The times., 1897-04-25
CRIMMINS' ADVANTAGES.


at all. He was a small man in threadbare
black garm ents, and was seated in chair
after the orthodox manner. The rest were
stretched on sofas, perched on tables or
sitting crosslegged on the floor.
1t was the last week Of the term, and
most OF the men were seniors.
What did CrimIlins say he was going
to do?" said Larner. the fullback, in
Quiringly.
II didn't say" say the little man in the
black suit. dryly.
Very well, then, what are you going
TO do?'' said Morris, taking the word.
Morris was a thoughtful-looking fellow,
with Vandyke beard and expressive. dark
eyes. He smoked pipe, and even his
pipes somehow always had anindividuality.
II expect, with my advantages" said
Crimnins, in his quiet way, ITO step into
some remmeratlve position without
great deal OF troube-something IN tie
literary line is what / should like"
With your advantages!' thought Morris
'whew | should like to know what
they are!''
Crinnins was one OF the hardest working
n en- in the univei sity, though nobody ever
accused him of being brilliant. He had
been known to do nearly everything which
student could do, to earn money. He had
been clerk in the town grocery, had sold
books on commission, done copying, col
lected laundry for steam washing con-
cern, and he kept bachelors hall by him
self in q bare little room, which nobody ever
visited very much. except Morris, who
liked him. And here lie was talking about
his advantages.
The tide OF talk swept On during Morris
soliloquy, and Crimmins and his advantages
were left behind. But the scrap of convcr-
sation stuck in the head of Morris, as
such things will, and when, two years
later he had a quarrel with his uncle
Philpotts, and declared that rather than
work into the hide-and-leather business
he would go out and earn his own living
in his own way, he remembered 1t. His
uncle Philpotts acquiesced with alacrity,
and forbore to ask what Morris way
might be, for which Morris, in after years,
was grateful.
He had been a reading man in college;
in some ways he was brilliant man. He
had one or two hobbies which he had
ridden triunphantly all through his course;
one OF them was philology, and another
The only places in which these accom-
plishmentS could be of use would have been
a schoolroom or something in the museum
line; both of which he tried
ANY experience" asked the director
Of the teachers agency,
Morris had not.
We'll, well see what we can do for you;
but I'm afraid there are too many eXpe-
renced teachers on the list for US to hold
out any great inducement. You see, sale
the director, warmed into loquacity by
the faultless style of his visitor, the only
place in which these specialtics OF yours
would be of much use Is a college or an
academy, and they want men with practical
experience as well as knowledge. Better
GO out and knock around In a district
school awhile"
That was very good advice, but Morris
did not know of any district school into
which he would have the gh0stof chance
of getting Hedetermnedt to try lawyers
office,
Going TO be a lawyer" asked the man
whom he knew, ana to whom he applied for
advice. Well, well | never thought you'd
go into that business. You're Eot' Then
why in thunder do you want such aposidpn
as that? I should think you could do some
thing better with your advantages
so have advantages, have t. queried
Norris of himself on the way to his Loar'-
ing place by Jove, should Ike 60 know
what they are [ wonder what CrimmiaS
did with his?'
IL soon became evident that he must do
something. and do it quick, for his pocket
book was suffering from a bad attack Of
cramp. He pawned his watch, advantages
being unmarketahle, and tried Successively
a real estate office, a newspaper office at
which two rather Ioag stories We're Viewed
with absolute coldnesSl, a museum, dry
goods palace this was his last gasp end
a railroad station At the railroad station
the manager, attracted by something III
the manner Of the young man, asked him
few questions. eliciting the fact OF Morris
degree. Then he said
NO? guess with your advantages you
wouldn't be contented with US very 'ong-
Us fellows that have begun 1t the bottom
are willing to sing small for awhile. but
with you it's different"
Hang the advantagcs!'' thought Morris,
savagely.
When he reached his boarding place, at
which ne carefully avoided the eye OF the
,anflady. he found a letter lying on his
table The hand seemed rather familiar, but
he couldn't nlacait. The letter read:
my dear Mr Morris:
II happened, in glanCng over an oldpaper
today, TO see your name in the list Or ar
rivals / very much hope 10 see you II You
should be still in town when this letter
reaches you: Very truly your friend.
WILLIAM l.. CRIMINALS.
.'Oh, hv Favc,'' said Norris
The heading of the letter bore the name
Of his uncIe's partner and representative
in that city, Job Kingsbury.
by Jove!'' sain Morris again. IN
hunt the old fellow up.
He found the address in the directory,
and found the house after the Ion geSt walk
he had tax en- since the days he had da bbled
in athletics 1t was an questionable but
homelike house, and the woman who
opened the door was a motherly looking
person. He was shown up to a modest
apartment on the second floor, aud met by
Crimmins, who was quite effusive. for
him. The little mans somewhat dry
phrases were inspired by real affection,
and he wrung Morris hand in way that
said volumes.
And what have you been doing since
VIZ metz" asked Morris, who particularly
wished to avoid answering that question
himself
We'll, 1 have been In this business al
most from the first" said Crimmins,
thoughtfully. 1T is not at all the busi-
ness l was thinking Of meant to teach,
perhaps, or to work on newspaper, But
no opportunity offered, so 1 just took the
first thing that did offer, and it has