The Delta independent. [volume] (Delta, Colo.) 1886-19??, 1897-08-13


upon several occasions. I ate haggis
in Scotland, and some blutwurst in Ber-
lin; but, thanks to her, listened TO
Tannhauser at Bayreuth, saw the moon
rise out of the Adriatic at Venice. float
cd down the Danube from Vienna to Bu-
charest-an enchanting voyage-trav-
eled across Norway in u cariole. and
skated through Holland. Finally set
tied down in London to 1s months hard
work as q journalist
But the tramp fever was in my veins,
and the daughters Of Themis had q tan
gled skein to unrayel. Thus it came TO
pass that in the spring Of 81 regis
tered my name At the Acropolis hotel
of San Francisco. had passed leisure
ly from state to state, and my small
capital had assumed microscopical pro-
portions. With the exception Of half
dozen magazine articles-somc of them
not paid for-I had done no work. But
l carried good letters Of introduction,
had accumulated plenty of material.
and confronted the future with o grin
upon my face.
through rose-colored goggles, 1 sat
down to breakfast upon the morning
succeeding my arrival At the Acropolis,
and picked up the morning paper.
was carele.sly scanning its eolumns,
when the following advertisement met
my eye:
"Wnnted-A young, strong. healthy
man. graduate of university preferred.
who must be m athlete, scholar, and
n gentleman. Large salary to right
man. Apply Omega, between the
hours of ten and eleven, at the Consoli-
dated awnings bank"
Reading these lines, I speculnted
in regard to the number Of young men
in California who would consider them
selves eligible candidates for the large
salary" and. pursuing this train Of
thought, reflected that it might Ike
amusing to preaent myself between the
hours of ten and eleven at the Consoli-
dated savings bnnk.
Accordingly did %.
II was the qualification Of AZ absurd
whim (unless We take into considern-
tion the daughters Of Themis). but II
involved me in nm amazing adventure.
To my infinite surprise, the hank was
not surrounded by crowd Of athIetes;
and the cashier informed me. with q
silky smile. that Omegs was within and
alone.
"The San Francisco youth" said I,
"must be singularly modest"
admirable Crichtons." he rejoinei.
"are scarce rs black tulips. Do under
stand, sir, TINT you are IN applicant ?"
Up to this moment had not consid-
oreul this very obvious question. None
the less I replied promptly: Yes"
lie looked me up and down, a queer
smile curling his lips. Then he held
out his hand for my card.
my name," replied lightly. "is-Al-
pha."
The cashier nodded pleasantly, md
disappeared. When he returned, after
an absence of ten minutes, his smile
was still more accentuated.
"Omega," he murlnured, "is in the
presidents private room. Kindly fol-
low me-
obliged him, and found myself in
fating my chest and squnring my
shoulders. Upon such occasions \ man
wishes to cut a. fine figure as pos
s.ble. and I'll confess that the enigmatic
smile Of the cashier piqued me not q
little. Feeling that I had embarked
upon q FOOLS errand, followed my
guide down . corridor and into . hand
some room.
At n large desk WIS . small man.
out of whose dried-up, wrinkled, pock-
marked face CLEANED . remarkable
pair Of eyes. The owner of these
waved me to . chair. bowed and sat
down.
"Mr.-"
"Alpha." -----------..------
"Mr. Alpha, let mo give you my
card"
Upon II was engraved . we'll
known name-Mark Gerard. I has
tened to return the compliment.
"Ah-Livingston. Yes, yes; son Of
Hugo Livingstonr
IL am"
"University manr' 4, :
"Yale."
"An athlete2'
IL played right tackle on the foot
ball team, and hold the amateur rec
ord for putting the shot"
The man Of millions lay back In his
padded chair and half shut his eyes.
From beneath puffy lids he scrutinized
NE sharply, stroking the while an i'm
perial which sprouted sparsely upon .
pointed chin.
"And your scho3ssship. sir7"
II must refer you to the faculty"
He grunted approval.
"How are you hxed-Ansncially7 r"
Two hundred and Aftsen dollars and
thirty-five cents makes up the sum
total Of my capital"
"Ahem! and . stranger 70 our city.
Well. Mr.. Livineston," b ehuckled
softly. ''Tll strain . point and Be per-
fectly frank with you. Il happens
that can use . young man lilso your
self if-if he be prepared 70 encounter
dsnger-I say daneer-in my service.
Does the word dagger dsunt you7"
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