Savannah courier. (Savannah, Tenn.) 1885-1979, 1898-03-18
nORhCf hnntSLEI VACnELL.
Copyright, 1866, b. J, B. Llppincost Col

ever, amused herself at my expense
upon several occasions. | 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 Blu
charest-an enchanting voyage-tray-
eled across Norway in Il cariole, and
skated through Holland. Finally | set
tied down in London to is months hard
work as journalist.
But the tramp fever was in my veins,
and the daughters of Themis had tan
gled skein to upravel. 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-some of them
not paid for--I had done no work. But
! carried good letters of introduction,
had accumulated plenty OF material,
and confronted the future with grin
upon my face.
In this mood, looking at the world
through rose-colored goggles, | sat
down to breakfast upon the morning
succeeding my arrival at the Acropolis,
and picked up the morning paper.
was carelessly scanning its columns,
when the following advertisement met
my eye:
"Wanted-A young, strong, healthy
man, graduate of universitypreferred,
who must be an athlete, scholar, and
gentleman. Large salary to right
man. Apply Omega, between the
hours of ten and eleven, at the Consoli-
dated savings bank"
Reading these lines, l speculated
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 be
amusing to present myself between the
hours of ten and eleven at the Consoli-
dated savings bank.
Accordingly | did so.
1t was the qualification of an absurd
whim (unless we take into considera-
ton the daughters of Thems), but it
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.
"The San Francisco youth" said l,
"must be singu!arly modest"
admirable Crichtons," he rejoined,
"are scarce us black tulips. Do under
stand, sir, that you are an applicant"'
Up to this moment had not consd-
cred this very obvious question. None
the less l replied promptly: yes"
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 he returned, after
an absence of ten minutes, his smile
was still more acccntuated.
"Omega," he murmured, sis in the
presidents private room. Kindly fol-
low me-"
obliged him, and found myself in
fating my chest and squaring my
shoulders. Upon such occasions man
wishes to cut as fine a figure as pos
s.ble, and I'll confess that the enigmatic
smile of the cashier piqued me not a
little. Feeling that l had embarked
upon q FOOLS errand, ] followed my
guide down a corridor and into hand
| some room.
At n large desk was a small man,
out of whose dried-up, wrinllled, pock-
marked face CLEANED a remarkable
pair of eyes. The owner of these
waved me TO chair. bowed and sat
down.
"Mr.-"
"Alpha."
"Mr. Alpha, let me give you my
card"
Upon it was engraved a we'll
known name-Mark Gerard. | has
tened to return the compliment.
"Ah-Livingston. Yes, yes; son OF
Hugo Livingston?"
II am"
university man"'
"Yale."
"An athlete"
81 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
me sharply, stroking the while an inn
perial which sprouted sparsely upon q
pointed chin.
"Aud your scholarship, sir?'
II must refer you to the faculty"
lie grunted approval.
"How are you fiXed-financially?"
1.-TWO hundred and fifteen dollars ant
thirty-fve cents makes up the SUI
total of my capital"
"Ahem. and a stranger to our city
Well, Mr. Livingston" te chucklct
softly, "Ill strain point ard be per
fectly frank with you. 1t happen.
that | can use young man like your
self if--if he be prepared to encounter
danger--I say dange.--in my service
Does the wc-d danger daunt you"
"Not particularly"
"I'm willing to pay the right mci
$4,000 a year"
"And The nature Of the service, M
,Ie,ard?"