The diamond drill. (Crystal Falls, Iron County, Mich.) 1887-1996, 1899-10-28
6 NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.,
: Lies Possibilities :
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IL WAS at the Waldorf-Astoria dur
ing horse show time, and the din
ner hour, the busiest time of the whole
day at that wonderful hosiery.
Uniformed attendants flew here and
there in breathless haste, walters and
''omnibusses" lowered distractedly
about the fower-bedecked tables in the
grand dining salon and the palm gar
den, and through the rich corridors
flowed a ceaseless stream of elegant
women in trailing silken gowns and
prosperous-loolling men in Tuxedos or
swallow-tail coats cut To reveal dazzling
segments of shirt front.
The riot OF luxury, feasting and en-
joyment was at its height when two
men met in the ofiice-two men of 40
or Whereabouts, with that indefinite air
of self-conscious power that marks the
successful business man.
by the gods, il il isn't Ned Frink! =
exclaimed the taller of the two, stop
ping suddenly with outstretched hand.
"Teller!" cried the other, joyfully,
selling the proffered hand. 'J'm glad
10 see you, old mani"
In another moment the two, seated
in couple Of big throne-like leather
chairs which the Astor millions have
provided for the purpose of at once
comforting and impressing the hotel
patrons, and were giving an account
of themselves in true American fashion.
They had not seen each other since
i5years before they had separated after
four years OF intimate companionship
at a fresh-water college to go out and
seek their fortunes, after the impetu-
GUS foshion of western youth.
you have prospered, hear" said
Trink, land have become an out-and-
out New Yorker in fact and senti-
ment."
"Oh, I've had my ups and DOWNS" re-
piled Teller, with little laugh, "but
I'm on top now. AS for being a con-
frmed New Yorker, well, Mrs. Teller,
like most eastern women, doesn't care
for the west. We've never even done
the conventional trip to California. She
prefers crossing the pond when we
travel"
In the last words was all the com
placency of the man who has had
hard fight OF II and won, but Franl,
easily forgave the little touch of van
ity He had been through ii all him
self.
"Then. there's Mrs. Teller he said,
smiling.
"Oh, yes, and Jack Teller the sec
ond," replied the other. You must
see that boy, Ned"
81 want to-" said Frfnk, but some
thing wistful in his voice struck his
friend.
"Ard YOU" he asked, quickly. Sure
lyyou've not remained single, my boy?"
"Ive never married." was the brief
reply.
'Why, you're the very fellow TO have
. romance. | should think" went on
Teller. "You used to be sentimental
chap at college, always writing verses
and all that"
Frank laughed.
Eyes, / had my romance" he said.
'Well, I'm sorry il doesn't seem to
have had a happy ending" said Teller,
sincerely. "a wife is n great help to
a man. I'd like 10 tell you before you
meet her" he went on, bending for
ward earnestly, what mine has done
Tor me. She's made man OF me and
proved that was worth the job. She's
been more than n wife 10 me. She's been
my good, honest, loyal chum. There
are not many men who can say that
Of their wives"
mo, fancy not" assented Frink,
smiling.
Its wonderful the understanding
she had OF the ways man feels, an in
experienced girl like her" proceeded
the other. "You see she was stenog-
sapher in our Office when / first ret
her, and fell in love with her at frst
sight. almost. I'd made little pile,
and when we were married / thought
things were coming pretty much my
way. But hard times settled i'm and |
lost everything. For a long time IL was
hard work 10 get bread and butter, but
that girl stood by me through thick
and thin. When / was sick for year
with rheumatism she went back TO of
flee work and kept me and the boy with
what she earned. with never word
OF complaint or regret through IL all.
tell you, my boy, she's got the stun
iu her that heroes are made of. Good
ness knows where she got IL, that cour-
age of hers. never asked her about