Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1909-01-13
CHAPTER w.
Tho Vanishing Of Archie.

Tho Vanishing OF Arcn'e'
"In my opinion" said Aunt Rebecca.
critically, cycling her new drawing
room on the train to San Francisco;
"the object OF our legal methods
seems to be to defend the criminal.
And very efficient means to this end
is to make 1t SO uncomfortable and
costly and inconvenient for any wit
nesses of crime that he runs away
rather than endure It, Here we have
had to stay over so long in Salt Lake
we nearly lost our drawing-room.
But never mind, you got your man
committed. Did you find out anything
about his gang?"
The colonel shook his head. mo.
he's tough country boy; he has the
rural distrust OF lawyers and OF sweat
boxes. He does absolutely nothing
but groan and swear. pretending his
wound hurts him. But I've notion
there are bigger people back OF him.
It's most awfully good Of you, Aunt
Rebecca, to stick to me this way"
"Of course, stick to you: I'm too
old to be tickle. Did you ever know
a Winter who wouldn't stand by his
friends? ! belong to the old regime.
BERTHE; we had our faults--glaring
anes, I dare say-Sut II we condened
in too readily, we never condoned
neanness; such q trick as that upstart
Seatcham is doing would have been
impossible to my contemporaries. You
saw the morning papers; you know he
means to eat up the Midland?"
YES, l know" unused the colonel;
and turn Tracy, the president, down
the one who gave him his start on
ais bucaneering career. Tracy de.
clines to be his tool. being. under
stand. a very decent sort of man, who
has always run his road for his stock
holders and not for the stock market
4 capital crime, that in these days.
80 Keatcham has, somehow, by one
rick or another, got enough directors
since Baneleigh died to give him con-
sol; though he couldn't get enough
If the stock; and now he means to
,rab the road to use for himself. Poor
Tracy. who loves the road as child,
hey say, will have to stand by and
see 1t turned into Wall street foot
hall; and the equipment run down as
fast as it's reputation. l think I'm
CORY for Tracy. Besides, It's a bad
lockout, the power Of such fellows;
men who are not captains of industry,
not a little bit; only inspired gamblers.
Yet they are running the country. l
wonder where is the class that will
save us."
81 don't know. l don't admire the
present century. BERTHE. We had peo-
Pile of quality in my day; we have only
people Of culture in this. I confess
prefer the quality. They had robuster
nerves and really asked less Of people,
although they may have appeared to
ask more. We used to be contented
with respect from our interiors and
courtesy from our equals
And what from your betters, Aunt
Rebecca?" drawled the colonel.
1--WE had no betters, Rupert; We
were the best. l think partly it was
our assurance Of our position, which
nobody else doubted any more than
we, that kept us so mannerly. Nova
days, nobody has real position. Hs
may have wealth and servile follow
ing, who expect to make something
out OF him, but he hasn't position. The
newspapers can make fun OF him
The common people watch him drive
by and never think Of removing thei'
caps. Nobody takes him seriously ex
capt his toadies and himself. And a.
for the sentiments of reverence ant
loyalty, very useful sentiments II
running a world, they seem to have
clean disappeared, except" - sh'
smiled half-reluctant smile-"excep
with youngsters like Archie, Wit
would find it agreeable to be chopped
into bits for you, and the women wht
have not lived in the world, like Janet
who makes q heroine out OF me
upon my word, BERTHE, je tai fai
rougtr!"
"Not at ALL" said the colonel; "al
illusion of the sunset; but what d,
you mean when you say people o
quality required less than people o
culture?"
ooh, simply this; all we demanded
was Difference; but your cultiyate'
gang wants admiration and submis
sion, and will not let us possess on
secret souls. even, in peace. And
then, the quality despised no one, blu
the cultivated despise every one. All
we'll
Those good old times are past and gone
aiRh for them In VAIN