The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 18??-1935, 1905-08-04


aard, for at the outset h admitted hs
had failed completely. There w2s no
necessity for dscefving himself II
snd his easT-chair had solved many.
another puzzle. remedied many anothaI
mistake. 1t was ten o'clock-stii.
early in the evening for Joshua h2r-
ian. He rang the bell, ordered tae
butler to bring whisky aded SEA- anu
then dismissed hin fer TIE sight
Mr.. Harlan filed a long eless' yifA
whisky and soda and began wor1ins
at the problem.
Who and what was this Eeanard,
ANYWAY A man who had found his
business prepared and ready for his
hand. who had never had to work his
way up or experience setback and
failure. 1t had all been such plain sail
ing that he had had leisure to theorize
and indulge his theories. e1ztkAnsg his
worzmen and playing with economic
nostrums until the sentimentalist in
him was satisfied and his self-sufl-
cheney complete. Let him experience
one year Of real competition with no
nonsense about it, and the superior
smile would be on the other SIDE OF
his mouth. Perhaps Trundell could be
made to see this yet, and. if so, the
amateur economist might have his pet
theories tested and his cut-and-dried
systems disarranged in way he little
dreamed of. He had been inclined to
work with rather than against young
Kennard, but if that individual
thought the man who engineered the
Milling Companies deal ridiculous"
it was plain they were an ill-assorted
couple If
Mr.. Harlan started as he. heard the
doof-beH ring. and realized as he rose
to answer the summons for the first
time in ! ~ years he had worked
himself into quite temper.
The butler had not yet retired, and
when bis master reached the hall the
man handed him card with the namr
Peter McMannis printed in flourished
script.
SHOW him in and then go to bed,
Perkins. III close ''p."
Mr.. Harlan threw himself into his
chair with a muttered oath, lit cigar
and picked M the evening paper. He
was still reading when his visitor was
ushered in, and curt nod was all the
greeting he voUchasfed.
But McMannis seemed unabashed by
the lack of welcome. He nodded in re-
turn. and while the servant moved
about the room arranging the cigars
and glasses, he stood with his back to
the fire strolSing his black mustache.
which had acquired an oily look and
dropping curl at either end. His
hair. which was plastered in little
scallops over his forehead and deeply
parted from the back of his head, bore
evidence Of the cheap BARRIERS maniD-
ulstion. The whole appearance of thu
man had undergone a TRANSFORMATION
since his last visit Every we.sll line
in his face showed plainly, and his
rough, coarse features had been tenn
pered until his whole personality
rairly reeked with brutal yulgarity.
We'll. JOSH" he began affabIy. as
the butler closed the door. you don't
seem glad to see me-"
Didn't | tell you not to call here
again."
The answer came from behind Mr..
Harlan's newspaper.
$50 you did But what's the diff?
don't come at reception hours or ask
to meet your daughter. do IT,
Mr.. Harlan slapped mis- paper to-
gether and smashed it down upon the
table.
"You must be drunk" he muttered
McMnnis laughed.
Damned if don't think I am" he
retorted, "but you're the winner by it
this time"
He stepped toward his host as he
spoke and tossed roll of bills upon
the table.
What's that?"
"The 80 plunks owe you. Don't
faint, old man. They're the genuine
green"
Then you got"
ELECTED? Sure, Mike. don't
promise to pay you all | owe you. |
don't even know what it is, but | said
I'd give up this. and. hell--it was
worth it to see you jump"
McMannis helped himself to a cigar,
bit the end off, and spat 1t out in a
sputter of laughter
Mr. Harlan glanced suspiciously at
the man, slowly gathered up the bills,
and stuffed them into his pocket with
out a word
Then he leaned forward, relit his
cigar over the lamp, and sat staring
at his visitor
you got good job?"
The words were statement rather
than an inquiry.
Eyes, better than | expected. and
we might have a drink on it" he
added, cycling the bottles with grin.
What is it,"
Whisky, of course"
Mr.. Harlan's face relaxed for an IN
slant, but became rigid again as he
pushed the bottles forward.
Il meant what job did you get. !
aought you'd quit drinking"