Baxter Springs news. [volume] (Baxter Springs, Kan.) 1882-1919, 1903-04-18

will sit ut your right, and Mr.. Ham,
mond will take his place next to her.
I am not going to permit you and
Mr.. Hammond to monopolize each
others conversation. can trust you,
Miss Meredith, to keep Sidney and
Walter from entering into any dis
cussion of their dreary schemes for
reconstructing the universe"
The dinner went on merriiy amid
general conversation in which q
limitless number of topics were in
troduced, discussed, and dismissed.
Terrapin followed bouillon, and can
vas back ducks were served with some
rare old Burgundy. The spacious
dining halls had in the meantime be-
come crowded, and the orchestra en-
countered noisy rival in the laugh
ter and conversation which mingled
,dh a harmonious blend from hun
dreds of tables. Dainty preparations
of shell fish gave place to a salad,
followed by q glace, which Miss LIE
Roy pronounced "a dream in old
rose" While the ladies discussed
bonbons, the gentlemen lit cigars or
cigarettes, and wooed the god of Mic
otine with all the ardor which fol-
lows the enjoyment of SO sumptuous
repast.
While Miss lie Roy was energeti-
cally defending her favorite French
author from an attack unwittingly
made by Mr.. Blake, her plans so care
fully arranged at the opening of the
dinner were disrupted by Sidney
Hammond, who readily persuaded
Miss Meredith to change places with
him. Miss lie Roy smiled her seorn
when she discovered this duplicity
and PROMPTLY announced a social
boycott against the ungallant Hestor
and Hammond, who already were abb
sorbed in a quiet conversation on a
topic which seemed of special inter
est to them.
Sidney Hammond was a college
mate of Walter Hestor. He was the
stroke oar in the famous crew which
humbled the pride of the rival uni
versity. Unlike many of the athletic
heroes of the institutions of learn
ing, Hammond combined the frame of
a muscular Apollo with the brain OF
the scholar. He was even more hero
with the professors than on the cam
pus. The text and reference books
prescribed in the curriculum served
hut to stimulate his thirst for re-
search. Though abundantly able,
through the generosity of his father,
to enter into all of the pleasures OF
the gilded class, he performed the
rare feat of remaining studious re-
cluse and retaining his popularity.
During the years spent in college
he was an intellectual and physical
machine, seemingly incapable OF men
tai or bodily fatigue. The few
friends who enjoyed the privilege OF
his apartments found him the best
of hosts, with well-appointed side
board and the choicest of cigars. Ex-
cept on rare occasions Hammond did
not permit these social relaXatons to
intrude on his time, and his friends
grew to know just how long Sidney
would tolerate their company in
preference to his books.
Hestor slipped glass OF wine;
knocked the ashes from his cigar,
and extended an enameled cigar case
to Hammond.
"How long does our famous cor
respondent intend to remain in New
York;" asked Sidney Hammond. "1ts
must seem dull here after what you
have been through"
ut seems good to be here" replied
Hestor. II am going to quit roaming
around and stay in this country for
awhile. / believe there is more big
news on the tapis here than anywhere
in the world. I believe there is some
sensational news about the trusts II
it could be obtained and properly
handled"
"They are getting big enough and
bold enough to attract attention."
said Hammond. "There will be plen-
ty of news about them some day."
'How do you like the Records
leading editorial to-day?" he asked.
"The one about the big steel COM
bine, do you mean?"
eyes"
"Candidly, I cannot say I liked it."
said Hammond,' after a moments
pause, 81 suppose Williams wrote it.
1t sounded like his stuff. Williams is
q good writer, and there is no better
man on local issues, but l am afraid
the trust problem is beyond his
depth. He denounces trusts. He
might as well denounce the Galveston
disaster. He has treated The Record
readers to an entertaining but not
| novel bit of trust inyectiye. ! pre-