The Democratic advocate., 1908-06-19
TheBeSt Man
By EMELINE BARR.
Copyright, 1908, by Associated Lit
erary Press.

warm and too glorious to spend In
visiting a round of stuffy Offices. He
would make holiday Of it and let
business wait until tomorrow.
An inspiration seized him, and after
some search through the various COM
partments of his leather wallet he drew
out dingy visiting card.
"H'm," he mused. "Thats funny.
was sure I had his address. Richard
Malloney,' that's all it says, though,
that's sure"
He put the card back thoughtfully.
1T was something about Washing
ton," he reflected.
But the something" had eluded him
impishly. He drew q map out Of his
pocket and studied It carefully. With
an air Of triumph he at length pounced
upon the words Mount Vernon" He
had it!
Should he consult a telephone direct
ory? What was the use? It would
be more fun to give Dick a surprise.
Dick was just the kind Of fellow to
enjoy the unexpected. On the way
out on the train Amidon indulged in
pleasant "reminiscences Of college days
when he and Dick had been such jolly
good chums Was It possible q whole
ten years had gone since they had seen
each other?
"But Dicks all right" he solilo-
quized Its a great thing to be sure
of welcome. He'll be Just as glad
to see me as 1 will'-
mount Vermont shouted the con-
ductor, and Amidon got off hurriedly.
"Can you tell me where Mr.. Richard
Malloney lives" he asked the first per-
son he happened to run into at the
station. Before the person addressed
had time to reply a six-year-old boy
piped up:
II can"
"Is that SOP" returned Amidon gen.
tally. "Well. suppose you show me
then. Will your"
For answer the knowing one turned
to lead the way Importantly. When
he came to the end of the station plat
form he stopped beside q shining auto
mobile.
"Get in." he said to Amidon hos
pitably.
Amidon hesitated.
"Why. thank you. young man." he
replied. You are very kind. but If
you'll just be good enough to tell me
where Mr.. Malloney lives I'll walk
there"
"But we're going right there" per-
sisted Amidon's personal conductor.
"Mr. Richard Malloney Is my father.
I'm Richard Malloney, Jr., you know"
In spite Of his amazement Amidon
was alert enough to be conscious Of
the chaufreur's silent chuckling. Rich
ard Malloney, Jr., was proving a most
Unexpectedly sprightly pilot 1t might
be we'll before committing oneself ir-
revocably to his management to ask
few definite questions. So Amidon
addressed the amused chauffeur.
81 arrived from town on this last
train," he stated. Can you tell me
If Mr.. Malloney is at homer
every sorry, SIR" returned the chauf-
feur civilly. Hes just started for
toWn himself"
: "And-Mrs. Malloney?"
"She went with him, SIR"
Amidon reflected a moment.
"Barbara's home." volunteered NAL
loney junior.
Amidon's face lighted instantly. Bar
bara-that was Dicks sister, Of course.
He remembered, but this was no time
for "reminiscences.
"Is she, indeedT' he exclaimed jovial-
ty. "Then will run out" And he
jumped in beside Richard.
Lets see," he mused, hardly con-
scious that he spoke. "how old must
Barbara be nowp'
about thirty" Richard suggested.
Amidon glanced at the chauffeur.
He was quite sure he was chuckling
again
about thirtyT repeated Amidon.
1T doesn't seem possible"
"She's grown up awful fast" Rich
ard commented. "She was only Just a
girl when she went away to school,
but now she does her hair up and stays
up evenings. I wish was thirty"
) This yearning was accompanied by
a very genuine sigh, but Amidon had
quite forgotten to listen to the chiid's
pTattle, His own thoughts were more
absorbing
+ Had he or had he not met Dicks Sis
ter? So many fellows at college had
sisters! II so, what had she looked
like? She must have been very young
and to think Of Dicks being married
and never letting him know-more
than that, to think Of there being a
Rich,.rd Malloney, Jr.!
"Here we are" exclaimed the boy,
"and there's Barbara on the porch.
Hoo-oo!'
Barbara came to the top Of the steps.
looking at Amidon curiously.
As for Amidon, he was seized with q
panic Of nisgivings. Surely, II he had
ever in his life seen that girl, no mat
ter how many years ago. he would
never have forgotten her.
But he must say something, for
young Richard had already climbed
out of the machine and announced,
:2ere's a man to see you, Barbara"
an. Introduction that certainly needed
calculating.
Amidon braced himself.
'T am John Amidon," he stated sim
ply, standing below her, with hat in
hand. "Your brother and were
friends at college. I hoped to find him