The Press., 1897-12-23
A MUTUAL FRIEND.

A MUTUAL FRIEND.
 Howard, desiring to bring Ferguson and Walker into a fellowship like that of Damon and Pythias, set them so far apart that oceans roll between them and deserts parch and bake. This is, of course, a figure of speech, for Ferguson and Walker both live in Chicago, where there are no oceans or deserts
 But the feeling of loathing which has risen up to separate these two men whom Howard had hoped to make firm friends accomplishes the purpose of desert and ocean and mountain chain too. And yet the two men have met but once, and then only to say "How dye do?''
 Howard lives in Pocatello, Ida. To Pocatello a year ago went Ferguson, journeying on some affair connected with the railroad company which pays him well for knowing intricate and hid den things about the transportation busi- ness Ferguson was in Pocatello for two weeks. It was a gloomy sort of ex- i1e, and but for the presence of Howard, whom he met on the first day of his vis- it, he would have suffered horrible bangs and gripings of lonesomeness, but Howard, bright, entertaining and all informed, was as a wellspring of hap piness and made the railroad man g stay in the sunburned regions of Idaho 8 pleasant vacation, and when Ferguson was ready to leave Howard said to him:
 "Now, old man, l want you to be sure and meet my friend Walker. It's 6 shame that two such splendid fellows should live in the same town and be strangers. I've written letter of intro. duction. and you just walk around tc his place when you get back to Chicago and go out and take one on me. You'll tike4W Walker and he'll like you
 Ferguson thanked Howard with ar easy conscience, for he, too, thought ii would be pleasant to meet one whom Howard recommended for his worth.
 Then he returned to Chicago
 The letter of introduction nestled ir his pocket fer a month, quite forgotten. At the expiration of that time Ferguson received a note from Howard. who wanted to know something about g business matter which they had discuss ed in Pocatel1o As a postscript Howard added the question:
 "You have seen Walker, of course Great fellow, isn't he?"
 "Walker, Walker-let me see," Fer guson unused "Who in thunder ii Walker? Oh, yes. That fellow I have the letter of introduction to. We'll, really must call on him.
 The same mail which bore the mis sive to Ferguson also carried one te Walker. Howard, among other things wrote these words: "You remember Ferguson, whom asked you to call up on? What do you think of him? He's the right sort, isn't he?''
 "By George" " Walker cried on read ing Towards letter, "he did ask me tt drop in on somebody named Ferguson to whom he had given letter for pres entation to me. And I've clean forgot ten it. Wonder where the mans to b, + found?'' He examined the directory list of Fergusons, and then, with some show-of disappointment, said to him self: .>'tPslIaw! His office is down il the Grand Central station, three mile away. We'll, next time I'm over tha way I'll stop." Then he called for hi stenographer and dictated letter tell ing Howard that he had enjoyed hi visit with Ferguson immensely.
 Two weeks afterward Ferguson re ceived further documents from Pocatel
 "The matter you were examining in to-" Howard wrote, "turns out to be pretty good thing, and I'd advise you t. hang on to it. I'll keep you posted ol developments. I'll not let them foo you. By the way, what do you think o Walker? You haven't told me.
 Thunder and lightningp' Ferguson | uttered, sst.I ought to have called ol Towards friend a month ago. Here h. l is doing me all kinds of good turns ou there in Pocatello and I haven't grati tude enough to go and meet the man h. asked me. to-" He would have rushet out forthwith to commune with Walk | CT, only he saw that the directory locat | ed the man away off on the North Side
 "I'll take that letter around to hin next week, '' said Ferguson.
 He did not, however. He promptl, forgot all about Walker until fort night passed and information cam, from Pocatello that "the property is ul 20 per cent in value. Give my respect /! to Walker the next time you see him.
 ''Next time see him." Ferguson re peated. Let's see. Did I say I had al ready met him?' I guess I must hav told Howard something like that. We'll I'll have to lie it out on that line if takes all summer. So he answeret Towards letter by saying that he ant Walker had together seen play tn night before and had had most enor mously good time He even repeate' some anecdotes of Towards earlier Tiff which he, declared Walker had tol, ! him. "Pd like to know whether Wake is married or single, Ferguson thought "I've got a bully story I could tel about him if I only knew. Doggon himi wish didn't have that lette of introduction to him. He's getting t be g kind of nuisance. ]"
 About the same time Walker, writ ing to Howard, was saying how muc he was indebted to the western man fo the pleasure he had drawn from hi companionship with Ferguson.
 .-s--i = . ,-A-