The Tupelo journal., 1909-06-18

make a difference her not having the
the right kind of food. Nobody knew
anything about consumption then, |
used to go out in the morning and be
afraid I'd find her dead when l got
back. One night l did" He stopped
abruptly, crimsoning up to his eyes
Il don't know why I'm telling you all
this"
Il call that tough"-as the colonel
blurted out the words, he was con-
scious of a sense of repetition. When
had he said those very same words
before, to whom? OF all people in the
world, to Cary Mercer. Mighty
tough" murmured he softly.
YES" said Keatcham, sit was" He
did not say anything more. Neither
did the colonel. Keatcham obediently
ate his milk and biscuit; and very
shortly the colonel took his leave.
The next morning after an unevent-
full hour of sorting, reading and an
swering letters for Miss Smith to copy
on the travelling typewriter, Keatcham
gave his new secretary a sharp sensa-
ton; he ordered in his quiet but per-
emptory fashion: Now put that trash
away; sit down; tell me all you know
of Cary-real name is Cary Mercer,
isn't it,"
The colonel said it was; he asked
him if he wanted everything.
Everything. Straight. Without a
ob,cocD roo,po1 Kootobar
The colonel gave it to him. He be-
gan with his own acquaintance; he
told about Phil Mercer; he did not slur
a detail; neither did he underscore
one; Keatcham got the uncolored
facts. He heard them impassively,
making only n comment: "a great
deal of damage would be saved in this
world if youngsters could be shut up
until they had sense enough not to
fool with firearms" When Winter
came to MERGERS own exposition Of
his motives and his design if ucces
full in his raid on the kings of the
market, Keatcham grunted; at the end
he breathed a noiseless jet of a sigh.
You don't think Mercer is at all
he tapped the side of the head.
mo more than you are"
Cor you?"
ooh, WELL" the colonel TESTED, 1--WE
all have a prejudice in favor of our
own sanity. What I meant was that
Mercer is a bit of a fanatic; his hard
luck has-well, prejudiced him
Keatcham's cold, firm lips straight
ened into his peculiar smile. which
was rather of perception than of
humor.
One might say of him-Aunt Rebec-
ca Winter did say of him-that he
saw the incongruous, which makes up
for humor, but he neve enjoyed it;
possibly it was only another factor in
his contempt of mankind.
Colonel" said Keatcham. do you
think Wall street is a den Of thieves ?"
81 do said the colonel promptly.
Il should like to take a machine gun
or two and clean you all out"
Keatcham did not smile; he blinked
his eyes and nodded. Il presume a
good many people share your opinion
of u.s."
Millions" replied the colonel.
Again Keatcham nodded. Il thought
So" said he. "Of course you are all
off; Wall street is as necessary to the
commonwealth as the pores to your
skin; they don't make the poison in
the system any more than the pores
do; they only let it escape. And sup
pose you think that big f~inanciers who
control the trusts and the railways
and"
U.S. the colonel struck in, @well?"
You think we r thieves and liars
and murderers and despots?"
"All of that" said the colonel placid
W; ALSO fools"
You certainly don't mince your
words"
You don't want me to. What use
would my opinion be in q one-thou-
sandth attenuation? You're no homeo-