The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1897-07-03
copyright. 1896. by J. B. L,pplneo. Col
r0RACf hnnfSLtr- VnCnELL.


courier i'll the world. The dame, how
ever, amused herself ut my expense
upon several occasions. l ate hnggis
in Scotland, and some blutwurst in Ber-
lin; but, thanks to her, l listened to
Tannhauser at Bayreuth, saw the moon
rise out of the Adriatic at Venice, float
cd down the Danube from Vienna to Bu-
cnarcst-an enchanting voyage-trav-
eled across Norway in u cariolc, and
skated through Holland. Finally l set
tied down in London to is months hard
work as u journalist.
But the tramp fever was in my veins,
and tho daughters of Thcmis had a tau
gled sllcin to unravel. Thus ii came to
pass that i'll the spring of 81 1 regis
tered my name at the Acropols 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 q
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 mat crial,
and confronted the future with q grin
upon my face.
In this mood, looking at the world
through rose-colored goggles, 1 sat
down to breakfast upon the morning
succeeding my arrival at the Acropolis,
and picked up the morning paper. J.
was carelessly scanning it's columns,
when the following advertisement met
my eye:
''Eanted-A young, strong, healthy
man, graduate of university preferred,
who must be I'm athlete, q scholar, and
a gentleman. Large salary to right
man. Apply Omega, between tho
hours of ten and eleven, at the CONSOLE
dated savings bank"
Reading these lines, I specialized
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, l reflected that it might DO
amusing to present myself between the
hours of ten and eleven at the Console
dated savings bank.
Accordingly l did so.
1t was the qualification of an absurd
whim (unless we take into considera-
NlOu NAiC itOAS VI AS4AlS)S OuO ~
involved me in an amazing adventure.
To my infinite surprise, the bank was
not surrounded by crowd of athletes;
and the cashier informed me, with
silky smile, that Omega was within and
alone.
"Thc San Francisco youth" said I.
"must be singularly modest"
admirable Crichtons." he rejoined,
"are scarce as black tulips. DO UNDER
stand, sir, that YOU are an applicants"
Up to this moment I had not consid-
cred this very obvious question. None
the less replied promptly: "Ycs."
He looked me up and down, a queer
smile curling his lips. Then he held
out his hand for my card.
"My namc," replied lightly, "is-Al-
pha."
The cashier nodded pleasantly, and
disappeared. When hc returned, after
an absence of ten minutes, his smile
was still more accentuated.
"Omega," he murm,rcd, sis in the
presidents private room. Kindly fol-
low me-"
obliged him. and found myself in
flating my chest and squaring my
shoulders. Upon such occasions a man
wishes to cut as fine figure as pos
s.blc, and I'll confess that the cngmatic
smile of the cashier piqucd me not
little. Feeling that'I had embarked
upon FOOLS errand, followed my
guide down corridor and into hand
some room.
At large desk was a small man,
out of whose dried-up, wrinkled, pock-
marked face CLEANED q remarkable
pair of eyes. The owner of these
waved me TO chair. l bowed and sat
down.
"Mr.--"
"Alpha."
"Mr Alpha, let mo give you my
card"
Upon it was engraved q we'll
known name-Mark Gerard. has
tened to return the compliment.
"Ah-Livingston. Yes, yes; son of
Hugo Livingstone"
II am"
university man?'
"Yale"
"An athlete?"
II 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 scrutnized
ME sharply, stroking the while an i'm
perial which sprouted sparsely upon a
pointed chin.
"And your scholarship, sir?"
II must refer you to the faculty."
lie gruntcd approval.
elbow are you fixed-fnnncially?"
1.-TWO hundred and fifteen dollars and
thirty-iiye cents makes up the sum
total OF my capital"
"Ahem! and a stranger to our city.
Well, Mr.. Livingston" he chucklcd
softly. "'ll strain point AID be per-
fectly frank with you. II happens
that I can use young man like your
self tiff lie be prepared to encounter
danger-I say dunger-in my service.
Docs the word danger da,nt you:"
"Not particularly"
"1'm willing to pay the right man
$4,000 T. year."
Sand the nature o! the service, Mr..
Gerard?"
Hc held up lean hand. "parslor mo
the Twin Cities 20 puluth West Supe,lo,