lttimimm
the.....
n
REFORM
t
i
u
By CHARLES M. SHELDON.
Author of "fc tils Steps," "Roiert Ibrdy's Sevwi
M
Copyright, )Xt, by CharUt M.
tH
tomethlng," Miv Marsh said npolo
getlcolly. v
Wben? Wliatr
"1 suppose"
Gordon Interrupted, not with excite
ment, but calmly:
"This Ih your llfo opportunity, Mr.
Marsh. Tell mo frankly, If you wero
to donate to Hope House outrlghb tho
property where No. ftl stood for pari:
purposes would It seriously "cripple
your business'?"
"No, I dou't'thlutc It "would crlpplo
me."
"Then, will you giro us that much?"
Gordon asked boldly and almost blunt
ly. But bo was not In any mood to
wait or coax. - - .
"Do you know how much that prop
erty Is worth?"
"No." ,
"It cost mo $32,000 to .buy tho lots
and put up tho tenement," Mr. Marsh
Mild imperiously.
i-John Gordon was silent.
"So that you practically ask mo to
donate $32,000 to Hopo House."
"Minus tho Insurance on No. 01,"
said John Gordou quietly.
"It was Insured for $00,000," Mr.
Mnrsh said, while his faco grew a lit
tles red.
Gordon iimile no remark, and Mr.
Marsh fidgeted In liter clmlr and drum
med with bin flngors on tho edge of tho '
la 1)1 o.
"Why would It not be better to put
up a model tonomont on the lots?"
"A park would do'moro good."
"Hut the peoplo who were burned
out"-"
"Thoy must bo cared for, that Is
true. Tho Interest excited by the ca
lamity may load to tho tearing down
nf other areas and the building of good
tenomonts, lint n park the bIzo of the
wholo burned area would br of more
value to H6pC House than oven such a
model tenement as you might put up
In place of No. 01."
There Was sllonce again. Mr1. Marsh
got up nud wont Into the bank. lie
was gone sovornl lulnutcw. Gordon
never moved. When Mnrsli wane haok.
ho brought some papers.
"I'll have tho property mado over to
Hopo House," ho said briefly.
"Thank you," Gordon answered sim
ply, and ngaln there was-a sllenco.
"I want to make some atonomont,"
Marsh spoke slowly. "Do you think'
this will bo so regarded?"
i'.Yrsf -It -will-no n great help to us."
Gordon rosc-and Mnrsh held out his
hand.
"I'll have tho business attended to
at once, and and I'll be down to Hopo
House some tlmo this week."
"Thank you. We shall bo glad to
tee you." Gordon spoko gravoly, and
after shaking hands he wont out As
ho wont down tho stairs ho bad a mo
mentary tlngo of romorse at tho thought
of having done Marsh pome Injustice
or of having accepted tho gift of tho
proporty churlishly nud In an ungra
cious spirit.
But as he camo back to the sccno of
tho fire ho said to ltlmself : "Is It a case
for effusive thanks that this rich man
takes a fraction of tho wealth that bv
louga to God rind reluctantly lets hu
manity get soma pleasure out of It?
lie broko n dozen distinct ordinances
relating 'to tenement house construc
tion when ho ordered No. 01 built no
put up n deathtrap and received inonoy
for Hh use. Ho cowardly absented
himself from a knowlcdgo of tho hu
man misery that his building boused,
anil whdn a disaster fell directly trace
able to his crlmlnal.greed ho ran away
from tho horrors for which his own
band was responsible. Was it, there
fore, in order that he, John Gordou,
and Hope House and tho public should
fall down at tho feet of this man with
effusive and extravagant praise for.
atoning in a small degree for a tre
mendous wrong7
Yet that ie what tho public, through
press and pulpit, did when Jt was
known what Mr. Marsh had done. His
act was lauded as "a most noble ex
hibition of philanthropy," "a splendid
examplo to others," "flno gift outright
to Hopo nouio Mr. Phllo II. Marsh
donates $25,000 worth of-valuable
property." Mr. Marsh's minister men
tioned tho gift from tho pulpit and
took occasion to use the lncldeut to
Illustrate tho growing habit on tho part
of rich men to give sums of money for
philanthropic causes. At what tlmo
had that pulpit ever epokon out against
the lawless greed which characterized
this philanthropist when ho allowed
his business mothods to sink to tho
level of barter In flesh and blood be
cause other men did tho samo and the
breaking of ordinance was counted a
trivial thing simply beoauso everybody
did It? I It not time that the pulpit
said something In condemnation of
wicked and un-Ohrlstlan ways of mak
ing money before It says much more
In praise of those who give what they
have (never rightly earned? A philan
thropist Is not one who gives money to
humanity that he has obtained by
wronging humanity. Such a mau Is
simply a hlgbwaman giving up a part
of the plunder be has lnlqultously stol
en. When Gordon reached Hopo nouse.
