Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1902-04-12

'He ia club guest. SIR" replied the
waiter. 81 do not remember his name.
think, sir. that he presented his card
only yesterday"
Wyndham strolled through several
parts of the club after that, believing
that he might encounter Pendleton,
and at last, convinced that he was no
longer In the house, he applied at the
desk. only to be told that Mr.. Pendle-
ton had gone out more than an hour
before and had left no word.
''Tell him when he returns" said
Wyndham. that found 1t impossible
to wait longer, but that will keep the
appointment for tonight"
he stood near until the clerk made
the memorandum, and then. with knit
ted brows and thoughtful mien, he
took his departure.
The relations between him and Pen
dleton were twofold In character. They
had been intimate friends since the
day of their first meeting at college,
and when years afterward wyDdham's
fortunes had not proved to be all that
he expected he became by adaptation
more than through engagement a sort
OF alter ego for his rich friend. Pendle-
ton was tall and dark and. as he fire.
quently admitted, lazy. wyndham was
big and fair, somewhat uncouth when
In juxtaposition with his more elegant
friend. possessed OF prodigious strength
and tireless energy. Thus 1t naturally
came about that he did things for
Pendleton, and this relation grew
stronger between them as time went
on until the management of Pendle-
toms affairs had fallen unconsciously.
it 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 a 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 a way out of
! the dilemma.
[ Look here. Craig" he said to him
one day more than a year before his
/ departure for Mexico. 81 wish that you
would do me great IA or"
/ ''Tn try, Burr. What Is itY' was the
reply.
/ ''YoU possess such an inexhaustIble
surplus OF energy that wish | could
induce you to devote it all to me-"
| How do you meanY'
( why. just come regularly into my
employ as-what is it 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
".=S unless 1 want to. Don't you see
sign my checks for me and attend to
the small matters of life, so that I will
not have them TO think Off That Is
what 1 want. You can do as you please
concerning salary. You can fix the
amount, subject, OF course, to my APP
provar'-he looked away while be 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 n protest, but for once Pen
dletOn's energy got the best OF him.
II 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 I
have asked you to do. III you are my
friend, as you pretend to be, you will
accept, but IL you have any more OF
your foolish ideas of pride standing in
the way ii Is time that we found IL out
and--quit. Either you accept or we
part here, Craig. You put me In the
position OF the pleader, and 1 have
never pleaded for anything In my life.
If did not want you, certainly
should not ask you. II you viii as
sumo the responsibility OF my affairs
and relieve me OF them entirely, in addl-
ton to the labor you Will perform, you
Will confer a very great favor You
ought to understand that I 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 became to all intents and
purposes the mentor OF his friend. 1t
is true that Pendleton carried private
checkbook OF his own for personal
use in case OF emergency and that n
very comfortable sum was kept to that
account; but nevertheless, II had to be
drawn from the other one and over the
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 Next
CO; and there were other things that
had grown out Of the arrangement
which Wyndham longed for an oppor-
tunity to explain, but which the other
man never gave him the opportunity
to do.
I There are men who carry burdens
which are never seen or suspected.
AWyndham was one of them. Burdens
(which rightly belonged to him he did
mot mind, but burdens that he bore for
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