Santa Fe new Mexican. [volume] (Santa Fe, N.M.) 1898-1951, 1899-09-15
A MUTUAL FRIEND.

Howard. desiring to bring Ferguson
and Walker into a fellowship like that
Of Damon and Pythias, set them so far
apart that oceans roll between them and
deserts parch and bake. This is, of
course, a figure Of speech, for Ferguson
and Walker both live in Chicago, where
there are no oceans or deserts.
But the feeling of loathing which has
risen up to separate these two men whom
Howard had hoped to make firm friends
accomplishes the purpose Of desert and
ocean and mountain chain too. And yet
the two men have met but once, and
then only to say How dye do?"
Howard lives in Pooatello, Ida. TO
Pocatello a year ago went Ferguson,
%journeying IN some affair connected
with the railroad company which pays
him we'll for knowing intricate and hid.
den things about the transportation bust
ness. Ferguson was in Pocatello TO.
two weeks. 1t vas a gloomy sort of ex.
lie, and but for the presence Of Howard,
whom he met on the first day of his Wis.
it, he would have suffered horrible
pangs and gripings Of lonesomeness, but
Howard, bright, entertaining and all
informed, was as a wellspring Of hap.
piness and made the railroad mans stay
in the sunburned regions Of Idaho a
pleasant vacation, and when Ferguson
was ready to leave Howard said to him:
"Now, old man, I want you to be
sure and meet my friend Walker. It's a
shame that two such splendid fellows
should live in the same town and be
strangers. I've written a letter of intro.
duction, and you just walk around to
his place when you get back to Chicago
and go out and take one on me. You'll
like Walker and he'll like you"
Ferguson thanked Howard with an
easy conscience, for he, too, thought it
would be pleasant to meet one whom
Howard recommended for his worth
Then he returned to Chicago.
The letter of introduction nestled in
his pocket for a month, quite forgotten.
At the expiration of that time Ferguson
received a note from Howard. who
wanted to know something about a
business matter which they had discuss
ed in Pocatello. AS postscript Howard
added the question:
"You have seen Walker, of course!
Great fa11ow isn't he2n
walker, Walker-let me see,' Fer.
guson unused. "Who in thunder is
Walker? Oh, yes. That fellow I have
the letter of introduction to. Well, I
really must call OF him."
The same mail which bore the mis-.
sive to Ferguson also carried one to
Walker. Howard, among other things,
wrote these words: "You remember
Ferguson, whom I asked you to call up.
onp What do you think of him? He's
the right sort, isn't hep
by George" Walker cried on read.
ing Howard's letter, "he did ask me to
drop in on somebody named Ferguson,
to whom he had given a letter for pres
entation to me. And I've clean forgot.
ten it. Wonder where the mans to be
foundF' He examined the directory's
list of Fergusons, and then, with some
show Of disappointment, said to him
self: "Pshaw! His office is down 10
the Grand Central station, three miles
away. Well, next time I'm over that
way I'll STOP" Then he called for his
s~tenographer and dictated a letter tell.
ing Howard that he had enjoyed his
visit with Ferguson immensely.
Two weeks afterward Ferguson re
oeived further documents from Pocatel
10.
"The matter you were examining in
TO-" Howard wrote, turns out to be q
pretty good thing. and I'd advise you to
hang on to it. I'll keep you posted on
developments. I'll not let them fool
you. By the way. what do you think Of
Walker' You haven't told me-"
Thunder and lightning!" Ferguson
uttered, II ought to have called on
Towards friend a month ago. Here he
is doing me all kinds Of good turns out
el1cIO al i OCdU014O dAu i AhVOu v 8IdUI'
tude enough to go and meet the man be
asked me to-" He would have rushed
out forthwith to m with Walk.
er, only he saw that the directory locat.
ed the man away of on the North Side.
"Ill take that letter around to him
nex. week, " said Ferguson.
He did not, however. He promptly
forgot all about Walker until a fort.
night passed and information came
from Pocatello that ''the property is up
20 per cent in value Give my respects
to Walker the next time you see him
Next time I see him." Ferguson re.
peated. Lets SEE. Did I say I had al
ready met him? I guess I must have
tolI Howard something like that, Well,
I'll have to lie it out on that line if it
takes all summer" So he answered
Towards letter by saying that he and
Walker had together seen q play the
night before and had had a most nor
mously good time. He ever repeated