ditmmmsmmtnmttmtmttmmmj
Bi'll do something, of course;, I'll do Areinc- Penfoso's aunt, Mrs:
-5JSjg2JSJlSiSLit 8i-lES5?J
' 1 i
ER f rai 1 1
Days," EIc
fihclion
r4
Constance
Penrose,
Mr. Penrose was a society young
man who had no visible means of sup
port asldo from tho money his father,
recently deceased, hud left him. Archie
Penrose had never mado a cent of
mpney by a stroko of labor of any
kind, but that was nothing against
him In tho eyes of fond mothers with
marnlagcablo daughters. There wcro
thousands of women In tho city who
would have counted themselves or their
daughters as specially .favored If
Archie Pcnroso had como Into the
houso as a suitor. It mado no differ
ence that his reputation had' suffered
In various ways. He had money, he
.was of a distinguished family, his man
ners wcro regarded as elegant, and ho
had an aunt who gavo the most select
rccoptlons and entertainments In tho
city. In tho sight of any man or wom
an of right definitions of manhood this
young figurehead of an aristocratic
family was simply ono of tho ciphers
of civilization, Ho mado nothing that
added to humanity's comfort or knowl
edge. Ilo contributed absolutely not
one grain of helpfulneBB or comfort or
hope to n suffering, struggling, needy
world. Ho lived to get all tho pleasure
he could himself, much If not nil of It
gained with u total dlsrogard for any
one else's pleasure, and yet bo moved
through what Is called tho best society,
courted, admired, fnwnod on, eagerly
Invited out to an endless round of so
clnl functions which a certain class of 1
rich people In America mako tho most
Important business of their llvos.
Mrs. Constance Penrose wns a persoii
of moro vnluo than hor distinguished
nophow. Slit- was rich, but not given '
over altogether to society and Its shal
low enthusiasms. There were other
things In which sho was genuinely In
terested, and among them was the ca
reer of John Gordon. Sho had known
htm as n boy, had watched htm through
his collego course and his trip abroad,
and, being n womnn of vory decided
nud Individual opinions, she had moro
than onco expressed her interest in tho
experiment Gordon was making. More
than once sho had compared hlra to
her nophew, to that young man's great
dlsadvautnge.
Tho uoto which Gordou found at
Hopo IIouso wns an Invitation to an
evening nt tho Pcnroso mansion In .
Park avenue.
Why have you cut yourself off from all
of your former frlends7 Do you owo
nothing to us rich Dinners, as well as to
the poor ones? Come nnd reform tho
boulevard If you aro really In the reform
buslrioss, for wo need It ns much as the
slum. Why aro- there no social settle
ments among usT It strikes mo that peo
plo like your Mian Andrews nre living at
the wrong end of tho problem. If we
could only be saved, wo havo tho means
and ability to uavo the other end; but I
Ivant you to come nnd see me and tell mo
about Miss Andrews. Have you fallen In
lave with her? And how about I.uolla
Young man, come and give an account of
yourself. Luellu will be here, and Mary
and the Lowells nnd tho Crnnstons and
that Graceless nephew of mlno, who, by
the way, now that you are out of the
way, )s paying court to Luella. You have
neglected us all shamefully. We Will for
give you If you appear among us again.
It will not be a large company about
twenty-five, Surely you have not cut us
all out of your acquaintance forever. If
you don't care for the-rest, come to satis
fy my curiosity about your future. You
know I was one of your best friends when
you were a boy in the university. I havo
a real interest In your future, and I am
cot all frivolous or given up to the whirl
or tiie tvoria, as I hope you know. Hop
ing to see you, I am your friend and well
wisher, CONSTANCE FENKQSE.
