The morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1899-1930, 1906-07-31

but there was n very broad wooden
scarf around hls neck, tho fringed ends
falling almost 10 bis knees. A black
soft hat Of ancient design, more pic.
turesque than the style OF today, was
upon bis bend, and wooIen mitteng
were upon his hands. Ho removed one
Of these mlttens an I approached. aud |
observed that tho hand which he OK.
tended toward mo wns ~ white as
marble. Thus knew that he had aged
greatly since had last seen him.
Lucy told me ut our first opportunity
for word In private that her father
sat up much later than had been his
habit even upon those evenings whom
MFR. Kcrwln was not calling and TINT
be was dcvoting himself anew 10 the
study Of ponderous books, doubtless as
q means Of divcrting his attention from
worldly affairs.
After ten Mr.. Butterneld and re-
tired to his study, where we lighted
two long stemmed clay pipes, and just
as was about 10 open the subject OF
Anance Lucy came In and announced
tho arrival OF Mr.. Kerwin.
The banker was a hard featured,
sturdy man OF nfty-Gve, with d mouth
that was a perfectly straight line and
eyes capable Of extraordinary concen.
tration. 10 that his glance was not for
one's face In general. but FOR partic.
ular part Of 1.-THE tip OF the nose or
line In ones forehead. found this Pc
culiarity OF Mr. Korwln's somewhat
disquieting, yet he seemed. upon the
whole. 10 be more amiable man than
his aspect would indicate.
"As 10 this money. this new fortune
Of NINE" said the clergyman after the
banker had made my acquaintance and
had helped himself TO tobacco, my
friend has come to talk with me In re.
sponse TO letter which wrote before
you had been 80 good as 10 advise me
In regard to an Investment"
10 the money was already invested.
II was the FIRST that had heard Of
that fact.
thought Il probable that this rural
banker Of nearly twice my years would
resent my intrusion into the AFFAIR. but
I mIsjndgcd him. In the blandest man.
ner and with no further hint from Mr..
Butterfeld he proceeded 10 lay the
whole matter before me briefly. but
with exemplary clearnesa. listened
with increasing amnzemcnt. The In
vestmcnt was of speculative charac-
ter In the sense that II promised ex-
truordfnnry returns. yet II was 30
shrewdly considered and 80 wisely
based upon important private informa-
tion that could find no basis for crit.
cism. II was an opportunity such as
one may not have In lifetime. and
there was a practical certainty that
Mr.. ButterAeld would quadruple his
money within a few years. Nothing
could be more natural than that so re-
markable piece Of good fortune
should have excited this placid old
man. to whom his daughters future
had so long been the great unsolycd
puzzle.
Yet. slngularly enough, while Mr. Ker-
win was disclosing these facts TO me
the clergyman's attention wandered.
observed that he surreptltiously read
from large book which be held open
on his knee and that he was only mild.
ly interested In my approval of the In
vestment.
II am satisfied, quite satisfied" he
said MY friend Kerwin has kindly
taken this whole matter of my mind.
I trust his judgment implicitly. Sure
ly," he added after momentary pause,
* have been very fortunate OF late.
This money has been greatly blessed to
me- II has procured me the acquaint-
ance-I may even venture to say the
frlendship--of a man whom have long
mIsjudged." And he beamed upon the
Iron faced Kerwln. "Doctrinal differ
ences," he continued. 'have held us
apart for some years"
"Doctrlnal differences" repeated Ker-
win. with a rigid grin. That's good
phrase"
"By the way" said the clergyman,
yelling nervous lmpatience, upon
that point which we were discussing
the other evening find here the follow.
Ing statement"
He read from the big book para.
graph heavy with scientific terms.
Kerwlns eyes gllstened, and he spoke
the instant that the reader paused.
He had not uttered three sentences be-
fore | perceived that the man was a
dogmatlc materiallst and that he was
hammering at the foundations of the
others belief.
KerwIn was one of those men who
have read a great mass Of high grade
scientific literature late In life, but
have never had groundwork of scien-
tifc training. They know what the
scientists say, but not what they mean.
It is nearly impossible for any man
who has not received systematic In
structlon In the actual labor of In
vestigution to understand the real es-
sence of the simplest scientific state
ment, such as "salt consists of sodium