The gold leaf. [volume] (Henderson, N.C.) 1881-1911, 1909-05-27
The Man
! rom nome
By BOOTH
HARRINGTON
and
HARRY LEON
WILSON

REQUIRED promise and the awe with
which he heard that the newest atom
of humanity to arrive was already
motherless, and then the picture faded
again. Then came a succession OF SIM
liar views.
He saw the dingy real estate Office
grow into a respectable brick building,
and then into handsome stone edince,
and the heavy featured man turn
grayer and grayer and more somber
and more Woodworking. and he could
remember the day when the tiny Ethel
was brought to the office for the first
time and Of the manner in which she
began to grow up. He recalled the day
when she reached the mature age OF
twelve and of how he had presented
to her Bible for gift and OF the
manner in which he had blushed for
all his twenty-five years.
And then he recalled the day when
John Simpson had confided to him
that the kids" were to be given adj
yantages and were to be sent abroad
to school. There came blank after
that but he recalled as If 1t had been
but yesterday the feeling with which
he had gone off into corner and
wrestled with the ,,:ivf that had beset
him. He could even see the futtering
hand that waved to him from the car
window as the train took her and her
brother away.
Suddenly the door behind him opened
and shut quickly. and quick steps
caused him to drop his feet to the
1ioor. He turned and found a visitor
Mt his elbow
Dan" said the newcomer. Its
all yours Jenkins just got telegram
! that the X. and q. has decided 70 offer
you the representation for this end Of
the state
THAT soY responded Pike aim
lessly.
"Of course it's SO, mani" replied the
other. shaking him vigorously by the
shoulder. Wake up, can't you? It's
worth fifteen thousand a year to YOU
, Pike turned quizzical eyes upon his
| friend and folded the letter he held In
his hand.
Much obliged to you, Tom," he said.
letter here that-jolted me little.
I'm thinking of going away for
! SPELL
Going away!' calculated his friend
with wide eyes. Going away!
WhereT'
Il guess I'll take a trip across the
water" replied Pike dreamily. AL
ways wanted to see those foreign
parts, those Venices and Romes and
Londons. Must be queer tribe over
there, Tom Not much like us plain
folks here. Ell? Lots Of high and
mighty dukes and earls and things and
} coats of arms and crowns and coaches
with white horses. eh?'
Tom Perkins sat down in q chair
with a gasp of establishment. He
stared at his friend with frank amaze
his mouth twice before his lips formed
the words
"Europew he said at last
Europe" he replied. Say, Tom,
you remember Jim Cooley? They sent
Jim over there. didn't they? Made
him vice consul or something over in
London? I'd maybe get a chance to
see Jim and talk to him about-about
old times"
His voice died down, and he regarded
the wall again.
''Never happened to hear of folks
over there Of the name of-of Haw-
castle. did you. Tom?" he went on. 81
don't know what sort of business they
are in. but / guess they're well to do.
Never happened to hear of them, eh?'
Perkins shook his head, and Pike
went on:
MAYBE I'll write to Jim Cooley and
| ask him about these people. Jim d be
likely to know 'em, l guess. Vice con-
sui must be pretty big bug over
there"
Law case?' asked Perkins suddenly
sort Of" answered Pike quietly Il
don't know that I'd call it Just that.
Perhaps the trip would be change
anyway. And I'd like to see this man
Hawcastle."
Where does this Hawcastle liveY''
asked Perkins
England. Got house he calls
Hawcastle Hail."
Perkins suddenly.
Il guess the X. and G. will have 70
wait awhile"
Perkins stood up resoluteIy and faced
his friend
There's something wrong with YOU.
Dam" he said emphatically There :
something mighty wrong 1t amt
like you to go running off this way un-
less there's something behind it,
He stopped. for Pike was whistIinc
softly to himself. whistling like the
man who is striving to recall some
tune that is only half forgotten Then
he turned to Perkins
Remember that old tune. Tom" he
asked" Sweet Genevieve:'"
Get OUT snapped Perkins That's
q million years old Why don't you
keep up to date if you're going in fo,
music? What do you care about 'Swee
Genevieve.' anyway:
Il used to know somebody that sang
tt-once-long ago" said Pike QUIETLY
Il used to hear John Simpson whistle
=: years before he died and left all
that money to me for those two kids
Tom"-he turned suddenly and trans
fixed his friend with an accusator,
hnger-"what would you think Of =
guardian that doesn't guard"
Perkins regarded him rebelliously
, Depends on whose guardian he Il
| and whether the guardees want him t
e attend to business or not II your
talking about those kids Of John SimI
T sons, I'd say you've done about al
q you could be expected to- You've ken
+ the money together, haven't you