Gordon thoughtfully considered the
invltatlou nnd finally accepted it. When
ftho ovening named by Mrs. Ponroae
came, ho wont up on tho boulevard.
Thoro was nothing particularly un
usual In tho situation, and yet In some
unexplained manner ns he entered the
Pcnroso mansion ho was conscious of
a strange excitement, us If before tho
ovening wns oyer ovents would occur
that would mako nerlous history for
more than ono of tho guests'
Mrs. Penrose met him with a genuine
frlendllnos.
"Ah, wolcome, Mr. Reformer! I ap
preciate your coming out of your social
dungeon to seo us. You cunnot always
bo living on heroics. Thoro must bo
somo comedy to rellovo tho tragedy,
ehr
"8omo kinds of tragedy cannot bo ro
Jloved by any kind of comedy," Gordon
replied grimly. "Rut I'll promise not
to talk shop unless I am drawn into It
You didn't usk mo to como for that,
did you?"
"Didn't I? You are the lien of the oo
cation, Everybody te talking about
you."
"Let ue eiiAt-e Ut subject than." '
"And. UtlJc Qf Mi AjMjrowsr
"JSV Gor-don sM wfflly. '
"No? Is that forhjddio ground?".
8He spoke Berlqwdy, "I am. actually
Interested in hor and In all you are
doing. Some time you must tell me.
Wllfyou?"
"Yea," he answered earnestly, a lit
tle ashamed of bis curtnew. "Of
course I bellevo In It all, oaly I didn't
wish to neern to lug It in on this occa
sion." "I understand," Mrs. Ponroae an
swered brightly, and as Gordon, passed
on she Introduced him to Professor
.Bworj of the university.
Gordon had beard of Professor Em
jrynndl had read toroof bi baokjt.
THE DAILY JOURNAL. SALEM. OREGON. 8ATURDAY, FEBRUARY 21,
THtVihan was a scholar and haa rcaa
everything In his own lino of sociology.
Without meaning to do so Gordon soon
found himself deep In n discussion
with tho professor over ono phaso of
the Boclal question, which ono of tho
professor's books had touched on "Tho
Personal Element of Responsibility For
Itelief of Unjust Social Conditions."
G&rdon disagreed totally with tho
professor's conclusions and frankly
told him so. Tho professor blandly
smiled and laid down another proposi
tion to which Gordon found himself
totally opposed, Tho professor again
smiled in audi an exasperating manner
that Gordon almost lost his temper,
no pulled up Just In time, however.
Ho was so uear it that ho asked a ques
tion thufotherwlso ho would not have
asked.
"What you say Is good theory, pro
fessor, but have you ever lived among
tho peoplo and studied them nt first
hand to seo If your .theory will work?"
Tho professor changed color and lost
his bland and condescending manner.
"No, sir; 1 do not consider that n
necessity to the proper discussion of
the facts. I understand perfectly well
what you moan. Nearly alt social set
tlement residents mnlto tho same mis
take. They think personal contact Is
neccsnry to a clear comprehension of
oltuatlotis. I do not so regard It. Not
that I deprocute the servlco you aro
ronderlng," he added hastily, "but you
exaggerate the Importance of your
contribution to tho solution of the
problem."
Gordou wns spared the temptation of
n reply by a voice near by and n hand
laid on his shoulder.
"John, must I Introduce myself?
Why httvo yon neglected us all so
shamefully?"
It was his sister Mary who had Just
come In. Gordon was really delighted
"John, muat I Introduce mysclft"
to seo her. Tho swift nnd eventful
current of events that flowed around
Hope Houso had carried him along bo
tumultuously that ho bad let tho old
relations with his homo drift, and yet,
In spite of nil that bad tp bo counted
Into n swift receding past, ho could
not deny tho strength of tho blood re
latlonshlp. Ho turned from tho professor with n
feeling of relief and began to chat with
his sister.
Sbo was the same careless, thought
less, superficial crcaturo eho had al
ways been, and yet sho had an affec
tion for her brother that Johif Gordon
felt was very real. It touched him,
even whllo he was wounded by many
things sho carelessly uttered about till
own cholco of life.
"Father Is not very well," sho said
la reply to a question. "He fell one
day lflsT' week and had to be carried
home from the otllce. I feel worried
over him sometimes. I wish you wore
at homo again."
