Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1899-06-11

RASSIys JO0 h1AO W.
SILLY boy. You have knocked my
cap all on one side. Now get away
to Pengbourne and meet your tame
| millionaire, or you will be late. Ner-
vous? Really, nothing to speak Of"
Wherein Ella prevaricated, which
! was excusable under the circum-
stances. In discourse Mr.. Beck
! emerged from frst-class carriage at
Pangbourne and received a respectful
greeting from his host. The man who
| can meet millionaire on terms of
| equality has yet to be discovered. The
| lean, shambling figure lounged along
| by Cations side. Beck was less mel
ancholy than usual, and Gallon had
| tact enough not to mention business.
| They reached the houseboat at length
! and a few cigarettes were consumed
| On the road ere came the welcome an
nounceemnt of luncheon.
Ella waited deity and noiselessly.
She managed to exchange word or
two with Cation when the plutocrat
! Fortunately for Elias peace of mind
! the visitor did not appear to notice
| her at all. Like most of his country
men, he had good and rabid appetite,
and at the end of the repast he was
/ lain to confess that he had luncheQ
well.
''Cne gets SO tired of these big
/ feeds he said, lighting a cigar cost
/ ing something like half-a-crown per
inch. Upon my word, Gallon, you're
better off than l am.
IF l could persuade my creditors
the same thing" Cation said, dryly,
it would be a source of mutual happi-
ness
! Money does not mean happiness"
/ Beck remarked, sententiously.
Perhaps not; but you can have
precious little fun without it. l don't
suppose you would like to live upon
&400 year, earned fitfully, as l do. I"
We'll, it don't amount to pile, and
that's fact. A smart fellow like you
ought to do a great deal better than
that"
Il dare say ought to, but don't"
"And that's why you require an edi-
torship?"
Precisely. A regular income re-
lieyes one from deal Of anxiety, and
that means better work. It's all very
we'll for fools to talk about the spur of
adversely, but what's the use of spur
ing laden horse?"
Beck nodded. This kind of philos-
ophy was after MS own heart
Il have been making a good many
inquiries about ye," ne said, land We
seem to be just the man I want Shines
isn't. He's groovy and intolerant of
new ideas. I'm not going to promise
anything definite yet. In the course of
few weeks you shall hear from me-"
Cation smiled as pleasantly as pos
5ible All the same he id not like it.
Also he knew that Shines was leaving
Beck almost Immediately. And he had
counted upon this appointment more
than he knew.
Then Beck took up the thread Of
conversation again.
Il dare say you have often heard me
spoken of as a peculiar man." he SAID
We'll, l am. People in my position see
a good deal of the sordid side of life
and we could form corner in human
nature if necessary. II / figure man
up and like him I'm his friend till he.
passes the tape, you bet, For all |
say it, perhaps, who shouldn't, it's no
bad thing for young man to come to
me-"
THAT is why | am so anxious to
come" Cation responded.
AT $500 year" said Beck, drily.
Now, where the deuce"
The speaker paused and looked help
lessly at his right hand. Gallon motto
ed that the big intaglio was no longer
there.
Guess I've lost my ring" Beck said,
resignedly. Il wouldn't have done
such thing for thousand. That
ring, sir, belonged to Francis the First
of France, and was given by him to
Vittoria Colonna. l knew it would slip
off my finger one OF these days, and
now it has" ~
Then it's on the boat" Cation exclaim-
ed, because I'm prepared to swear that
it was on your finger when we were
smoking our cigarettes before luncheon.
noticed how p,ainly the head showed up
in the sunshine
That's a fact, Mr.. Cation"
I'm prepared to take my oath to It
anywhere
Beck considered a moment and then a
shrewd smile crossed his face. He looked
like a man who was having joke at his
own expense.
Il guess you are right" he said. 81
could tell you the price that Centrals'
stood this day twelve months. but for