Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1905-03-03

He got into town late one night,
with his heart humping against his
ribs. This was living once again. He
waved away cabs, preferring to take
his chances with the old familiar foot
pads who might be lurking in the
shadow of the Adams street buildings.
He wanted to see that dear old Chica-
go river.
1t will be perceived that Dinwiddie
had it bad.
He got up the next morning with
his heart still humping against his
ribs. This was the day that he would
meet all the boys. Never again would
he depart from his Chicago charms.
Life was too short-wasn't worth liv-
ing away from home. The dear old
boys! How he longed to see them
! He ran into Holden on the train.
Holden was making his slow way
through the aisle crush to the rear
smoker. Dinwiddie laid firm hold of
him.
well, Holden!" he cried, almost
with tears. He had not been especi-
ally fond of Holden in those old days
first familiar face he had seen since
his return.
Hello Dinwiddie" returned that
young gentleman, calmly. Fine day,
Ell? So long,"
Holden was many feet past before
Dinwiddies loose jaws came together
again and he awoke from his trance.
Dinwiddie studied over the matter.
He concluded that through some
strange circumstance Holden had not
heard that he had left town even,
much less than he had come back.
This was odd. Still, it explained the
matter.
On the way to the office he ran
against Selden and had seized his
hand and was shaking it like a pump
handle before Selden saw him. well,
Selden,' he said, enthusiastically
That you, Dinwiddie?" said Selden,
in evident surprise. Dinwiddie later
had to lay the surprise wholly to the
enthusiasm of his greeting. Flows
things? Fine, cool summer, Ell? Get
ting out of town soon?"
Dinwiddie managed to mutter some
thing that passed for reply and hur-
ried on to the Office, where he buckled
fiercely down to work.
At noon he went out to luncheon.
ready for the worst 1t came swiftly
in the person of Watkins, who drop
ped into a seat across from him, and
nodded instead of speaking, for the
waiter came swiftly and Watkins was
evidently in a hurry. After he had
given his order he looked up and
spoke to Dnwiddie.
Fine day, eh?" he said.
Dinwidie nodded.
Don't know when we've had COOL
err summer" Watkins continued.
Thought I'd leave town some time
this fall, but haven't felt the need Of
it so far. You been anywehere?"
NO" replied Dinwiddie, proudly.
"Going?"
mo"
That's good" said Watkins pleas
antly, beginning on his roast beef.
"We'd miss you, Wildly, like the
deuce. All the boys would and you
know it,"
"Umph!" observed the enraged and
resentful Dinwiddie.
At the end of a week Dinwiddie sat
down one night and took inventory OF
stock on hand, SO to speak. In that
week he had met almost all his 40
quaintances. They seemed to swarm
about corners and on trains, waiting
merely to nod to Dinwiddie In pass
ing. In all that time he had met two
persons who seemed to know he had
been away or at least had missed him.
One was his manager. the man who
had sent him to Mexico in the first
place. and had ordered his recall. The
other person was his bootblack, who,
If he had not known of Dinwiddies
important international mission, at
least had missed his feet.
Dinwiddie then came deliberately
to the conclusion that Chicagos great
heart beats bit too rapidly to take
account of it's stray corpusoles and
that one citizen is Of small account In
the sum total of things.
He never mentioned Mexico in hts
conversation. Only yesterday he hap
pened to be near when the vioe-presi-
dent of the firm was trying to remem-
Der which one of the men had hand
led that Halliday matter down In
Mexico. He managed to grin over Il,
but he was a BIT sore. notwithstand-