Lewiston evening teller. [volume] (Lewiston, Idaho) 1903-1911, 1904-03-07

neVe there is such ladder or that. ON
the contrary, people never rise above
the plane to which they are bornT'
Il do believe in the theory of the lad.
der Just as firmly as used to believe
IN my theory of gratitude" returned
Hackett
You believe in that, too, yet? I
might have thought you would have
seen it completely disproved by this
dme-two years in a newspaper Office"
said Haverly.
mo; l believe even vet that people
few at least will remember a favor. n
DIT OF self sacrifice, with gratitude and
do one a good turn occasionally"
wei, maybe they do. Light cigar
and tell me how you came to stumble
upon me here" said Haverly. pulling
the armchair close to a table and offer
ing his cigar case.
ut was pure accident. | came here
TO see Richmond. Is he at homer" in
quired Hackett.
Yes; he is busy with lawyer just
now. Can take "A message for you?
am a kind of privileged character
mere, HaNerly said, smiling,
Hackett puffed at his cigar a moment
and studied the face of his friend. Ii
was the same face. with its innocent
afectionate outlines that had arst at
tracted his attention when he met Hav
erly as boy, n tritie weak then per-
haps, but strengthened since by devel-
opment and contact with people of the
world. Hackett knew from his training
the inadvisability of telling the wrong
man of the news story he desired to Sc
cure. but he knew that Haverly had
never lied to him in his past life, and
he told him the purpose of his errand.
Haverly's face clouded.
Il judge from your being here that
you can assist me. All l want now is
to see Richmond" concluded Hackett
Harry am here visiting these peo-
pie. l received your card by mistake. |
can help you in this'-Haverly paused
but | will not" he continued. You
cannot see Richmond"
Hackett looked up, a trifie surprised.
He had met people who had talked like
this before. and then the faintest smile
traced itself across his face. 1t angered
Haverly, and his face showed it.
I'm times gone by have helped you,"
said Hackett gently.
Il know you have" returned Haver-
ly. Il might not have taken my degree
If you had not. But you don't know
what you are asking me to do We did
not know the affair had leaked out
But it has" said Hackett, with an
other hint of a smile.
Haverly instantly saw his mistake.
and his face colored with anger.
God knows it is true enough about
the old man. We may not know all the
facts. What else have you heard?" hs
asked.
LESS than I should like to know"
This time Hackett grinned little at
his friends quickly rising temper. He
noted that Haverly had not changed In
this respect since his days at Harvard
"Blame you quiet people! What
business is this Of yoursT' exclaimed
Haverly, springing to his feet. his eyes
blazing He seized a heavy paper
weight from the table and raised it TO
strike his friend.
Hackett leaped up and caught his
hand In tie air
Don't do that. Don't you remember
the river?" he asked softly. There wac
an expression Of deeply injured affes.
ton in his voice which contrasted
strongly with Haverly's violent tone
and action.
Haverly's color Redeemed with shame
even above his anger, and he allowed
Hackett to gently slip the paperweight
from his fingers. They looked at each
other steadily. The mention of the riy-
er recalled vivid memories to each Of
them.
Hackett saw a mental picture Of one
vacation time when they were camping
by river. He was standing on 1oar
at the waters edge. He saw Haverly's
face in the water ten yards away He
heard him call for help and saw him
gasp and sink. In retrospect Hackett
saw himself dive from the float, swim
away, grasp something under the wa.
ter and struggle back to shore against
a current that almost swept them both
away.
Hackett laid both hands upon Havar
ly's shoulders. and there was a ques
ton in his look. Haverly answered It |
uneasily.
81 cannot help you" he said earnest
ly and slowly shaking his head, his an-
ger vanishing as quickly as it had ap |
peared. Hacketts hands touched his !
shoulders more firmly, more affection |
ately.
II am to marry one of Richmonda
said Haverly. The story
does not concern me directly, but yoD |
cannot print it. 1t would cost Ricr.
mond more than you or | can figure !
out in money. And think of the girl"
Hackett recalled one day when he |
himself was in despair over a failui |
in a mathematical examination and
that Haverly came up behind him ana !
took his hand without a spoken WORT.