Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1909-11-13

ters pounced upon him for his wages
And at his confession they shrieked
and objurgated him in the pithy rhet-
oric Of the locality.
But even as they plucked at him and
struck him Ikey remained in his &c
static trance of JOY. His head was in
the clouds; the s:ar was drawing his
wagon. Compared with what he had
achieved the loss of wages and the
bray Of womens tongues were slight
affairs.
He had shaken the hand of Billy Nc
Mahan.
Billy McMahan 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 n dictator in pol
itics, a four walled tower in business,
a mogul dreaded, loved and obeyed
among his own people. He was grow
Ing rich; the daily papers had dozen
men on his trail to chronicle his every
word of wisdom; he had been honored
In caricature holding the tiger cring-
ing in leash.
But the heart OF Billy was sometimes
sore within him. There was a race of
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 1key
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 a look Of discomfort
upon her plump but pretty face, and
the very rustic of her silks seemed a
sigh.
There was brave and conspicuous
asSemblage In the dining salon of
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. McMahan's dia-
monds were outshone by few in the
ApoD hc pole luC NOotllISl
brands Of wine to their table. In even
ing dress, with an expression Of gloom
upon his smooth and massive coun-
tennnce, you would look in vain for
a more striking figure than Billy's.
Four tables away sat alone a tall,
slender man about thirty, with thought
ful, melancholy eyes, a vandyke beard
and peculiarly white, thin hands He
was dining on f1let mignon dry toast
and apollinaris. That man was Cort-
landt Van Duyckink, a man worth
$50, 100000, who inherited and held
sacred seat in the exclusive inner cir
Gle OF society.
Billy McMahan spoke to no one
around him because he knew no one.
Van Duycklnk kept his eyes on his
plate because he knew that every eye
present was hungry to catch his. He
could bestow knlghthood and prestige
by n 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 He rose
deliberately and walked over to Cort-
landt Van Duyckink's table and held
out hts 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
Mahan, you know. Say, now, If that's
straight III do all l can to help you.
And what l says goes In that neck of
the woods, don't 1t? Oh, say, l rather
guess 1t does"
Van Duycklnk's rather somber eyes
lighted up. He rose to his lank height
and grasped Billy McMahan's hand.
Thank you, Mr.. McMahan," he said
in his deep, serious tones. 81 have
been thinking of doing some work of
that sort. l shall be glad Of your as
sistance. 1t pleases me to become ac-
Quainted with you"
Billy walked back to his seat. His
shoulder was tlngling 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 tremblcd with
the eye almost with pain. And now 1t
was apparent that at 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-
veloped in the aura Of dizzy greatness.
His campaign cooness deserted him.
Wine for that gang" he command
ed the waiter, pointing with his finger
Wine over there. Wine to those three
gents by that green bush! Tell 'em
It's on me- See? Wine for everybody"
The waiter ventured to whisper that
It was perhaps inexpedient to carry
out the order In consideration of the
dignity of the house and Its custom.
"All right" said Billy, 'If it's against
the rules. l wonder If 'twould do to
send my friend Van Duyckink a bottle.
No? Well, it'll flow all right at the
caffy tonight, just the same. It'll be
rubber boots for anybody who comes
in there any time up to a. m"
Billy McMahan was happy.
He had shaken the hand of Cortlandt
Van Duyckink.
The big pale gray auto with its shin
ing metal work looked out of place
moving slowly among the pushcarts
and trash heaps on the lower east side.
SO did Cortlandt Van Duyckink, with
his aristocratic face and white, thin