The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1907-03-03
copyrighted, 1907, by Albert Payson
Terhune. All rights reserved.)
CHAPTER I.
CALEB CoNovER RECEIVES.

CHAPTER I.
CALEB CoNovER RECEIVES.
"The poor mani" sighed Mrs. Greer.
.He must think he's ccmcteryl"
The long line Of carriages was pass
ing solemnly through a mighty white
marble arch, aglare with electric light,
leading into the show place" OF Pomp-
ton Avenue.
Athwart the arch's pallid face, in
raised letters full foot in length
were the words:
" CALEB coNovER, R. R.. 1897
In the CHASTITY, garish illumination,
above the slow-moying procession Of
sombre vehicles, the arch and its in
scription gave grucsome excuse for
Mrs Greer's comment. She herself
thought the phrase rather apt, and
btored 1t away for repetition.
Her husband downy little man,
curled up misernbly In tho other corr
ner of the brougham, read her thought,
from long experience, and twisted for
ward into what he liked to think was
commanding attitude.
Look here!" he protested you've
got to stop that. It's bad enough to
have to come here at all. without your
spelling every thing with one Of those
Bernard Shawisms Of yours. Why, If
1t ever got back to Conover's ears
He'd withdraw his support? And
then good-by to Congress for the un-
fortunate Talbot Firth Greer?"
Just that. He'll stand all sorts of
criticism about his start in life. In
fact he revels in talking or his rise
to any one who'll listen. But when it
comes to guying anything in his pres
ent exalted
What does the r.. r. at the end
OF his name over the gate stand for?
I've seen the inscription often enough,
but"
'Railroader.' He uses 1t as sort
of title. Life for him is one long rail-
road, and"
"And now we're to do him honor at
the terminus?"
IF you like to put It that way.
Perhaps junction would hit it closer
It was awfully good Of you, Grace, to
come. L"
"of course it was. If didn't want
a try at Washington I'd never have
dared it, It will be in all the papers
tomorrow. He'll see to that And
then-I hate to think what every one
will say. suppose we'ro the first
civilized people VINO ever passed UNI
der that atrocious hanging mortuary
chapel. aren't We?
Hardly as bad as that. If it's any
comfort to you, there are plent. more
in the same box as ourselves, tonight"
"But surely everybody in Granite
can't want to run for Congress-
mo. But enough people have axes
worth their while to visit the Conover
milestone. When q man who can
float companies at word, boom or
smash a dozen different stocks. swing
the Legislature, make himself heard
from here to Washington, and car
ries practically every newspaper in
W Mountain State in his vest pocket;
s11on-''
when such q man whistles, there
are some people who find 1t wise not
to be deaf. But what on earth does
he want us for?''
1.-THE world-old ambition that had
Its rise when Cain and Abel began
T moving in separate sets. The longing
to butt in, as Caleb himself would
7robably call it. He has everything
money and political power can give.
And now he wants the only thing left
what he terms social recognition ;"
And we are to help"
"No. We're to let him think we
help. All the kings horses and all
of Conover's own freight derricks,
couldn't hoist that cad into a decent
crowd. He's been at it ever since he
got his first million and married poor
little Lefty Standish. She was the
fool of her family. -and a broken FAM
lily at that. But still 1t was a family.
Yet it didn't land Caleb anywhere.
Then. when that unlocked cub Of a. son
of his grew up, he made anotherstry.
But you know how that turned out.
Now that his daughters captured a
more or less authentic prince, sup
pose he thinks the time has come.
Hence to-night's-'
what blow to his hopes it must
have been to have the girl marry in
Paris instead of here at Granite! But
suppose the honeymoon in Ameri-
ca and this evenings reception are
the next best thing. Are we never to
get there?"
"soon enough. I'm afraid. Conover
boasts that he's laid out his grounds
so that the driveway is n measured
half-mile. Well be there in another
minute or 500
Mrs. Greer laughed a little nervously.
9TH be something to remember any
way" said she. II suppose all sorts
of horrible people will be there. i read
q half-page account of 1t this morn
ing in the Star, and it said that while
the proudest families of Granite would
delight to do Mr.. Conover honor. the