"Do you miss mo?'
"Do I? You know I do, John. Aren't
you coming back ever?"
"I doa't know. Tho old llfo seems
unreal to me."
"Does this seem unreal?" She tapped
his arm with her fan and then de
scribed a llttla circle with It that in
cluded tho rooms nnd their brilliant
contents. "It seems very real to me,"
sho added with a light laugh.
John Gordon let his look go over tl
Interior of that princely residence. Ail
tho soft, easy, luxurious appliances of
modern civilization within tho roach of
lavish wealth wero ovldont on every
aide. Velvet carpots, golden decora
tions, tho most costly pieces of art,
wood carving from Bavaria, oxquUite
medallions, portraits by Sandallo, and
palntlugs tho price of any one of
which would havo been moro than thv
life earnings of a hundred famlllen In
tu tenements before ho was aware he
was putting flesh and blood values up
against all that physical luxury. Then
le widdenly looked Into Mary's fat
and said, with a smlle:
"The things are real enough; It U the
life tliat Is unreal."
"Don't bo tragic, John," sho pouted.
"Havt soma fun toalght. You don't
look as if you had been having much
Utly. Tell jne.ls It true that you and
Lualla have quarreled? Toll ne all
aboHt It She la coming tonight Will
it be embarrassing to you?" Ami tbn
before he eould answer she rattled on
carelessly:
"And Mlsa Andrew the papers say
she la a remarkable person. Tell me,
la she handsome, like Luella? Are you
Impressed! Dot bow do you live In
tb, horrors?., I should think tho sfghU
I aiyw.wB:
RIbWJrV V. Mr
KH& til W.iiMMJM
ft R Lsiifmmffs
s &zm&m&&
&Fr-
yrrr , . i
CfrflHton, you have mot my brother
John?"
Miss Cranston had met Mr. Gordon
while ho was n student in tho univer
sity. John stood chatting with her
nvthlle, mid was still talking with her
when dinner wns announced. Ho took
her out, In obedience to a nod from
Mrs. Penrose, nnd when onco at tablo
ho looked, quietly enough outwardly,
but with Inward tumult at the guest,
and noted Luella scntcd by young Pen
rqse nt tho farther end, but facing Gor
don, wnllo Penrose wns almost wholly
obscured by Gordon's right hand neigh
bor. The dinner proceeded as UBual with
such dinners, only tho gifted art of
being all things to all guests that Mrs.
Penrose possessed In such a largo de
greo saving tho occasion from tho In
sufferable dullness of ninny similar
gathering. A soven course dinner In
a-rich womnn's houso may and often
does afford as much real misery to the
assembled company as can well be
packed Into a bad hour nnd a half.
With Mrs. Penrose as hostess affairs
went on with moro brlltlnncy. It Is ono
thing to talk yourself, and another to
H?et other peoplo to talk. Tho latter
gift, allied to a species of social genius,
Mrs. Penrose possessed, nnd tho din
ner was progressing finely, seasoned
With Just that right degrco of conversa
tional Interest which nt times Included
ovcry ono nt tho table and then, broko
up Into little groups of talk between
two or four.
John Gordou talked with Miss Crans
ton on n variety of topics, but did not
lutroduce any mention of his owu
work, Mrs, Penrose, who Bat nt his
right, once or twlco alluded to Gor
don's residence at Hopo House, but ho
answered briefly nnd nt onco rovorted
to something else. Evidently ho did
not lutond to bo drawn Into any dis
cussion or description of his work.
Mrs. Pcnroso wns too shrewd as well
ns too courteous to Insist In asking
questions sho plainly saw were uot
ngrecablc.
"Very well, sho said good nuturcdly.
"As the Hon of tho occasion, If you will
not ronr In tho ptosenco of this nu-
dleiico will you favor mo somo tlmo
with whnt I am dying to know? It lt
not Idle curiosity," sho added in a
lower tone. "I really am Interested lu
your plans. I want to help."
Gordou looked up at her qu(ckly.
Tho thought of what this woman, with
her wealth and social iulluonco, might
do If she would to bring llfo nnd light
Into tho dead, dark places of tho city
kindled his Imagination, It was an
other ray of hopo to placa alongsldo
Mrs. Kfllnghnm'ti lettors.
