The Chickasha daily express. (Chickasha, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1899-current, 1906-07-02
At the Heel of the D. A. and B.
By F. n. LANCASTER.
Copyright. 1906. by Daily story Pub. Coz

/ peers; he can never be tried justly
by himself
STILL" Brand caught up quickly,
you came on"
AT my own expense, sir" the other
returned, gently. at my own ex-
pense."
Brand took the reproof with pro-
test: Times are changing" he said,
briefly.
They are; yes, sir; In a way times
are changing, very fast. But, sir, there
never was, and there never will be
time that will refute the saying: The
public is an ass and the sharpest ras-
cal rides it, The ass brays sometimes,
and kicks sometimes, but the rascal
rides on. No gentleman. sir" added
the old man, quantity; mo gentleman
ever rides an ass"
Brand WINGED at the covert thrust
Well" he said, brusquely. the gen
tleman is going out of fashion. What
we ask of a man to-day is: how
much money have you made? And if
he can't answer that question salts
faetorily. may the Lord have mercy
on his SOUL"
And II he can answer 1t satisfac-
torily," the other took up. with quiet
humor, you infer that he has no
soul left for the Lord to bestow mercy
upon? Pardon me. sir, but l think
you are mistaken. | think large per
cent. of our business men ore hon
est gentlemen. This talk about uni
yersal corruption is cant, sir. All
can't And, my son, when a man be-
gins TO tell you that all men are
rogues, set him down for a ready
made rascal, sir. A ready-made ras-
cal" And having paused 70 see
whether or not Brand had any resent
ment 10 indulge, the old gentleman
made courteous excuse and retired to
the smoker.
Brand had no resentment TO indulge;
in fact he had not caught the iia-
vor of the fine. old-yintaged insult he
had swallowed.
"Old fogy,' nc reflected. But l
guess he's right about the railroads
having stacked the cards. The
chances are that the only instructions
that Chidsey will have for me viii
be to come chasing home. And will
have proved my good will to serve"
But Chidsey had other orders. A
man from Minnesota had been max
ing trouble. What the ID. A. & b.
montad mae ot~a4uhtforuyo~d tactt-
mony to prove that IL had not been
discriminating against the small ship
pers. and Brand, as first assistant
freight agent was 10 get in this tes-
timony.
But it's Ridiculous" he said. rebel
liously to Chidsey. you know as
we'll as / do how 1t is done"
That's nothing" Chidsey said,
cheerfully You are d. A. & b.
man, and you've got to stand by the
ID. A. & B. II you expect the ID. A. 4
b. to stand by you. Go In and win. "
And having calculated the profit and
loss. Brand went in-and won. He
was a smart man, keen witted, and
his testimony was all that the d. A.
a B. could have asked for. When
he stepped down he saw recognition
OF his ability in all mems faces; and
in the recognition lay mirrored a
home in Walnut street. with serv-
ants whose mere names he could moi
remember; autos and yachts and coun-
try-seats; and everywhere mahogany
and brass, mahogany and brass. Sud
denly his gaze snapped and shranh
back. II had encountered the SLOW
smiling of a mild little man with CHR
. whiskers, who seemed 10 iss trying
politely, TO take up no more room
than was necessary. For an instan
Brand seemed TO hear a quiet voic'
saying: "A ready-made rascal, sir
A ready-made rascal" then he lifted
his head and walked on. seeing lonl
vistas Of mahogany and brass, mahog
any and brass.