Arizona republican., 1907-12-29
Common Business Honesty
ARTHUR sTANWooD PIER
ARTHUR sTANWooD PIER

Caspar Dane put down the news
paper he had been reading. He was
a man of so. big. massive and power
fully built, with strong, shrewd,
healthy face, which WAS smooth shaw
en- except for short. gray side-whis-
kers; his head was bald and rose to
a benevolent dome, and his blue eyes.
in spite Of a cynical giant which was
always in them. were softened by the
twinkling crows feet in the corners.
He reclined al his ease in his COM
Portable leather chair. unperturbed by
the dropping of his cigar ashes on his
dinner coat.
He looked at his daughter. who sat
quietly on the other side of the fire
place, her pretty fair-haired head bent
over her embroidery Caspar Dane
knew that she had been waiting all
the evening for him to speak.
Helen. il was TO Paul Herrick's
father | paid my fool tax forty years
ago." he said.
Your fool TAX" A flush tinged her
cheeks and she put down her embroid-
cry with trembling hands.
-'Yes-what every young man pays
for his share of worldly wisdom. He
vas a good looking. sprightly man.
with curly, black hair and very hand
some, dark-red cheeks and an attrac-
tive smile-Paul Herrick is like that,
isn't he?"
Yes" Helen murmured.
Il noticed il especially when he came
TO interview me today. His father was
4 crook-kept bucket shop. and was
one of the young fellows he fleeced. He
ended as a floater on the street.
Why do you tell me this?"
Because OF that interview which
Paul Herrick had with me today. He
comes of bad stock. Helen. and he
deals in stocks as a business; / don't
know which fact is the worse. I'm
told that he's a better fellow that his
father; dare say he is, or he wouldn't
have got you to care for him, as l
understand is the case. Or has he mis-
informed me on that point?"
Helen came over and pressed her
fathers hand appealingly. No" she said.
Hes a fellow director with me in
Valdez Mining; he's been straight
enough as far as / know" Caspar Dane
admitted
What did you say to Paul?' Helen
asked timidly.
Il said that is a most unwelcome
surprise and that l would look into the
matter"
Not very cordial. were you? What
do. you say to me?F
The same"
Helen sighed: she was aware of her
fathers stubborn preJudices and of his
eccentric and perverse methods of con-
firming them.
Helen, my dear'-he put his arm
round her and drew her closer to him
don't think I'm unsympathetic with
you. l remember how dear thing it
was when / won your mothers con-
sent-and | don't think | could really
be unsympathetic at such a time. /
want you TO have all the happiness
there is in your young love-and there's
a great deal But l don't want you to
miss all the happiness there is in love
that's no longer young-love that
grows and keeps on growing even when
the man and the woman are on the
downward slope of life. Compared
with that, your young happiness, my
dear, is nothing-literally nothing. And
] want you to have the affection of
a man so good that you can give him
all your life full, ungrudging. always
increasing love and loyalty. If find
Paul Herrick is such a man. the fact
that he's the son of his father won't
make any difference to me-"
The girl was touched, but not quite
satisfied.
ed.
Something may happen" he an
swered vaguely.
She was aware that the reply mask
ed an eccentric purpose. but she had to
be content.
The directors of the Valdez Mining
Company had been summoned for a
special meeting in the law office of
Mr.. John Welch. II was generally I'M
derstood first dividend would
be declared. The mining expert. Cas-
par Dane. was returning that day from
an examination OF the property. and
upon receiving his report, expected to
be favorable, the board would take
action.
Mr.. Edward Shinn. the wealthy
stocking manufacturer. and Mr.. Lind
say Tweed. the eminent wool merchant
met in the elevator on the way up to
Welch's office. AS they recognized /
each other they nodded, each with
confident and initiated smile. Going
10 cut melon today" inquired Tweed. |
and Shinn answered, Il guess wen |
thump it anyway TO see if it's ripe"
Having had each one his joke, they
entered Welch's office in excellent hu-
NOR.
The office boy directed them to one |
Of the inner rooms; Welch and Paul |
Herrick were awaiting them.
"Old man not come yet?" asked i
Shinn
He'll be here" Herrick answered. |
He telephOned me just an hour ago: |
he arrived in town only this morn
ing"
Tweeds voice broke in
And how's the market today. Her |
rick? Strong, eh-and maybe well give !
it an extra little lift. That's a great /
business you're in-with your private |
signals on the eXchange-two fingers |
More like play than business. always |
think. whats your cOuntersign on the |
floor. Herrick2"
I'm afraid | don't quite understand"
said the young man.