The times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1882-1897, 1896-12-25

THE FITTEST SURVIVES
By ]. H. OONNELLY.
Copyright. 1896. by the Authcr.l
CHAPTER TX.

VO11i ALttidlii lClu ~ 4AAiiitCNA ttiAN VII
ditional though publicly acknowledged
partnership in the prominent legal firm
Of Gaunett, Stryker 81 Latham, a place
he had conquered by sheer merit. While
his financial gains from it were not as
yet much better than the salary he
formerly received as the managing clerk
Of Messrs. Gaunett e. Strayer, the part
nership was far more advantageous than
the clerkship, since it gave him stand
ing and certainty Of ultimate fortune.
A very considerable portion of the bust
ness of the firm was the exhaustive in
vestigation Of properties and enter
prises, of any and every kind, in which
their rich clients contemplated invest
ments. For this class Of work clear
headed, wide awake, thorough and con-
scientious John Latham had come to be
regarded as q man of remarkable value.
One Of the notable triumphs of the firm
was his first achievement in that line,
and, by the way, the manner in which
the opportunity therefor fell to him
seemed at the time to be sheer accident.
A couple of clients, who were about
reer, when he set out TO win a fortune
in Wall street, he had sensibly takei
John Latham S advice in retrenching hi,
unnecessary expenditures, and one Of thu
main steps to that end was his removn
from the costly hotel where he had be-
living to the combined lodging a.
boarding house in which John reside
There he had bedroom, small, but la
enough to sleep in, for the same
per week as he had been paying
diem for his apartment at the ho Il
adjoined Johns room, which was a IL
one, and when the communicating
had been opened the young men II
tically enjoyed the two in common :,
larger one, in which good fire
kept, served as their parlor. Some Of
persons occupying rooms in the he
took their meals at the landlady's tai
but Latham and Sewall found it bet
suited to their convenience to patron
restaurants at such times and places
appetite and opportunity conjoin;
served. When Chester Sewall return
home at the usual hour for finding
friend there on the day Of John l.
tham's hurried departure for the soul
west, the busy young lawyer was
Harlem. The loneliness and quiet of q
room were uncomfortable to a man VIII,
distress and anxiety had wrought
nerves to the highest tension, and Cll'
ter went cut again to walk, not with
object of going anywhere, but just
xuo11x until ba cbO,,1J boxo firod b;,,,,
out and might hope to sleep. BY
time he revisited the room his fri -
was half way across the state Of N
Jersey and going rapidly. From the e.
trail gas fixture in the main room
pended by string q card upon VIII
was written:
DEAR CHET-Have to go away. Don't ext"
me until you see me. Good luck to you. You
JOIN.
making joint investment Of half a
million dollars in western railroad
scheme, at tho last moment bethought
them that it would be at least prudent
thing, Notwithstanding the excellent
representation made to them, to have
Gaunett e Styber critically examine
the enterprise before they risked their
money upon it. Mr.. Gaunett could not
leave town, Mr.. Stryler CHANGED to be
i'll, and so the delicate and highly re-
sponsible duty was perforce confided to
their then managing clerk, Mr.. Latham.
His report was emphatically against the
investment as unsafe, and in a very
few months events proved his judgment
correct. So heartily was his good work
in that investigation appreciated that
the grateful clients, in addition to pay
ing the firms fee, gave him very
handsome present out of the half mil
lion he had unquestionably saved to
them, while his employers, recognizing
his value, made place in the firm for
him. OF course there were those who
enviously said "John is very lucky. "
But is it not strange how "lucky" men
Of brains and energy are?
Upon reaching his Office one morning
a couple of days after Chester's exposi-
ton Of the desperate plight of his specu-
lations Mr.. Latham found awaiting his
personal consideration and prompt ac-
ton an important piece Of business,
closely akin to that already mentioned
A southwestern railroad this time afford
ed the subject for an investigation, and
the matter was one that would admit
Of no delay. He was busted until late
in the afternoon in getting such neces-
sary data as were at his clients COM
mand and in closing up such Office bust
ness as could be put aside for time.
Then he wrote q letter Of instructions to
the detective, whom he characterized as
his "McCaffrey chaser" and FASTENED
off to Harlem for farewell interview
with Addie. By 2 o'clock he was at
home, packing q valise, and at 0 was
aboard an express train starting out of
Jersey City.
At the time Of Chester Sewall's
launching himself upon a. business ca.
The finder stared at tho writing
dismay.
He could hardly have imagined al,
thing else that would have seemed 5.
disastrous at this particular juncture a.
Johns departure Weary in body, sort
in spirit, on the very verge Of despair
he had come home counting upon re
ceiving from his friend consolation, ell
couragement, advice, perhaps even ma
terial aid. lie felt as he faucied MAJ