Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1902-02-18

| stronger DetWeeu tueu Go tiLuS WeHt
on until the management Of Pendle-
toms affairs had fallen unconseiously
1t seemed, almost entirely into Wynd-
hams hands.
For these services there was no rec
ompense given or received - that Is,
there was nothing In the shape of a
stated salary. At times It was Pendle-
toms habit to deposit check for a
considerable sum to Wyndham's credit
at the bank where he kept an account.
When that had occurred several times.
always under protest from Wyndham,
Pendleton had discovered q way out Of
the dilemma.
"Look here, Craig" he said to him
one day more than a year before his
departure for Mexico. II wish that you
would do me great favor"
"I'll try, Burr. What is itp' was the
reply.
"You possess such an inexhaustible
surplus Of energy that wish ! could
induce you to devote 1t all to me-"
"HOw do you meanT"
"Why, Just come regularly into my
employ as-what is 1t that kings and
queens have about them?
"Fools principally. think I'm not
up to that, Burr"
"Keeper of the privy purse; that's
what l mean. Suppose you look out
for my accounts, pay my bills and, In
short, attend to everything for me, so
that will not have to think Of any
thing unless want to. Don't you see
sign my checks for me and attend to
the small matters Of life, so that will
not have them to think of? That Is
what want. You can do as you please
concerning salary. You can fix the
amount. subject, Of course, to my ap'
proval"-he looked away while he said
that-"or when you feel that you need
some money you can draw a check for
what you want and charge it to your
account"
Wyndham raised his head in prepa.
ration Of a protest, but for once Pen
dleton's energy got the best of him.
81 won't hear Of an objection" lie
said somewhat harshly. EITHER you
agree to my proposition or | engage
somebody else to do the work that
have asked you to do. If you are my
friend, as you pretend to be, you will
accept, but II you have any more of
your foolish ideas Of pride standing in
the way it is time that we found it out
and-quit. Either you accept or we
part here, Craig. You put me in the
position of the pleader. and have
never pleaded for anything In my life.
If did not want you, | certainly
should not ask you. II you will as
sumo the responsibility Of my affairs
and relieve me Of them entirely. in addi-
ton to the labor you will perform, you
will confer very great favor. You
ought to understand that | could not
place this responsibility upon any man
whom do not know"
The discussion was ended. The mat
ter was arranged to the mutual salts
faction of the contracting parties, and
Wyndham bccame to ali intents and
purposes the mentor Of his friend. 1t
Is true that Pendleton carried private
chcckbook of his own for personal
use In case of emergency and that n
very comfortable sum was kept to that
account: but. nevertheless. 1t had to he
in .thnr a nd thp
signature of Wyndham.
This was the state Of things when
the friends encountered each other on
the steps Of the club on the afternoon
of the arrival of Pendleton from Mexi-
co; and there were other things that
had grown out Of the arrangement
which Wyhdham longed for an oppor-
tunity to explain, but which the other
man never gave him the opportunity
to do.
There are men who carry burdens
which are never seen or suspected.
Wyndham was one Of them. Burdens
which rightly belonged to him he did
not mind. but burdens that he bore for
another oppressed him really more than
he knew. He was the most undcmon-
strative fellow in the world. Persons
for whom he felt the most profound ar
fection were the least likely OF all 9TH
ers to observe signs Of 1t, and when he
left the club that afternoon after the
unexplained departure. and In some
ways the ineXcusable negligence. OF
Pendleton 1t seemed to him that he
bore burden that 1t was next to i'm
possible for him to carry. That was
why his brow was creased with
thought, and that was also why he did
not see that pair Of dark skinned
strangers followed In his footsteps and
never once lost sight Of him until he
disappeared three hours later through
the doorway that led to the apartments
Of his friend Pendleton.
James. Pendletons valet. replied to