Columbia courier. [volume] (Kennewick, Wash.) 1902-1905, 1903-08-28


Clerk" of 1.-THE Belle Of the West"
Those were the days when the Yates
fortune was represented by three fig
ures, and during those river trips he
had laid the foundations for the pros
perity which now ran into eight fig
ures.
They reached Memphis at night, but
he insiested upon glimpse of the ma
jestic sheet of swirllng, yellow water.
1t was like meeting an old friend. he
declared, and, with Edith's arm held
close to his side, he added:
Il never realized how tired l was un-
til I got within sound of my old
friends voice"
The next morning they went on
board the Valley Queen. Yates thrill
ed as his foot touched the deck. He
walked briskly to the little window
on the saloon deck and exclaimed:
"A1r Clerk, l want two of your best
rooms to New Orleans"
A blue-coated figure came close to
the window, a strong, masculine hand
which made Mr.. Yates start answered.:
1.-The best two on board, Mr.. Yates,
and l hope you will find your trip
with us most pleasant and comfort
able"
Mr.. Yates glanced wildly toward the
shore. 1t was slipping away from
them. They were in mid-stream-and
the man at the window was Allen
Houston.
Retreat was impossible Graceful
capitulation was Inevitable. Yates put
out his hand.
Thereafter he divided his time be-
tween the deck, which he paced with
his daughter, telling her lively yarns
Of his own days as river-boat clerk,
and the Office where he shared Hous-
toms preoccupation with his duties.
There was something familiar about
1t all-the pleasant familiarity which
takes 10 years off a mans shoulder.
And Houston understood the work,
just as Yates had understood 1t years
before. Where he had started, Hous-
ton was starting.
Some times watching his daughters
face, he wavered. But no; It was i'm
possible. His own case had been ex-
ceptionaL. All river-boat clerks could
not be millionalres, and Houston was
merely of good, upstate family,
without social standing In the world
where Mammon ruled
Yet Mr.. Yates found himself watch
ing young Houston curiously. He
wasn't half bad, this college-bred
youth, who could dispatch office duties
with ease, placate patrons who fret
ted at the slow method of travel, and
In an emergency could tell the deck
hands more things about their ances
try than Yates had dreamed Of In
his own river life
They had quit the bluffs, and cotton
had given way to cane and rice. In
few hours they would touch at New
Orleans. The deck hands had all been
paid of. save for the dollar which In
sured their aid In tying the boat to
the dock.
The clerks duties were over, his pa
pers In shape, and the last landing
made. Mr.. Yates met him On the sa-
loon deck, and remarked, Lets go be-
low and watch those darkies lose all
their money"
The old life had him in its clutches.
Down below they went Away In
the stern the engines pounded. To-
ward the bow the furnaces glowed.
Between the two, roustabouts had
gather to gamble their earnings. Some
of the negroes were already penniless.
Others were flushed and excited by
their gains.
Yates watched the scene for an hour,
laughing at the apt remarks of the
gamblers. Wall street was forgotten.
Social ambitions died within him He
was again In Aliens place, clerk
without a future, without great hopes.
Suddenly he turned:
MAN, they are happier than I have
dared be since stood where you are
to-day. am wondering whether 1t is
worth while-the struggle, the knock
out blows one must give and take
Mother Mississippi has been talking to
me. Houston; scolding me In her own
way. Edith told me once that money
was not all and l reckon she is
right. At any rate, You may ask her
If she gtill believes that If she does,
I won't stand between you"
An hour later the boat slipped
around the crescent, past the coal
docks and the fruit docks to the
Ievees. The rush of the water and
the rudely melodlous voices Of the
negroes singing at their work. mingled
| ,vitb n strange harmony,