West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1908-12-10

Billy McMahaL had a wife. and upon
her visiting cards was engraved the
name Mrs. William Darragh McMa-
han" And there was n certain vexa-
ton attendant upon these cards, for.
small as they were. there were houses
In which they could not be inserted
Billy McMahan was a dictator In pol
itics, n four walled tower I'm business,
n mogul dreaded, loved and obeyed
among his own people. He was grow.
ing rich; the daily papers had dozen
men on his trail 20 chronicle his every
word OF wisdom: he had been honored
In caricature holding the tiger cring-
ing in leash.
But the heart or Billy was sometimes
sore within him There was a race or
men from which he stood apart, but
that he viewed with the eye OF Moses
looking over into the promised land.
He. too. had ideals. even as had key
Snigglefritz, and sometimes, hopeless
OF attaining them, his own solid sue
cess was as dust and ashes In his
mouth. And Mrs. William Darragh
McMahan wore n look OF discomfort
upon her plump but pretty face. and
the very rustic OF her silks seemed a
sigh.
There was n brave and conspicuous
assemblage In the dining salon OF n
noted hostelry where Fashion loves TO
display her charms At one table sat
Billy McMahan and his wife. Mostly
silent they were, but the accessories
they enjoyed little needed the indorse-
ment OF speech. Mrs. McMshan's din.
monds were outshone by few In the
room. The waiter bore the costIicst
brands OF wine TO their table. In even
Ing dress. with an expression OF gloom
upon his smooth and massive coun-
tenance. you would look in vain for
a more striking figure than Billy's.
-Four tables away sat alone n tall.
slender man about thirty. with thought
ful, melancholy eyes, n vandyke beard
and peculiarly white. thin hands. He
was dining on nlet mignon. dry toast
and apollinaris. That man was Cort-
landt Van Duyckink, a man worth
$s0.o00,oOo. who inherited and held n
sacred seat In the exclusive inner cir
Gle OF society.
Billy McMahan spoke to no one
around him because he knew no one.
Van DuycSinh kept his eyes on his
plate because he knew that every eye
present was hungry TO catch his. He
could bestow knighthood and prestige
by nod, and he was chary OF creating
a too extensive nobility
And then Billy McMahan conceived
and accomplished the most startling
and audacious act OF his life lie rose
deliberately and walked over to Cort-
landt Van Duycklnk's table and held
out his hand.
Say. Mr.. Van Duyckink," he said,
I've heard you was talking about
starting some reforms among the poor
people down In my district. I'm Nc
Mshan. you know. Say. now, II that's
straight I'll do all can TO help you.
And what says goes In that neck OF
the woods, don't III oh, say, rather
guess II doesF'
Van Duyckink's rather somber eyes
lighted up. He rose TO his lank height
and grasped Billy McMahaus hand.
Thank you. Mr.. McMahan," he said
In bis deep. serious tones. II have
been thinking OF doing some work OF
that sort. i shall be glad OF your as
sistance. II pleases me TO become ac-
quainted with you"
Billy walked back to his seat. His
shoulder was tingling from the acco-
lade bestowed by royalty. A hundred
eyes were now turned upon him In
envy and new admiration. Mrs. Will
liam Darragh McMahan trembled with
ecstasy. so that her diamonds smote
the eye almost with pain. And now Il
was apparent that Mt many tables
there were those who suddenly remem-
bered that they enjoyed Mr. McMa-
hans acquaintance. He saw smiles
and bows about him. He became en-
yeloped In the AURA OF dizzy greatness.
His campaign coolness deserted him.
wine for that gangw be command
cd the waiter, pointing with his finger.
Wine over therel Wine to those three
gents by that green bushl Tell 'em
It's on me. Seer Wine for everybody
The waiter ventured to whisper that
II was. perhaps ineJpedient TO carry
out the order In consideration OF the
dignity of the house and its custom.
"Ali right" said Billy. '1f It's against
the rules. I wonder II 'twould do 20
send my friend Van Duyckink a bottle.
Nor Well. It'll 6ow all right at the
cafry tonight, Just the same. ItIl be
rubber boots for anybody who comes
| I'm there any time up TO 2 n. m"
Billy McMaban was happy.
He had shaken the hand OF Cortlandt
Van Duyckink.
The big pale gray auto with It's shin
ing metal work looked out Of place
moving slowly among the pusbcarts
and trash heaps on the lower east side.
so did Cortlandt Van Duycklnk, with
his aristocratic face and white, thin
hands, as he steered carefully between
the groups OF ragged, scurrying young.
| sters I'm the streets. And 30 did Miss
Constance Schuyler. with her dim,
ascetic beauty, seated at HIS side.
"Oh, Cortlandt," she breathed. Isn't
II sad that human beings have 60 live
/ In such wretchedness and poverty
And you-how noble II is OF you 10
think Of them, 20 give your time and
money TO improve their condition.
Van Duyckink turned his solemn
eyes upon her
'It Is little" he said sadly, that I
can do. The question is large one
and belongs TO society. But even In
dividual effort Is not thrown away.
Look, Constancel On this street have
arranged TO build soup kitchens, where
no one who is hungry Will be turned
away. And down this other street are
the old buildings that I shall cause 10
be torn down and there erect others ia
place OF those death traps OF lre and