The Monmouth inquirer., 1898-04-14
A GOOD ADVOCATE.

opened his newspaper to the column
Male Help Wanted" and studied it
with selfish interest At thirty three
he was about to do his work. Not that
he cared to work or knew how TO do
any useful kind of work, but he had
vague apprehension that unless he
worked he would starve to death
For the first time in his life he was in
actual need of money. Except as to
money he was we'll equipped Against
the wall in his room at the hotel were
two trunks filed with clothing. The
man himself was in robust health.
He had graduated at an eastern uni
versity, dawdled in Boston society.
travelled in Europe and led the lazy life
of cluhman. When his father died
the estate dwindled away under set
Element. and McElway came into few
thousands which he spent generously,
but in no haste.
When the thousands had been reduc-
ed to hundreds, McElway Robson began
to dread the prospect of showing his
poverty to his Boston friends, so he
folded his numerous trousers into
trunks and with two hat boxes and
bundle of stocks and umbrellas he hur-
ried away to Chicago He had been
told that Chicago was the place for a
young man without capital
After week in town and a promen-
ade along Michigan avenue every sunny
afternoon, he counted his money and
found that his capital had not increas-
ed, in spite of the fact that Chicago had
been recommended to him. That is
why one morning he had to look at the
column Male Help Wanted"
He shivered as he glanced at the list
bakers, cutters, feeders horseshoers,
tailors and so on. He turned to the
sub department, Miscellaneous"
Clearly, he was one of the "miscellane-
GUS He noted that "agents" were
wanted. He shivered again. Then his
eye fell on the following
iWANTED-Society young man to un-
dertake light employment; liberal pay;
must have complete wardrobe. speak
the modern languages and be good
conversationalist No one well known
in Chicago need apply. Address xxx
81 x
That's my description" said McEl-
way Robson, reading it aloud; but
what in the world does it mean?'
He wrote note to XXX21, using his
own stationery, with the gilt crest and
carried it to the newspaper office. Then
he went to his room and had refiec-
tive smoke, and that afternoon took
his usual turn in Michigan avenue.
When he came back to his hotel he
found communication summoning
him to room 718 Cloud building, Dear
born street AS he opened the door
into 71S he saw snort and ruddy man
at a rather bare desk making signs of
dismissal to slender youth in crum-
pied sack suit.
Have | the honor of addressing Mr..
Robson?" asked the little man.
Yes, sir; my name is Robson"
Wont you be seated? Yes, it was
very good of you to call. -" and the
little man stopped and beamed in ad-
miration.
stWill you be kind enough to tell me
what kind of employment you have to
offer?" asked McElway, carelessly pat
ting his knee with a glove and looking
at the little man with cold politeness.
Beautiful exclaimed the other
still regarding him with pleased
smile.
pray explain yourself-and permit
me to tell you that / do not know card
tricks and my comic songs are very
bad"
I'm not looking for anything of that
kind Let me ask you a few questions
first This is confidential, of course
Mr.. Robson saw no harm in telling
about himself The little man at the
desk beamed with increasing satisfac-
ton q
..Mr Robson, you're just the man I
want"
ssQuite so-and what am | to do?"
ssYou are to attend an occasional dim
ner party and say pleasant things about
your host or hostess, as the case may
be. That's not hard to do, is it?"
mo; but why should / do it?"
ssIn the first place. because will pay
you literally. In the second place, be-
cause your host or hostess needs-well.
a good advocate. Let me explain. Sup
nose a family with money comes here
to Chicago, takes house or fine suite
of rooms and wants to ger into some
kind of society-not the best. perhaps,
but good What that family needs is
little outside influence. 1t is vulgar for
any family to sound its own praises
Somebody else must do that. Suppose
have client living at swell hotel
"A client?"
"Thats what I call him. Suppose he
and his wife want to get acquainted
with the best people in that hotel.
They can't give a dinner and invite all
these people Somebody else must do
that"
"Then you want me"
mo; that isn't your part. [ know
.,ienty of bright and trustworthy wo-
men who are willing to give dinners il
somebody else will foot the bills--un-
derstand? What want you to do is
to be there and help along the couple
that wants to break into that set, If I
must put it plainly.
understand perfectly well, and
must say don't fancy the job.