The Corvallis gazette. [volume] (Corvallis, Or.) 1862-1899, 1898-10-14
A DAPPER little man, with

~ silky, yellow mustache wnien
Il n curled up jauntily at the ends
came out and closed the door softly
behind him.
"Mr. Hardacre says he will see you
In few minutes. VIII you be seateoF
and the little man turned and began TO
rustic the papers on his desk as II ne
were very busy indeed.
Willis Everett dropped down IN
chair close to the railing, fused with
his hat and watched for Judson Hard
acres door to open. He thought 1t
was rather cold reception for IN uncle
to give his nephew, and vet his mother
had warned him what to expect.
''Your uncle Judson," she had said,
SIS very much devoted to his business.
He has never in his life had time to
give to his friends, and people say that
he is crusty and hard-hearted, but am
sure that my brother Judson has as
kind a heart as any man living, If only
you can reach it.''
Willis had come to his uncle as last
resort. He had just finished his junior
year in college, and he knew that the
completion of his course would depend
on his own earnings during the sum-
mer. His father had been able to sup
ply him with money, although not SO
Hberally as he really needed, for the
first three years Of his college life, but
hard times had ruined his business, and
It was all he could do to pay rent and
grocers' bills, not to mention the pro-
vision Of clothing for the younger ahil-
dren.
81 want to see you finish up with your
Glass;" he said to Willis, "but 1t Is out
of the question for me to furnish the
money. You will have to get out and
see what you can do for yourself"
And Willis had tried his best to get
position. But he found that he was
compelled to compete in this struggle
for an opportunity to make q living
with men older and more experienced
than himself, who knew better what
the employers required. One man said
he would take Willis on trial, but he
couldn't pay him anything for a few
months; another said he had position,
but he wished to give it to man who
had intended to remain with him per-
manently and work up in the business.
And so they all put him off, and now he
was watching for the door Of his uncle's
private office to open.
He had not seen his uncle in several
years. He remembered the last meet
ing without any exuberance Of pleasure.
Uncle Judson had called on his mother
one afternoon, and he had come in
warm and excited from tennis game.
whats that thing you have got in
your hand?" his uncle asked, after his
mother had presented him.
"Why, a tennis racquet"
'Sarah, can't you teach your children
to go into better business than david
ing around in white trousers with toy
batT'
Even as Willis thought of 1t now, he
felt his cheeF IS tingle with mingled
modification 3ad anger.
''Mr. Harfscre Is ready to see you,"
sa|~Jne dapper little man.
= Willis stepped quietly into the pri-
vate office. He saw his uncle at hand
some roll-top desk and glaring at him
from under his shaggy, gray brows.
He had square, lean face, with de-
termined chin, and his hair was coarse
and gray.
"Wel, sir"
81 am in search of work." said Will
lis, somewhat falteringly; "my father
can't supply me with money for my
last year in college, and unless earn 1t
can't CO."
'That's just what I told your mother
before she married Everett. Now that
he has got a family Of boys he can't
educate them. But she wouldn't listen
to any Of my advice"
The hot blood surged into Willis
face. He couldn't bear this reference
to his hard-working, noble-minded faith
er, who had sacrificed everything in
order that his boys might have their
schooling.
my father has done the best he
could" Willis said, hotly, "and I can't
listen to anything against him. If you
have nothing 1 can do" and Willis
turned and started toward the door
with his shoulders thrown back.
"There, there" said his uncle, with
the trace Of a grim smile curling his
lips; well let that drop. You say you
want work-what can you doT'
'I'm just out Of college," Willis said,
sand I'll have to do most anything ]
can get to do"
81 suppose you are well up In tennis
and football and leaping the pole, and
all that sort of thing"
eyes, SIR" responded Willis, tempt
ed again to turn and leave the room.
"Well, don't happen to have any OF
those things in my business. You
know I'm not engaged in the manufac
ture and sale of lumber. It's very pro
saic-you can't wear white trousers
might get soiled."
Willis kept his temper, although ev
cry one of his uncle's words stung him
to the quick.
81 understand all that" he said, "an6
I am willing to do anything from wood.
saving up that will enable me to save
a little money" .---
"Wood-sawing, eh?" said Judsor
Hardacre, and the grim smile agar
curled his lips. 'Let me see you
hands" .
Willis held out his hands-they were
certainly rather small and white, al
though tennis playing had worn a few
hard callouses on the right palm.
81 thought so," said Uncle Judson
"tennis hands, eh?"
.sThey may be soft now, but I assure
you, Uncle Judson, am not afraid O.
any kind of work which will help mt
finish my course"
At the sound Of the unfamiliar words
"Uncle Judson," Judson Hardacre
glanced up sharply, and then he said
ro4bor moro ur11ff1v than before.