The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1908-12-18
THE EVENING STORY
what PauIding collected.
(By Lulu Johnson.)

repeated Peter Paulding, as lie re-
garded the erect form before him. sI
had begun to think that you were try
ing to qualify as a salesman in a
sportings goods store"
Dick Paulding smiled grimly at this
allusion to his athletic prowess. I'm
any event. he reminded his father,
my medal winning should assure Won
that you Will get sound mind in a
sound body
81 wish I could be as certain of the
| mind as I am of the body" was the
sharp retort, as the older man regard
ed with frank admiration his boys
physique. You know what I told
you, boy. If you want to come after
me in the bank you'll have to start at
the bottom"
"And sweep out the floor" asked
Dick quietly. IT guess I can do that,
sir"
Were not educating you to be
janitor." explained the elder hastily
Il mean at the bottom OF the financial
ladder. You will have to start as a
runner"
rs that one of those chaps who go
to the other banks to collect drafts
and things, and carry wallets attached
to chains? 90 asked Dick with interest
"Just that" said the father dryly.
1T will be a novel experience for you
to have about you any money that is
chained. 1 trust the sensation will in
culcate lessons of industry and pru-
dence. There is some collecting to be
done that is not from banks-from
Hiram Pettis, for instance. He owes
100000 that he won't pay. See what
you can do with that
''Why, thought that old Pettis
was good for millions" cried Dick,
wonderingly.
80 he is-when he wants to pay.
The trouble is that in this instance he
thinks that he has been badly treated
by the bank, and he says we can wait
his pleasure. We don't wan to sue.
so I guess that you had better go
after him. That will keep you busy
for a while"
'I'II run over to his office right
away" cried Dick, alertly. 81 guess it
won't take long to get that out Of
him.
wait and see before you Drag"
warned Peter. Anyway. don't go to
his office. This is q personal matter,
and you want to go to his house. Pet
tbs is a crank about keeping his per-
sonaI affairs out of the office of Pettis,
Pinkerton & Permain. You might
run up this evening"
Dick nodded, and after some talk
about other business matters he left
the bank firmly convinced that his new
life was not going to be so bad after
ALL
On leaving college he had asked
that he might have a couple of years
in which to travel, but instead he
swung to athletics. Thus four years
had passed while he was acquiring
case of trophies. and he was now con-
tent to begin his business training.
He had rather dreaded that begin
ming, for his father, though just, was
strict and his son knew that it meant
starting at the bottom.
It was rather good fun to be sent
after Hira m PettiS. Dick had never
met the eccentric old millionaire, for
he had mixed little with society while
in training, and, on the other hand,
Pettis was breaking into society on
his daughters account.
Dick had heard many odd tales OF
the old man. and he thought it would
be more or less of a lark to camp on
his trail for a while.
He was even better content after
his first visit, and he rather hoped
that the collection would not be made
quickly for on that occasion he met
Eleanor Pettis. She was indeed good
to look upon.
He had not seen much of the wom-
en- of his mothers set. He had made
athletics his hobby. and he had no
ticed women only at the track events.
Then they formed merely mass or
brilliant color in the stands. and he
thought of them only in the plural
For the first time he now thought
of but one woman, ana ne mentaly
decided that Eleanor Pettis was the
one woman worth while thinking OF
For her sake he took up his social
duties Hypocritically he pretended TO
himself that it was merely for the
sake of being able to meet Pettls WITH
out seeming to seek him:
So it came about that he held only
brief conversations with old man
about the collection. and EXTENDED
chats with Eleanor about themselves
She had become interested in the mat
ter of the loan, and with most un-
flial but feminine prejudice she sldeo
with the younger man:
Tt was she who told him or the
+yiy7 al and suggested
that perhaps the interests OF the bank
REQUIRED that he follow Dick was de-
lighted with the suggestion, and to his
greater delight his father approves.
"Keep after that old swindler until
he paws up" Peter Pau1ding growled'
at have made good to the bank my
self. and I'll keep after him and get
it if 1 have to sue his executors. FOL
low him to the north pore II ne wants
to go there"
Dick nodded and withdrew. and
when the ocean liner carried Hiram
Pettis to Europe Dick was fellow
passenger. AS in duty bound, he re
mindid Pettis every morning of his
inst debt. The rest of the day he
spent on deck with Eleanor, and each
day he grew more firmly convinced
that breaking into business was an en-
tirely delightful process:
months later, he mustered up courage
to propose to Eleanor.
81 suppose that it will be hard to
persuade our fathers to be friends;
earth. "I don't know how we ever
shall be able to do it. Dick"
Leave that to me-" he said con-
fdently "You forget that I am
business man now, and these little
problems in diplomacy are the things
I have to meet Do you think that we
want a house or an apartment in some
hotel? We may have to take to fiat
for that matter in case dad proves
nasty :,
GAS long as it is with you, dear,
was the tender reply, and again earth |
faded into visions of Paradise.