Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1907-01-11

Wnat can do for you?" said | to
him politely, much as if he we're a
stranger making an untmely inter
ruption.
My look had disconnected him; my
tone threw him into confusion. "You
keep out Of the way, now that you've
become famous" he began, with a
hating but heroic attempt at his Gus.
tomary easy superiority. Are you
living up in Connecticut, too? Sam
Ellersly tells me your wife is stopping
there with old Howard Forester
Sam wants me to use my good offices
in making it up between you two and
her family.
l was completely taken aback by
this cool ignoring of the real situation
between him and me. Impudence or
ignorance?-I could not decide. It
seemed impossible that Anita had not
told him; yet it seemed impossible,
too. that be would come to me if she
had told him. Have you any bust.
ness with me?" said l.
His eyelids twitched nervously, and
ne adjusted his lips several times be.
fore he. was able to say:
you and your wife don't care to
make it up with the Ellerslys? /
f2ncied SO, and told Sam you'd simply
think me meddlesome. The other
matter is the Travellers club. I've
smoothed things out there. I'm going
to put you up and rush you through"
NO, thanks" said l. 1t seemed
incredible to me that l had ever cared
about that club and the things it rep.
resented, as | could remember | I'm.
dOubtedly did care. 1t was like look.
ing at an outgrown toy and trying to
feel again the emotions it once ex.
cited.
Il assure you, Matt, there won't be
the slightest difficulty" His manner
was that Of man playing the trump
p card in a desperate game-he feels it
can not lose, yet the stake is so big
that he can not but be little ner.
vous.
II do not care to join the Travellers
club" said |, rising. 81 must ask
you to excuse me. am exceedingly
busy"
A flush appeared in his cheeks and
deepened and spread until his whole
body must have been afire. He seat.
ed himself. You know what I've
come for" he said Sullenly, and hum.
bly,, too.
All his life he had been enthroned
upon his wealth. Without realizing
it, he had claimed and had received
Difference solely because he was rich.
He had thought himself. in lis own
person. most superior; now, he found
that like a silly child be had been
standing on a chair and crying: See
how tall | am" And the airs, the
cynic!sm, the graceful condescension,
which had been so becoming to him.
were now as cut Of place Is crown
and robes on a king taking a swim
ming lesson.
What are your terms, Blackjack?
Don't be too hard on an old friend"
said he, trying to carry of his frank
plea for mercy with a smile.
| should have thought he would cut
his throat and jump off the Battery
wall before he would get on his knees
to any man for any reason. And he
was doing it for mere money-to try
to save, not his fortune, but only an
imperlled part of it. IF Anita could
see him now!" | thought.
To him | said, the more coldly he.
cause | did not wish to add to his
humiliation by showing him that |
pitied him; 81 can only repeat, Mr..
Langdon, you will have to excuse me
| have given you all the time can
spare"
His eyes we're shifting and his
hands trembling as he said: 81 will
transfer control of the Coal combine
to you"
His tones. shameful as he offer
they carried. made me ashamed for
MIN. For money-just for money!
And | had thought him a man. II he
mad been self-deceiving hypocrite
ike Roebuck. or a frank believer in
the right of might, like Updegraff, !
might possibly. In the circumstances.
nave tried to release him from my
,, net But he had never for an instant
deceived himself as to the real nature
OF the enterprises he plotted, pro-
NOTED and profted by; he thought It
smart" to be bad, and he delighted
In making the most cynical epigrams
on the black deeds Of himself and his
associates.
Better sell out to Roebuck," I sug.
gested. Il control all the Coal stock
! need"
Il don't care to have anything
further to do with Roebuck," Langdon
answered. I've broken with him"
when q man lies to me-" said I.
he gives me the chance to see lust
how much Of q fool he thinks | am.
and also the chance to see Just how
much Of fool he Is. I hesitate to
think so poorly Of you as your at,
tempt to fool me seems to compel"
But he was unconvinced. "Pys
rnllnA ho fntanSr A.