Western liberal. (Lordsburg, N.M.) 1887-1919, 1900-08-03
H BLESSING
OF jim ROBBINS.
Under an Inspiration ne
Distinguished Himself.
by W. n. ROSE.


Spencer Clifford was quite too ready
to admit that be was just an average
e. { OF fellow. That was really all he
cared TO be. What he could do he did
fairly well, but he did Just ms little as
was decently possible. AZ college he
had gone In a little for athletics. and
made a very crcditable record, but he
Hhrank from anything really brilliant.
lie was q good scholar. too. but was
quite willing TO rank with the intellcc-
tual second raters. When he left col
iege, he went abroad and dawdled
about In an nlmless way. and came
home with few Impressions that he
cared 10 mention. Then he went In
Tor society. and there seemed to be
reasonably contented. Society amused
him and wasn't too exacting. Society
coddled him; he was young, handsome,
clever and rich.
And yet he would admit that he felt
a little conscience stricken when Anna
Goldic gravoly asked him one day
about his future hopes. There was a
look In her eyes that he didn't like
when he laughed Off the query. 1t set
him to thinking, and thinking was 10
occupation he rarely INDUCED In.
Thinking almost disquicted him. lie
avoided Anna Goldie for a time. and
found that was still more dlsqulctlng.
And then just as he was thinking he
would invite another talk with her on
the original dIsquieting subject she
suddenly went away. She went, they
told him. to visit an invalid aunt In the
interior Of the state. She might be
gone some time. II was more a visit
OF duty than OF pleasure. and It's con
tInunnce would depend altogether upon
the failing health OF the aunt. In what
part Of the stnte did Miss Goldie's aunt
live? Somewhere near Palmyra
Palmyra? That was where Jim Rob.
bins lived. food old Jim Robbins,
whom he hadn't seen since his last col
lego year. Jim was somebody down in
Palmyra. Member Of the Legislature.
or something. lie saw Jln's name In
the papers occasionally. Jim was a
rising man-
~ tho days rhre along the desire to
visit Jim grew upon him. He had o
standing invitation to come down Mt
any time. There vas a pressing note
IN his desk Of quite recent date In
which lie was told Of the treat he was
missing In not making the acQuaint-
Ance Of Jim's matchless wife and
equally matchless girls. He wondered
II Jim would know tie abiding place of
Anna Goldle's aunt. If he was a poll
tician, lie probably knew everybody.
He decided to so down at once and
make Jim a visit, md he wrote to him
TO that effect.
Then he went to the bank and called
on his father. And while he was there
his uncle Tom came In and the three
were closeted for a long time In his
fathers private room. When they
came out, his uncle Tom shook hands
with him and pattcd him on the back
in bis usual hearty fashion. And his
father shook hands with him In grave
fashion. and both The elder men seem.
ed highly clated. Spencer shook his
head a little doubtfully as he left them.
Then be braced up with a swift stiffen.
ing Of bis fingers and cliuehing OF his
hands and accelerated his pace. He
was going TO his rooms to hll his dress
suit case for the visit to Jim.
He arrived at Palmyra early In the
evening. He had meant to reach there
IN the afternoon. but the train was de.
iayed. He hadn't told Jim Just what
day he would start, and so his old
friend wasn't bOthering over his non
appearance. Spencer concluded he
would look Jim up IN the morning. Ho
went 10 the hotel and had his supper.
After supper he strolled Up to the
clerks desk and inquired about bis
friend.
"oh, Jim Robbins7' cried the clerk.
Eyes. yes. Jim is one OF our leading
citizens. Has a nice home up Oh the
West hill. He's a great hustler. Jim
Is. Going to send him to the state sen.
hte next fall. Friend OF yOurs2"
Yes" said Spencer. ian old friend
Came down TO visit him"
Tel you what you do" said tn,
clerk. Jim Ii the chairman, toast
master. whatever you call It, OF the biz
banquet at Raymond hall tonight
It's a complimentary feed given Il
honor OF Colonel Jack Speed, who Il
home for a brief Whit and everybody
prstty much, ls going. Colonel Spec,
is q congressman. you know. an,
he's In high favor 10 Palmyra Hon
Dwight Perkins from somewhere on
west, q OF the big national lights o
the house, Is TO he the speaker Of tn
occasion, and they'll have plenty to ca
and good music. Better 90 over"
A half hour later Spencer asceudel
the stairway Of Raymond hall. II
noticed q number OF ladies' In IA
crowd that steadily marched Into III
hall. and he was rather glad 10 On
that the banquet was not 70 be 81 III
usual political for msu ouly character
At the head Of the stairs be noticed
door stsndlug open. aud lookin
th-ough TITO the brightly lighted ante
goop be spw bis OLD DIepd. The lT