The Washington times., 1909-02-18
CHAPTER IT.
PETER,s FOOL SON.

"A ~ X HUNNIEfttOfS III every
I'M sense. may be said to travel Il.
wi the heavyweight class.
Massive in dignity as In
business Importance. Donderous in stat
ure us in pocketbook, ne has way of
implanting Geld terror in the average
bosom. Viewed in Mr.. Peters bone,
though, Hungerford seemed slightly al
tered. In no way humble, Mr. Hunger
ford was sffability itself as ne stepped
into the library. This, perhaps. was
largely because Mr.. Peters could have
purchased the Mechanical for cash,
eliminated the president and directors,
and later used the building as his garage
financial condition
Cluett arose and executed his perfect
handshake. Mr.. HIngerford responded
cIumsily and sat down with smile.
so that's the boy. Peters?' he muir
INJURED. Il haven't laid eyes on him in
three years"
That is the boy,' replied Cluett's
papa "An5 the best part OF the boy is
that he is willing to go TO work."
CIuett looked from one TO the other;
his soft laugh came then.
What's the mystery, dad?' he in
! CURED. why shouldn't I be ready 70
90 TO work? I've had twenty-one- years
| Of fun
| Hungerford's jaw almost dropped. ne
4 had been hiring young men for quite a
I number OF years, but Cluett was alto
/ gether a new one on the bank president.
/ There was vague indefinite some
I thing about the grown Ciuett that he
/ couldn't understand at all. For mo-
} ment he was not altogether sure that
/ he liked the something; perfection of
\ that kind often savOred Of plain, sneaky
hypocrisy But Hungerford shrugged
/ his mental shoulders and frowned Ia
( disapproval of his own thought. This
/ extremely amiable, amenable young
man was simply the happy result Of
/ perfect breeding, perfect training: more
/ than that. he was Hiram Peters SON
and that would have been voucher
/ enough for his character had the exter-
nal aspect of him been Of the veriest
( fool
/ "AH prepared for IT, eh?" said Mr..
/ Hungerford. genially.
''Why-yes''
"WeI, there's no mystery about it,
. Hungerford crossed his legs and set
! tied back comfortably. your dad and
4 I have discussed the topic several
times. while you've been away. He had
notion that perhaps you wouidn't
enthuse over going TO work as a clerk
that's all"
i We'll, you see. sonny. you've had
pretty much Of a cinch Of things all
around" Peters explained further.
when 1 suggested that Mr.. Hunger
ford take you into the Mechanical and
train you he laughed. at first. Then
then"
-Then we decided to put 1T up to you
that's an
I'm certainly perfectly willing to
start in wherever you choose to place
me-" CIuett responded, calmly.
''At a salary Of, say, eight dollars g
week?''
Certainly" The trio smiled.
Climb up on a flve-fOot stool and
work over books from nine in the
morning until the days work is done?'
"Of course"
and take directions from a crowd OF
men who are making, in one year
about your daily income?"
Cluett sat erect. In fact, he looked
almost annoyed. which was very rar'
thing for Cluett.
why. da6-Mr Hungerford-what IN,
deuce has that 10 do with il? I know
, /
own making I haven't shaved for year,
TO pile up a fortune, as you two have
, don't know anything in particula
, about managing money, and 1 mus
learn-and the only way to learn Is [,
do il practically, isn't It? I'm no
only willing. but I'm grateful to MI
HungerfOrd for the chance, and as
r. sure you that I'll make the most Of it,
Hungerford licked his lips.
. when do you wish TO 90 to work?
he asked.
Tomorrow morning. if you say SC
sir"
"Cluett," said the bank president
: solemnly, IT believe Chat you are tn
; man for the job. You seem
He had been about about to state tina
Cluett seemed too good to be true, bu
20 he refrained judiciously. Cluett's pap
was sensitive about Ciuett.
md Cluett proved indeed TO be I'll
Z man for the job.
= At precisely three minutes befoI
: nine. a day or two later. his smaIle
:, motor deposited him at the door
!, the bank. and Ciuett entered upon h
n duties.
- ing-just as perfect as he always ma
o been and always would be He wa
r tastefUlly dressed in a business su
ir that drew every eve in the office an
/ Of the bank. by reason Of It's absS
lutely impeccable inc0nspicuousness.
Il he climbed upon a tail stool amid