"Thank you," ho said gratefully, ''I
will como and talk It over with you."
As ho finished and turned hl faco
again toward Mlsu Cranston ho en
countered Luclla's glauco. Sho In
stantly looked down. Onco again, to
ward tho closo of tho dinner, Gordon
Intercepted hor look na It swept past
all tho guosUi and stayed Just u mo
ment with him.
Just how It all happened Johu Gor
dou novcr know. Tho Inst courso had
been served. Thoro was tho Inevitable
settling back of peoplo who had suc
cessfully observed ono of tho rltos of
pollto society nnd wero ready to enjoy
tho programmo of tho evening In nu
utlier stereotyped direction.
Tho voice of Archlo Pcnroso roso
ovcrttbo well modulated conversatien:
"It's a dangerous inovo for any one
to make, I think, profossor. Tho
classes aro too much at war now. All
theso anarchists ought to be hunted
out of Bocloty llko wild boasts. Sho
Is encouraging anarchy when she on
courages those peoplo to discuss tholr
views,"
''jI'Ibs Andrews"-tho bland voice of
Professor Emory smoto John Gordon
llko n blow "la not encouraging an
archy, kr. Penrose. You do not un
derstand tho exact situation. Tho mon
sho Invites into Hopo IIouso to discuss
government may bo mistaken jib to
many theories of government, but the
freespecch that Miss Andrews encour
ages among them Is not dangerous to
society, As I understand it, she dis
courages all expressions of violence
and Is really doing good mrvlce to Ihe
city In educating a group of mcii who
might bo dangerous into good citizens."
"Rless you, professor!" John Gordon
nld to himself. "You ore a formal,
pedantic, heartless, pi-ofi'MouMl soci
ologist, with no moro ril knowledge
f the humanity you are writing nlxnit
limn n mummy, but I'll f'Tglve all
that for whot you have Jnet said. You
frViut vn ft Jurm 'iK ImV on the
flvort
may be of no real account as a sociolo
gy, but yon are fair to your otf log
ic; ffilr as a mathematical problem."
TIi Vfl4w of Arbi Peurooo rose
gain, Argument bad no weight with
bug!,
iHM r this la a dangerous wouv
1903.
an, Sue-makes the peoplo discontent
ed with their surroundings and creates
bitterness between classes."
"I don't ngrco with you." tho pro
fessor's smooth, easy yolce ntkwercd
again. "She Is doing great good lu her.
w.ay. Mr. Gordon" the profossor was
Bitting thfeo elinlrs below Gordon on
the opposite side of the. table "you
aro Burely In n posltloji to verify my
statements about this cfitlmivblo wom
an. Set this misguided young mau
right In tint matter. , Ue has becu, mis
informed by- some oho."
pvcry facoiat the table was turned
toward John 'Gordon except Luelln's.
Silo looked down Jit-lhe tablo. It "'aH
vjry still. Ponroae, was red and ucrv
ouo. Just how ho had ifcoolpltntbd tho
discussion Gordon did not know until
8overol wccknuftcrward. It was enough
tliat tho entire subject of his personal
llfo work was now at once tho object
of Interest to nil these people, It wns
tho last eltuqtlwyln ,-tho world ho
would havo chosen for "himself, but
It had been thrust upon him. through
no socking of his owu. In the hush
Hint waited his answer to tho profess
or Gordon saw a blue oytd womnn dig
ging with bleeding hnnduflt n rubi out
of which ghastly faces peered, and it
was the vision of a wholo life that for
fifteen years had flung Itself down Into
the trtigvdy of humanity to bavo it re
g.;rilleb8 of suffering to Itself.
"Mitts Andrews," ho snld quietly, but
h.s soul was shaken with tho passion
of his long repressed feelings, "Is to
my mind the most gifted, rnost useful,
most Christian woman In this wholo
city. Sho Is today suffering moro, giv
ing moro nud doing moro to right tho
wrougs of our boasted civilisation than
aur other woman of my acquaintance.
The man who says sho Is dangerous to
society does not know what ho la say
ing. Miss Andrews Is tho superior of
every person hero nt this t&blo lu all
the gifts and graces of the highest de
veloped womanhood."
