Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-12-28

ing Wheaton sharply with his small, keen
eyes.
Yes; he's sick" repeated Wheaton.
Hes pretty ID sick
Il suppose you mean he is very Si"s: l
don't know that it's so serious. 1 was at
the house this evening"
Comforting the daughter. doubt"
with a sheer. Now, Jim, I'm going to say
something to you and l don't want you 10
give back any prayer meeting talk. The
chances are that Porter's going to die. He
waited a moment to let the remark sink
into Wheatons consciousness, and then he
went on Il guess he won't be able to vote
his stock tomorrow. I suppose you've got it
or know where it is He eyed the bundle
on which Wheaton's hand a that moment
rested nervousiy, and Wheaton sat back in
his chair and thrust his hand into his
trousers pockets. looking unconcernedly I
Margrave.
II want that stock JIM" said the rail-
roader, quietly. land 1 want you to give 1t
to me tonight
"Margrave," said Wheaton. and it was
the first time he had addressed him.
you must be crazy or fool.
Things are going pretty well with You,
Jim," Mar2rave continued, If in friendly
canvass of Wheatonss future. You have a
good position here; when the old mans out
of the way you can marry the girl ana DE
president of the bank. It's dead easy for a
smart fellow like you. 1t would be too bad
for you to spoil such prospects right now,
when the game is all in your own hands
by failing to help a friend in trouble.
Wheaton said nothing and Margrave re-
sumed.
You're trying to catch on to this id
society business here. and l want you to do
it. 1 haven't got any objections to your
sailing as high you can. / know all
about you. l gave you your first job when
you came here"
Il appreciate all that, Mr.. Maagrave,
Wheaton broke in. You said the WORD
that got me into the Ctarkson National, ana
I have never forgotten 1t.
well, don't want you to forget IT. But
see here: AS long as l recommended you
and stood by you when you were a raU'y
little train butcher, and without knowing
anything about you except that you We're
always on hand and kept your mouth SMUT.
1 think you owe something to me. He
bent forward On his chair, which creaked
under him as he shifted his bulk. One
night las. fall just before the knights OF
Midas show, drunken scamp came into
my yard and made nasty row. was
about to turn him over to the police when
he began whimpering and said he knew
you. He wasn't doing any particular harm
and / gave him quarter and told nam 10
get out; but he wanted to talk. He said
Margrave dropped his voice and fastened
his eyes on Wheaton-'he was a long-lost
brother of yours. He was pretty drunk, but
he seemed clear on your family MS
tory, Jim. He said he'd done time once
back in Illinois. and got You out of a
scrape. He told me his name was William
Wheaton, but that he had lost it in the
shuttle somewhere and was known as Sny-
DER I gave him quarter and started him
toward Porter's. where l knew you were
doing the society act. 1 heard afterward
that he found you.
Margrave creaked back in his chair and
chuckled.
HE was an Internal liar" said Wheaton
holly. And SO you sent that scamp over
there to make row ! didn't think you
would play me trick like that" He was
betrayed out of his usual calm control and
his mouth twdtched.
Now, Jim." Margrave continued mag
unanimously, IT don't care a id about
your family connections. You're all right.
You're good enough for me. you under
stand, and you're good enough for the Por-
ters My father was a butcher and I be-
gan life sweeping out the shop and guess
everybody knows It; and II they don't like
1t they know what they can do"
Wheaton's hand rested again on the
packet before him: he had flushed to the
temples, but the color slowly died out OF
his face 1t was very still in the room,
and the Waterman could be heard walking