The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1907-02-05
DAMS BUSINESS COURSE
BY JAMES BRUCE.

But that was downright dishonest
said Dan.
1T was businesslike," corrected Phil
lips. Mason should not have announced
his plans. He Dragged about them. and q
Bray jumped in and got ahead Of him. il
simply shows Brays superior business
ability"
That is why you prefer Bray as a son
in-law?" queried Dan. You want Mabel
TO marry a business manager. as it We're. "
That is rather a blunt way of putting
IT," said Phillips. uneasily. 1T would be
better 20 say that Bray's business quaI6-
cations are point strongly in his favor"
While my lack Of them is to my dis
credit?"
You do not have the Inack OF saizing
your opportunities" said Phillips. Now,
take my case. I know that the Shelter
and Exploration Company purpose getting
/ concessions in BarOna. I am going TO
/ take run down there and get the rail-
/ road franchise through Camar. Camar is
! on the coast and they viii have to pay
me handsomely for what viii cost me
practically nothing. That is business.
You might enlarge your fund Of geograph-
| zeal information, but 1t would never occur
to you to profit by what you learn"
There's hope yet" said Dan, lightly,
as he rose. Meanwhile I am to under
stand that your consent 10 my marriage
with Mabel is refused?"
Withheld" corrected Phillips. He
never gave a definite answer when he
could help it. "Perhaps-in the future"
Dan nodded. Perhaps in the future his
uncle might make him his heir.
John Phillips turned 10 his desk with
the consciousness Of an unpleasant cpl
sode cleyerly closed. It was not until the
next morning that his eyes were opened.
Mabel had run away. Il have gone with
DAN" she wrote. "T want a husband.
not valuable addition to the firm of
Phillips & Kent"
Phillips shrugged his shoulders and
went his way. Deep In his heart her de-
'sertion hurt, but with several big opera
lions pending he could not afford 10
waste time. He shut his ears 20 the talk
Of his associates, but as the days went on
and Dan and Mabel did not appear 10 ask
parental forgiveness, his anxiety grew.
He had supposed that when the honey
moon was over they would come back
He was almost tempted to delay his trip
to Camar.
But there was no one else in the firm
who spoke Spanish well enough TO be
trusted with the negotiations, and so the
Mabel, his luxuriously appointed yacht,
slipped down the bay and in due course
anchored in the land-locked harbor of
POrveda.
II took him two days to gain an
audience with the president Of the tiny
republic. for there had just been a revO-
luton and matters were slow In straight
ening out. Alvadora, the new president,
spoke English haltingly, but English he
would speak, and Phillips, tactful but i'm
patient, chafed inwardly AT the delay.
He spoke Spanish fluentIy and in ten
minutes he could have approached the
subject had the president held 10 his na-
tive tongue. but this was precisely what
the president would not do
Il spik the English. is it not 500" he
cried, 'Bonato, not one word could he
spik-he who would be presidente. Il is
to chickle-is it not?'
Another language makes another
man." quoted Phillips from an advertis-
ing card he had seen in the street cars.
I compliment your eXcelleucy."
My thanks" said Aivad0ra. You are /
my friends it not so?7
But about this concession" pressed |
Phillips. "Of course. a railroad would not /
pay very much, but we are looking into /
the future when the road shall have made /
Camar great"
'Ah, yes, the railway" said Alvadora. !
1reamily. For him, you shall see my /
business manager
Your prime minister" suggested Phil /
lips. correctingly.
rs it that / spik the English so bad?"
demanded the president, reproachfuIly.
Non. 1t is you who do not understand"
mt a business manager is not an
of ID OF state, but Of commerce" per-
sisted Phillips.
My fren," pleaded the president. let
US not argue. See my business manager
IN the morning. Look, ! shall send him
10 you. yes?"
Thank you. said Phillips. But mean
while let me show you the advantage Of
such a proposition"
AlvadOTa waved him off Business mat
eTs were for the business manager. He
vas the president. It was not well that
he should interfere.
Phillips went away thoroughly dis
yusted, and his bad temper held the next
morning as he waited at the hotel for
he advent Of this mysterious official, nor
lid his wrath cool when a card was
brought TO him and he read