jb-& u FROM TIE PMY TITTLE BY SMITH AND LOUlh JOiwII VANCfi ,0 juotloii bis return: he wan lo be counted ujkh for lion, was Kellogg Now he strangled surprise by turning lo the fourth member of the party. "Nat." he Mid, "I wnni you to meet Mr. Usrtlutt. Mr. Hartlett. Mr Duti cnn." A wholMome tnll dawned on Dun can's face Ikj encountered tu blank blue sure of a yotinu man wImxh? very smooth ami very bright red face was admirably wt off by ml-evening droit. "Grwt Srottt" li cried, warm ly pnsMltHt tit latjkntlakrtcftl Imuk! that drifted into his. "Willy IJartlett tfter all iliew yenrsr A sudden animation replaced the vacuous star of tin blue eye. "Dun win I" he stammered "I nny, thbt Is rlppln't" "As lad as that?" Duncan essaywl an nccent n I most IJugllsli and tUHldetl his appreciation of It. something witlcli Uartlett missed completely Ho 'was very young -a very great deal younger. Duncan thought, than when they had been clnssmfltev wLnt time Duncan shared his rooms with Kellogg, very much younger and suf fering exquisitely from oversophlsti entlon. Ills drawl barely esk-aiK-d be ing Inimitable His air did not i-scape It. "Smitten with my old trouble." Ixiiich ii a(prnbiiil blm "too much money, ileuveii knows I ttope ho nev er recovers!" As for Willy, he was momentarily more nearly human than he had seem od from Hie moment of his tlrst np-petiratK-e. "You know." he blurted "tlikt U simply extrnordlmtry. I say. mu cIiMtw. Ducan ami I liaven't met 1 for years, not-slnee be graduated. We Ivlong to the some frat. you know, and had a Jolly time of it. If he was an upper class man. No side about him at all, y' know, absolutely none KBLLoaa FoituoiiE to quESTio.y ms HE- TUUN whatever. Whenever I had to go out on a spreo I'd always get Nat to show mo round." "I was pretty good nt that," Duncan admitted, .n trltlo ruefully. win v my rattiea ou ueeuiuss. -no knew more pretty gels, y' know, I say, old chap, d'you kuow us uinuy now?" Duncnn shook bis head, "Tlio list has shrunk. I'm a changed man, Wil ly." "Ow, I say, you're chawfln," Willy nrgued Incredulously. "I don't bellovo that, y' kuow, hardly. 1 say, you re member tho night you showed mo how to piny faro bauk?" "I'll never forgot It," Duncan told him gravely. "And I remember what a plug wo thought my roommate was becauso he wouldn't como with us." Ho nodded slgnlllcautly towurd tho u mused Kellogg. "Not blm!" cried Willy, osposrulnnt. "Not really? Why, It cawu't bo!" "Fact," Duncan assured him. "no wns working his way through college, you see, whereas I was working my way through my allowance and then some. That's why you never met hlui. AVIIIy, ho worked and got tho habit Wo loafed with the snmo re sult That's why bo's useful and you'ro ornamontnl nnd I'm" Ho broko off In surprise, "Hello," ho said as Itobblns offered a tray to tho three on which wero slim stemmed glasses fll'ed with n utile yellow effcrvesceut rfquld. "Why Iho blond waters of cx sltement. plcnso?" ho Inquired, accept ing a glass. From across tho room Larry Miller's volco sounded. "Aro you ready, gen tlomcn? We'll drink to him tlrst, nntl then he can drink to his royal llttlo self. To tho boy who's getting on In tho world! To the Junior member of L. J. Uartlett & Co.!" Long npplandcd loudly, "Hear, henrl" nnd even Willy Ibirtlott chimed In with nn unemotional, "Good work I" Mechanically Duncnn downed tho toast Kellogg was the only man not drinking it and from that tho meaning was easily to bo Inferred. With a stride Duncnn caught bis band and crushed It In his own. "Harry." ho said n little huskily, "I ran't tell you hovr glnd I am. It'a tho best news I've had In yearn." Kellogg's responsive pressure was answer enough. "It makes It doubly worth while to win out nnd have you nil so glad," ho said. "So you've taken hlni Into