Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-05-31
CHAPTER XIII.
The Founder Of the D. r. /

The Founder Of the d. p. I.
IAN / addressing the Rev Clement
Vaughan
The speaker standing in the doorway OF
the study, with his back against the ngnt'
was visible only in outline. When his ques-
t.en had been answered In the Affirmative
he stepped inside.
IT am Samuel Barker, he announced,
with profound obeisance.
The light from the window revealed him
now. He was small, slight, fair, with
watery blue eyes q nose too large for his
face. a detected mustache, womanish hands
He had the manners of Chesterfield, ac-
companied by sidelong, cynical gianee'
characteristic of no one but himself.
II have the honor to inform you, ne
said, advancing and putting into Clement
hands a neat roll, that you have been
elected member Of the D. p l.
Parker has caught" returned to Vaughan,
and he hesitated
II was not aware that any one had pro-
posed my name for membership, ne saio.
I'm not In a position at present.
INV dear sir-pardon me for interrupt
ing" interposed Barker. 1t was NOT nee
essary for any one to propose your haHie.
It never is, in the D. P. I. That Is one OF
the peculiarities Of the organizauon. AZ 40
soon as man distinguishes himself IN sucn
way as to make him eligible to the 80
cietv he becomes a member. The election
merely confirms what is already a iai'
accompli.' :,
"But / have not done aiything-here."
pursued Vaughan. I'm England was an
f. r. H. s. F. R. A. s.. F. R. Nj. s., r. u
s. and NJ. v. l." He paused before tne
CLINT of impish delight in Barkers eyes
but all the visitor said was. II don't KNOW
that we have any member quite so distin-
guished unless 1t be Bismarck
Bismarck exclaimed Vaughan, In sur
prise. rs he memberf
'Oh. yes, have personal letter irolll
Bismarck, acknowledging his election one
from Gladstone, also. acknowledging MS.
We have all the great statesmen, many
scientists, professional men and ARTISTS anu
quite number OF clergymen.
Strange that I never heard OF the So
ciety before" unused Vaughan VINO Is
the PRESIDENT?
.aThere isn't any. The only officer is the
secretary, whom you see peIore you-
Barker bowed again.
And the dues?" Vaughan continued
"There are no Dues Barker replied.
''When we meet on business. as we dld
few evenings ago. collection is taken up.
r. we have a banquet, each member pres
ent is taxed so much plate
Most extraordinary" murmured Vaughan
lingering the roll.
leisure said Barker. rising. whenever
you see the lighted candles in the mldoie
of the street you will know that there is
meeting I bid you good morning! anu
he tiptoed out of the study.
Left to himself. Vaughan hastily united
the roll 1t was handsomely engraved,
with spaces left for filling in the name OF
the member, the date, and what particular
achievement had made him eligible I'M. nnls
was the item Vaughan first sought tie
jected the Offer Of a Paying Deal "hae
could that be?
He glanced at the top of the page. Cum
ningly interviewer with scrolls ana a ,a.,,
eSuues was the name OF the sociely'
damn Phool Inf1rmary!
So 1t was hoax, grind delicate way
Of insinuating that he had made 1901 Q,
himself, was candidate for the infirmary!
1.-The Paying DEAF was of course, the OF
fer of 500 by Jack and Mat for share In
a church soclable. He thrust the certincate
into a drawer of the desk and returned TO
his sermon writing.
Meanwhile, the founder of the D. f. l.,
enjoying to the full the revelations OF
himself made by the new. member, en-
tered the store occupied by Poole and
Pitcher repeating ''F. R. H: g.; f. K A 81
F. r. NJ s.. F. G. S.. NJ. v. /"
what have you been taking?" demanded
Poole leaning over the counter to scruti-
nize the visitor
Nothing. George. nothing" Barker re-
turned. with wave OF the hand. Two big
cases on today. Nevada Bill and Cussin
Dick-murder and marriage. How can
take anything?"
whats all that lingo you were getting
George said Barker gravely. you al
ways think II there's anything you don't
understand that 1t is incomprehensible."
whats up?" asked Pitcher. coming out
from the large inner room which he and
Poole called the den.'
"F r. H. g. F. r. A. s., F. r. M. s., f.
G. g.. NJ. V. L." repeated Barker glibly.
Those are the titles and subtitles of new
volume recently added to the ~. r. la
volume of ESSAYS"
''Oh. talk United Statesr grumbled Poole.
What are you driving att" querfed Pitcher,
looking down with smile upon the two.
Poole was not large man, although hard
as nails" as he told every one, displaying
proudly what he called his "labor-hardened
muscles" He had been miner. but had
risen gradually until he was now superin-
tendent of the Belle Isle mines. Smooth
skinned ford. he presented a marked con-
trast to the other George-Pilcher-who was
tall slender and dark. evidently of Jewish
descent
"A volume of essays?" he repeated.
Eyes, theological replied Barker.
"Oh-you mean the Sage Brush Parson"
He didn't call himself that" returned
Barker He said he was F. r: H. g.. F. Il.
A S., F. NJ s.. F. G. s.. M. v. l."
What does all that mean?' broke In
Pitcher.
'D-d If I know returned Barker. Get
a dictionary"
The book was brought and the abbrevia-
tons were identified. IF he says he's all
that he's a id liar!'' said Poole. striking
the page with his fist.
There he's outside my Jurisdiction" said
Barker my business Is solely with the d.
P. l. AS a liar he will have to answer to the
s. l.. c. Good morning, gentlemen" and he
took his leave.
His next step was to send summons to
the individual under discussion, citing him
to appear as a witness In the divorce pro-
ceedings instituted by Richard Dale against
Mrs Richard Dale. and another summons
to the Rev. Frederick Hayerford for SINH
Tar purpose. Then he went to court
When the two clergymen appeared the evil
dence was all in for the murder case, and
Barker. lawyer for the defense, was about
to address the jury
The state. In the person of the district
attorney was prosecuting Nevada Bill for
the killing of an unknown miner.
Nevada Bill had had quarrel with Al
kali Ike and the two had promised them
selves and their friends to kill each other
Ion sight" Nevada Bill had stationed
himself on Jackson's Corner to watch tor
his enemy, After while Ike appeared