The San Francisco call., 1903-09-27

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had come into her serene, smiling life
when she saw that her frst-born, Jack,
had in inheriting her strong mental fiber
inherited her calm determination to rule
where he reigned. When at an early age
he came into contact with the men In
charge of the Worthington interests and
they undertook TO train him into the re-
spectacle figurehead required as a con-
sistent successor of his father they were
surprised to see him show good-natured
purpose quite in his mothers manner. to
learn whatever he should know to equip
himself to be the real head of the Worth
ington interests. His mother rejoiced to
see that her son was to redeem the af
fairs OF the family into the family hands.
The crumpled rose leaf which disturbed
the serenity of her repose was that her
husband was but ward in the hands Of
men who took only perfunctory pains to
make a show Of treating him otherwise
than as a piece OF Office furniture.
Jack-JOhn Worthington Jr.-had taken
a lively interest in the quiet preliminary
plans under way for the formation of a
great consolidation of iron industries, in
which Worthington capital was to be
largely invested, but the final plans Of
which were being delayed by the failure
TO secure an important piece Of mining
land owned by man named Isaac Bun
ton. An interest opposing the Worthing-
tons had offered Bunton a large sum for
the land, and since then both sides had
tried without success to secure It, or bring
Bunton into the deal. The village coal
and iron merchants actions had puz-
zled both sides in the rivalry. He was
discovered to be a shrewd fellow but it
was not thought that he fully realized
how important ii was TO the promoters
of the deal that, before its perfection,
they should have control Of that partic-
ular ore body. The fact was that, with
out its control by the Worthington COM
bination. a rival would always be threat
ening; and with its control a successful
rivalry would be impossible. Only the
two interests struggling for the leader
ship in the proposed combination had in
formation that the Bunton land was in
truth, the center of q deposit of rich and
easily mined ore, proved to be so by Sc
cTet developments on all sides of it, of
which Bunton himself could have no ex-
act knowledge. Why, then, would he not
sell?
first appearance in the editorial rooms of
the Morning Chronicle Jack Worthington
told his father and mother the story OF
his latest failure to bring Mr.. Bunton to
terms. Hes q curious chap" said Jack,
cor rather he is curiously minded about
this land of his. In other things he seems
to be a straightforward sort Of fellow"
His mother, who had seemed to be but
slightly interested in the details of the
story. looked up now with a sudden in
terest and repeated "Straightforward? ?"
did I say straightforward" her son
asked. 81 might have said common
place"
You might have said Hoboken," she
said, smiling, "but what you did say was
straightforward. I'm dreadfully disap-
pointed for your sake. Jack. l hoped
you'd make a success of this-believed
you would She was silent for moment
and then said with the conviction of
voice and manner that women use only
when they have formed an opinion intui-
lively: "Then Mr.. Bunton is dishonest" !"
Nonsense Mani This from the SEN
for Worthington. Mr.. Bunton is-he is
is a man of-of property"
Then of course he can't be dishonest, -
she said, laughing good-naturedly at him.
"Pd like to see the honest gentleman"
81 was about to tell you" Jack said.
''They are In town, and they enter
tained me out there you must call on
them"
them, Jack: how many Of them?''
''Mr and Mrs. and Miss Bunton-"
Like what for instance"
Personally? Oh, father and mother
like any one you'd meet anywhere.
Mother a quiet, well hammered woman,
somewhat disciplined by daughter, 1
should saw. Was a schoolma am, / seem
to have heard. Pa Bunton, rather nerv-
Gus chap; seems to like to have his wom-
en- going 1t socially-in a White River
way"
"And the daughter?"
eyes. the daughterw Joined in Mr..
Worthington with awakened interest.
1.-The daughter?-oh, she's a-why, she's
a girl"
in pretended amazement. Il rather fan
cied her being boy"
.rWen. she's-let me see." Jack said.
puckering his brows She's decidedly a
good locker"
GOOD locker? What's the English for
that?" asked his mother, raising her
brows.
IT thought, mamma dear. that you
might know the song in which the soul
ful line occurs: She's a corking good
lookeri See? But of course, If you only
speak English, and know no Manhattan
ese-"
Please. Jackr'
'Wen. then: Miss Bunton has two
rather large blue eyes with which she is
not at all afraid to look at you-meaning
any one-with assurance. She has hair
which. as i recall, was of a fuffiness.
She sings the songs Of Broadway with a
dash quite surprising to hear in White
River; and generally tangles the hearts of
the SWANS Of them parts, as the poet
says, in a manner sad to contemplate;
and
II think that will do, his mother inter-
rupted hopelessly.
lis this young person of a marriage
able age?" asked his father solemnly.