tho Arm, chT Duncan Inquired of Rartlett Tho blue eyes widened stonily. "The governor has. I'm not In the business, y' know Never had the slightest turn for It. what?" Willy set aside his glass. "I say. I must be moving. No. I cawn't stop. Kellogg, really. I was drcssln' nt the club and Larry told me about It so I Jnst dropped round to tell you how Jolly glnd I am." "Your father hadn't told you. then?' "Wbov the governor?" Willy looked unutterably bored. "Why. bo gnvo up tryln' lo talk business with me long ago. I can't get Interested In It, pon my word. Of course I knew bo thought the deuce nnd all of you, but I hadn't an Idea they wero goln' to take you Into tho tlrm. What?" Long and Miller Interrupted, propos ing adieus wldch Kellogg vainly con tended. "Why. you're only Just hero" ho expostulated. "Cawu't help It, old chap," Willy as sured him earnestly. "1 must go, any way. I've a dinner engagement" "You'll be late, won't you?" "Doesn't matter In the least I'm al ways late. Night, Kellogg. Congratu latlons ngaln." "Wo Just dropped round to take oft our hats to you." Long continued, pumping Kellogg's hand. "And tell you what a good fellow wo think you are," added Miller, following suit. "You don't know how good you mako mo feel." Kellogg told them. Under cover of this diversion Dun con wns making one last effort to Blip away, but before he could gather to gether his Impedimenta and get to tho door Willy Uartlett Intercepted him. "I say, Duncau" "Oh, rata!" said Duncan beneath his breath. He paused ungraciously enough. "We've got to see a bit of one an other, now wo've met ngaln, y' know. Wish you'd look me up. naif Moon club Ml get me most nny time. We'll have to arrange to make a regular old fashioned night of It, Just for mem ory's sake." Duncan nodded, edging past blm "I've memories enough," he said. "Itlght-oh! Any reason at nil. y know. Just so we have the night" "Good enough," assented Duncan vaguely. He suffered his band to be wrung with warmth. "I'll not for get Good night" Then he pulled up nnd groaned, for Willy's Insistence had frustrated his design. Kellogg bad suddenly become allvo to bis at titude and balled blm over the beads of Long and Miller. "Nat, I say! Where tho devil are you going?" "Over to the hotel," said Duncan. "The deuce you are! What hotel?" "The one I'm stopping at" "Not on your life. You're not going Just yet I haven't had half a chanco to talk to you. Itobblns, take Mr. Duncan's things." Duncnn, set upon by Robblns, who had been hovering round for Just that purpose, lifted his shoulders lu resig nation, turning back Into the room as sillier mm i.ung said good uiglit to him and left nt llartlett's heels, and smiled awry In nornl-humorous. depre cation of the way lu which he let Kel logg outmaneuver him When It camp to that tt was hard to refuse Kellogg anything; he had that way with hlui. especially if one liked hlui. And how could any one help liking him? Kellogg had him now. holding him fast by either shoulder, at arm's length, and shaking a reproving head nt his friend. "You big duffer!" lie said. "Did you think for a minute I'd let you throw mo down UUu Unit? flnvo you dined?" At this suggestion Duncan stiffened and fell back, "JJo, but"- Kellogg awept tho ground from tin der bis feet "Robblns," ho told tho man, "order In dinner for two front tho club, nnd tell 'em to hurry it up," "Yes, sir," said Itobblns, and flew to obey boforo Duncau could get a chanco to countermand his part In tho order, "And now," continued Kellogg, "wo'vo got tho wholo evening before us In which to chin. Sit down." ilo led Duncan to an armchair and gently but firmly plumped him Into Its cnpai clous depttis. "We'll luivo n snug lit tle dinner here and what tlo you say to taking In a show afterward?" (fonllnupd next Saturday),