Ho need not havo said that last sen
tence. It wns not nt all necessary, nut
utu spirit was nt high tonflon. Tho
contrast between tho solflsh, heartless,
luxurious, oven vicious soolul llfo rep
.'monted by somo of tho persons at that
lublo In addition to Archlo Pcnroso
iiad tho patient, loving sacrificing llfo
nf tho head of Hope IIouso voiced his
Indignant assertion. Luolla did not
look up. She sat us cold and still uh n
sUtuo.
Mrs. Penrose, with a tact that did
h- ginrnt credit, broko ,thu allunco by
asking Just the rltflit fne-Htlon. Just
what It was Gordon hltnuelf did not re
member when he went all over the
i mo afterward; but, whatever It was,
It led the way naturally to u deserlp-
oi or Hope Houso settlement, and
Tin Giirdoif found himself doing wljnt
I ) hud declared to Mm. Putrio bo
ould not do ho was soon pourl.-g out
tM story of Iiowcn street and Tommy
lUmUll and Mrs. Cnylor nnd Loulo
ncd till tho hcaj-tbrcaklug conditions
of lh pnlo dwellers lu the tonomonts.
Haul over man such an audlcuce? It
l not often thu reformat can roach tho
men nnd woman of society. He talks
to tho crowd, vaguely cousclovu all tho
tlmo that tho rich, cultured, leisure
clashes either do not care or do not
know or do not understand and novor
go to hear him.
Hut for over half an bow Gordon
wild bis say. He spared lot ono sylla
M of horrors. The guusts puled at lilt)
description of the tiro nud shuddorod
at the picture of the child' arm thrust
up out of tho ruins mid c'rcllng liar
ton's neck In n eonvtilijvo dnth agony.
Ltiulla looked up ottco. Ilsr eyed
glowed with & fwdfn that John Gor
do Interpreted Into doep -oiiiihihsIoh,
and his heart hoiuuliMl. Ku. a moment
he lost control of himself Thau lie
we.'.t on steadily.
When ho was through, . Peiu'ose
(jul.tly signaled for the Mupnny to
rJno. In the other rooms, uu thu guusls
seated themselves at curd tables for
tho rust of the ovanltig, dlirout ouod
took up tho topic nnd n cuiUl.i unusual
buib pervaded tho purfuoMd utmos
phow that was a btraugor In the gos
olpUitf company.
Mm. Pcnroso passed out ty Gordon.
You mado a deop lmprariJou," she
laid half admiringly, half seriously.
"J had uo Idea you could talk so well."
"I did not Intond"-
"Of courso not. All tho butter. Ar
chie, got his nnswer. So did we." Sho
laughed a little cynically. "It will do
us good. Did I not tell you wo need
reforming worso than the slums?"
To Gordon's great relief Mary came
ttp uud said she felt uneasy for her
futbor, und bogged Mrs. Penrose to ex
cuse her.
"You will go homo with me, John,
won't you? Iarao with tho Cranatons.
Kathor needs mc. II did not look well
when he came homo this, evening"
"It must bo serious If Mary is ready
to leave this early," bo thought. Rut
ho was glad to oscapo tho formality of
tho rest of tho evening. As ho went
out with bia sister bo had a view of
Luella seated listlessly at tho table
where young Penrose was.
Ou thw way homo Mury seemed un
easy. She was suffering also from a
headache and sharply accused her
brother of lugging bis reform bustie"
Into the company's talk. John Gorden
was sllout. Afttrward bo learnad that
young Penrose's attention to I.ualla
was. the real source of Mary's bad
feelings.
As they mounted the familiar steps
ho flt strangy oppressed, as If somo
new or unexpected trouble was about
to oome into -bis life. The excltemout
Incident to bis defense of Miss An
deows had given way to a dull depres
sion that weighed him down and gave
bjnj a foreboding.
One of tbe servants wns in tbr ball.
He said that, Mr, Gordon had gono
Into the library early lo the evening
and ban given order not to be CI-
JohrdaifenitrmUV?
PAGE ELEVEN.
toolnT The library Watfhoxt; Thoytih
tcrcd It sldo by side j... ,
What wno that form lying half on tb
floor, half on one. of tho leather cush
ioned chairs?
