The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1897-04-16

investigating the SUBJECT on 01e spot.
Fench folded his map and rested his
case with the promise; but he kept up
running fire of encomiums on the new
south and Allacoochee, which the effort
at postponement had only changed from
particulars to generalities, while Philip
leaned back in. the corner of the seat
and gave himself up to an ecstasy of
loathing. While the endless tale of
prosperity continued the light went
out of the sky, and it was quite dark
when the brakeman thrust his face into
the car to call "Allacoochee!"
Thorndyke gathered up his belong
ings with sigh of relief and presently
found himself standing under the glare
of an electric lamp on the station plat
form, trying to hazard guess at the
best hotel in the place as the names
were shouted out by the knot of yelling
hackmen.
"Here you are for the Allacoochee
Inn!"
Right dis-away for de Mountain
house!"
"shut yo' fish-trap, niggah!-yass,
sab, right hyah, sab; bus fo' de Hotel
Johannisberg."
Notwithstanding the poets doubling
question, there is always more or less
| in q name; and the Hotel Johannisberg
gained a guest that night upon no bet
ter grounds than that the word awoke
pleasant memories in the mind of q
man who knew Europe rather better
than he did his own country. AS the
omnibus jounced along over the un-
paved streets, Thorndyke amuseGahim-
self by picturing the probable contrast
between the bacllwoods tavern and it's
high-sounding appellation. He was
rather more than surprised, therefore,
when the omnibus stopped in front of
a three-storied building standing in
park-like inclosure and ablaze
with gas and electric lights; and as
tonishment rose into admiration when
a liveried servant ushered him into the
magnificent rotunda tioored with mar
BILE mosaic and wainscoted in quarter
sawed oak. Everything about the place
was cosmopolitan and modern, from
the convenient telegraph Office in the
corner to the suave clerk, who might
have been swift importation from the
best-appointed hostelry in, New York.
"Glad to welcome you to Allacoochee.
Mr.. Thorndyke," he said, Hospitality,
when Philip had registered. "We're a
little crowded tonight, but l can give
you a good room on the second floor,
if that will answer"
I'm not particular, so that it's COM
Portable" replied Thorndyke, glad to
have his forebodings dispelled. "ls
supper served?"
Dinner, if you please" corrected the
clerk, affably, summoning a call-boy.
"Show Mr.. Thorndyke to his room-No.
83." And Philip followed his coffce-col-
ored guide to the elevator with an I'M
comfortable conviction growing upon
him that he had somehow stamped him
self as provincial by suggesting supper
| instead Of dinner.
The meal was excellent and we'll
after two weary nights in the Sleep
ing car, made Thorndyke late riser on
| his first morning in Allacoochee. After
| breakfast he went out upon the veranda
to give the feeling of appreciative sur
prise chance to expand with wider
view. The Hotel Johannisberg was
owned by the Town company, and it's
situation on slight knoll at the foot
of Johns mountain had been chosen
with a view to the prospect. Standing
on the steps of the veranda, Philip saw
| a background of wooded slopes rising
in green bravery to the line of rugged
cliffs at the summit of Jubal noun
tain; middle distance of valley where
| the course of the Chiwassee river was
| defined by a bed of feecy mist rutfled
into semi-transparency by the warmth
of the morning sun; to the left, be-
yond the narrower strip of mist mark
ing the windings of the Little Chiwas-
see, the bold forehead of Bull noun
tain overtopping the town. These were
| the frame for the picture which human
activity was etching into the level area
| inclosed by the two streams. Long
vistas of streets marked by burrows
turned at the curb lines; open spaces
| dotted with the stakes of the surveyor
and heaped with piles of brick and lum-
ber; uncounted numbers of half-fin-
ished buildings upon which the work
men clustered like swarming bees; the
muffled drumming of hosting engines;
the strident eXhausts of the locomo-
tives in the railway yard; the clang OF
hammers in boiler shop-everywhere
the sights and sounds of restless in
| dustry and impatient progress.
Under such circumstances the gre
garious impulse asserts itself irresisti-
bly,. Thorndyke looked about him for
possible sympathizer, and, by proc
ess of natural selection which is as un-
accountable as it is inerrant, he pitched
upon young man sitting apart from
tie various groups on the veranda.
Drawing up a chair, he began to un-
burden himself.
ut beats anything l ever heard of"
he said. "What is there behind it alp"
Standing as target for the gunnery
of other peoples surprise was no new
experience for the man of Philips selec-
tion, and he smiled good-naturedly. "A
good many people have asked that ques-
ton. can't answer it to my own salts
faction, but others would say the coal
and iron; the lack of important manu-
featuring centers in the south, and the
consequent pressing need for one just
here; the climate, and hundred other
things besides"
"Are the coal and iron realities?"