The Morris County chronicle. [volume] (Morristown, N.J.) 1877-1915, 1903-09-11
CHATTER XII.
'THE DESIRE or THE MOTH FOR TIE
STAR"

LQdGG Il great SUI u6NSI Ia VIC
been able to trace the ways by
which it got into print, but
within thirty-six hours the newspapers
seemed to be full of it.
/ should not have regretted very Sc
riously the publication of the exact
facts, but the controversy which re-
suited was somewhat annoying. Don
aid suffered, but he bore it well. He
was beset by interviewers and persons
with cameras; all sorts of absurd tests
were proposed to him; he received let
tiers from many serious minded inves-
tigators and a multitude of cranks, and
there were several proposals from the
atrical managers who wished to exhibit
him. The photographers secured plen-
ty of snapshots, but the interviewers
were obliged to depend upon their own
imaginations, for Donald would not say
word to any of them.
All Tunbridge became a debating So
ciety, though there was far less skep-
ticism than should have expected.
My main concern Is with the attitude
of two persons both of whom were
witnesses of the manifestaions-I re-
fer to Bum and Kelvin.
The effect upon Jim Bum was most
remarkable. | may truthfully say that
he was never the same man afterward
He had been profoundly impressed.
Upon Kelvin the effect was peculiar
1 will wager all possess that he had
no more doubt originally as to the gen
uineness of the manifestations than |
had. Upon that night he was shaken
to his very vitals by what he saw. Yet
upon the third day afterward he told
Isaac Thorndyke, an old resident of
Tunbridge, that it was all mere trickery
Thorndyke was the most notorious
babbler who ever existed. He never
kept a secret longer than the time re-
CURED to go from the person who gave
1t into his keeping to the next with
whom he had a speaking acquaintance.
Kelvin. though a newcomer in the
town. could not have been ignorant of
this There seemed no escape from
the conclusion that he had deliberately
selected the person most likely to
spread the story broadcast
was enraged at this, and taxed
Kelvin with the SANDER. He showed
considerable backbone saying that he
had only expressed a private opinion
to an acquaintance and blaming Thorn
dyke for repeating that which had been
told In confidence. The scene between
Kelvin and myself was very unpleas-
ant, and | could not help feeling
throughout its duration that he was
secretly trying to make it worse.
In the end | said something quite
sharp to the effect that he was an un-
grateful brute who ought to be walk
ing on four feet and that, moreover. he
was the last member of the animal
kingdom that had right to accuse an
other of underhand devices and dis
honest trickery This opened the breach
once more between the Kelvin family
and my own Poor Donald! His boy
ish love affair was progressing over a
very rough road
There was some reason to regret this
quarrel which would embitter the war
for the control of the branch road,
Carl Archer had a talk with me upon
this point and suggested that it was
very unfortunate to involve Mr.. Thorn.
dyke in the quarrel because he was a
etockholder in the branch perceived
the iniqulty OF the situations but, hay
ing already given Thorndyke piece
of my mind | could hardly take II
back. However, | could not believe
that he would make this an excuse for
deserving our party, TO which he had
pledged allegiance before the incident
arose,
81 think that Donald is carrying this
matter little too far said Carl, 1T
is true that he doesn't seem to be doing
any harm, but we can't be sure that
he went, because we don't know the
motive which has led him into all this
woodworking
"Why don't you ask him?" said l.
81 wish that you would" he replied
very earnestly, Hes outside. Call
him in"
ut won't do any good" said |.
''Try it" he rejoined.
He got up on chair and looked
through the glass of the partition
which is between my room and the
main office. The glass part was once
movable, but I had it fastened perma-
nently some years ago and even added
a double sash in order to exclude more
effectually the noises from the outer
office, where many people were en-
ployed
Hes out there, talking with Tim
Healy," he said and called Donalds
name, but the partition is SO thorough.
ly impervious to sound that he was
not heard although Healy's tall desk
is directly upon the other side of it.
"I'll go out and get him." said Carl
"or you tell him when you go out
Bunn," he added TO the old cashier
who at that moment opened my door
"TeIl Donald that we want to see
him."
Bum laid paper on my desk an(
made some comment. AS he turned
to go Donald entered.
my boy" said l. "do you know
what your future father-in-law is say
ing about your
Yes" he replied cheerfully; "Mr
Kelvin thinks I'm bogus l hope he'll
be able to prove it, and then we shan
have any more trouble
At this Jim Bum laughed nervously
"What is the exact truth, DonaldT
said l.
"Well,a he answered, smiling, 9Th,
truth is that Mr. Kelvin would d,
well to wait He has seen things tina