Gordou sprang forward as Mary cried
out. They lifted him nnd laid him ou
tho couch. A frightened servant ap
pearcd nt tbo door. But Johu Gordon
knew ns bo looked Into tbo stern old
faco that tho soul of Rufus Gordon
had gone to God, who gnvo It, to glvo
account of thot deeds, dono In, tho body,
whether thoy wero good of' whether
they wero; bad. ' , ,
OHAPTRR. IX.
"TVint right tuxvi lM
talk lotno tor'
ARTH to earth, ash
es to ashes, dust to
dust," snld Pad
Falmouth as ho
Btood by tho gvavo
of Rufus Gordon.
"Hero to nwnlt tho
general resurrection In tho last day and
tho appearing of tho Lord Jesus Christ"
John Gordon, with his sister und
tholr nunt Mrs. nestor Wnylund, llu
fua Gordon's only sister, stood ou tho
other side of tho grnvo. Mary wan
hoavlly dressed In mourning nnd clunir
to John Gordon's arm sobbing. Fnl
moulh offered n brief prayer, pro
nounced tho bauedlotlon and then camo
around to tbo threo nud shook hands
sllontly. Tho crowd of acquaintances
Jutt had known tho distinguished finan
cier doparted, discussing hiTthoy wont
thu futuro of tho busluess Involved by
tho, death, nnd Its r6latIon to tbo son.
who waH it stranger to most of tho men
In tho city, except ns they had road of
his eccentric career at Uopo House.
"Strange how u mau of Gordou's ox
nnt mothods can ncctcct suoh a thing.
I remember now thoro wub Judgo
Lowls of tho circuit court nugloctcd,"
etc
"Oonlon isn't tho first mau to put off
attending to a matter of Mint sort. I
suppose tho estate goos In nbsonco of
n will to his son?" ono of tho visiting
friends of tho broker qilostloncd.
"Yes, and tlio sou is n crank, Pin
told; been living In tho Blums for a
fud." Tho speaker got Into his nuto
mobile, nud ho and his friends wero
soon speeding toward tho ulty at tho
rato of thirty mllos nu hour. Gor
don's fad was a slum. Tho broker's
fad was u racing machine. Thero aru
fads and fads.
"I think I could glvo a guess at Gor
don's, fnlluro to make a will," -quietly
rqninrked another financier, whohajfl
been present nt tho funeral.
His companion gave him u question
ing look.
"lie didn't hnvo much of anything to
will," was tho auswer.
"How's thutV" Thu exclamation ex
pressed great surprise. "Gordon was
ono of the solid nioitof tho city."
"It niny bo. Rut, mark my propbocy,
tho old man lost his cunning along to
ward tho lust Thoso who watched
blm closest saw slgus of breaking
down In blm moro than a year ago.
no wont too henvlly Into L. and P.
stock. Conway's deal last sprlnjr
'turned out bad for Gordon. No ono
knows how hard ho was lilt nt tho
tlmo, but you watch developments. If
tho son gets tho houso and lots out of
what's loft, he will do well."
"Ho was not"
"Tho old man was slrlctly honorable,
lu bis relation to all trusts. All bo
lost was his own, so far as that goes.
Rut I am much mistaken if he did not
lose Just about everything."
During the week that followed Rufus
Gordon's affulrs gradually became
common material for gossip oo tho
streot. Ten days after Mio body of
tho "wealthy banker" bud been put lu
tho ground the business world knew
that, wUh tho exception of his homo
and a small annuity belonging to bin
daughter, the wealth of Rufus Gordon
had vnnfshtd, dissipated In that kind
of speculation which borders on gam
bling so closely that tho most coiihoIsii
lious business men cannot always de
cide where legitimate buslnoss end
and the gambler's luck begins,
Down at Hop House Paul Piamouth,
who had noma In to consult with Miss
AjmIwws about sows work Ids people
bad volunteered for her, was talking
over John Gordon's affairs when be
casae into tho library. Miss AndrewB
was called out, and tho twj rseu were
left together. Blues Barton's death
Gordon bad felt drawn toward Fal
mouth. Thero was something very
wholesome and helpful about the man
when ono came to know the real man
bvuealh the scholarly, refiuedr deeply
' seusltlro nature.
Then vour father? death will really
sake Utile difference with your fu-
(- i
v r -J
M ' (To boTcontlnued.)
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