The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1909-06-07
By ALBERT PAYsoN TERHU
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Copyright, 1909, by Albert Payson Perfume

Docn Lhto hiS drmOr Of habitua1 calm and take off my hat to you. Con- over, you missed your calling when ing profession"
 There's more money in business ' replied Conover simply But now maybe you won't lay awake nights worryin' over your Steeloid stock Ii 1t was worth TO 2-5 this morning it'll De quoted at 250 before the month is
 .'I don't wonder you aren't afraid of this afternoons ordeal" observed came. But Blacarda- is on the Board of Governors"
 So are you, for that matter" said man who's made rich by SteeIotd will pair off with the vote of the man who's broke by it.
 T hope" corrected Caine, .that yoa, don't think it's because of my Steeloid holdings that I'm backing you in this. l do 1t because 1t amuses me to see the gyrations of the under dog. A sporting instinct, I suppose"
 IT you're pickin' me for the under dog" began Conover, but broke off to stare in disgust at the others uprafsed hand Caine was raising his cigarette to his lips Conover watched the Iaxtly graceful gesture with more than his wonted contempt
 Say. Caine," he interrupted. "why in thunder do you make your nails look like a. p1nk Skatfn' rinkg
 1f you mean, why do have them manicured," apswered Caine, coolly, 'it is absolutely none of your busi- ness.''
 Now I s'pose that's what you'd call q snub." reminated conover But it don't answer the question. Pink nails all shined up like that may look first rate on girl. But for a man thirty years old-with a mustache-Say why do you do it %
 xx<.,, tered Caine. 'I admit it Is a surpass- ingly ugly one. But why weaf one at all? It 'doesn't keep you warm. It has no use."
 mered Conover. rather discomfitted at the riposte. But there's no use creat- in a disturbance by goin' round with out lem. As for my necktie. 1t shows atn't a day laborer for one thing"
 Well-groomed hands are just as cer- tain a sign manual of another sort, |" finished Caine.
 T don't quite get your meanin-'
 .As fasure you would have been a. success, Conover." interrupted Caine "But as a success you are in some ways a lamentable failure. To para phrase your own inspired words. if all the things you don't know about social usage were placed end to end"
 They'd cover a mighty long. list of measly useless information. What do care for such rot?
 That's what you're called on to ex- plain this afternoon before the Cover noYs of the Arareek Country Club, 7 finished Caine rising. Are you ready?' < No, I'm going to stop at Desiree's for a few minutes, first want to tell her about my swfnnfn' out against the BIacarda crowd. She knows Blac- arda."
 Does che know. fnance?"
 As well as she knows Blacarda- I guess An neither of 'em enough to be specially int'rested. But she likes to hear about tidinEs I've done. I'll just drop 'roun there on my way. Join you later at the Club"
 I'll walk as far as her door with you. if you nke.'' suggested Caine. gathering up his hat and stick e"Then I'll go on and see what I can do with the Governors before the meeting. But don't look forward to coercing. many of them into sanity. They bear a pitt late lamented Bourbons. They learn nothing. forget nothing and
 +And they go your Bourbon gang one better. supplemented Conover. "by mayer .havin' known anything to start with. Maybe, I can give 'em an idea or two.' though. before we're done. used to boss Dago section hands. you know"
 ..You'n find this job rather more diff icult. fancy. A garlick-haloed sec tion hand is a lamb compared to some Of our hardshell club governors Why do you want to stay in the Club, any how? It seems to me-
 ''In the first place because won't He hates a ouitter. In the second place want to feel I've as much right in that crowd as I have in Gerrfgan's saloon. I've made my way. This where in the million class. An there's more to come. Lots of it. I'm rail- road president. too The C. c. & x- is a punk little one-horse railroad; but some day I'll make 1t cover this whole State. The road was on it's last legs when I got hold of it, and Pm making 1t what choose to- Now. as a man with all that cash,-ahd a railroad president, to boot.-why ain't entitled to line up with the other big bugs of Granite? Tell me that. They don't want me. maybe? Well. I'll make 'em want me. before I'm done Till then. they'll take me whether they want me or not Amt that sound logic?''
 "As sound as a dynamite cartridge" leughed Caine. You're a paradox! No. paradox isn't fighting word, so don't scowL You have the Midas-gift of making everything you touch turn to grow where one mortgage blank form erly bloomed. You have the secret of power. And, with 1t all. you stoop t. crawl under the canvas into the Social
 
 Caleb glanced furtively at his broad, boots. then, disdaining the al- fusion as past his discernment. an- swered:
 Its my own game and play it as I plan to-In one yearsfrom now you'll see folks askin' me to the same houses where you've been invited ever since your great grandfather held down the job of First Landowner here. in the See if I don't" Did you ever chance to read of poem about the Rabbi Ben Levi-who took the Kingdom of Heaven by violence? 2" queried Caine.
 'I don't read rhymes. Life's too short. What happened to him?"
 He didn't have a particularly pleas ant time of it, as remember. In fact. I believe the angels joined in a sym phonic clamor for his expulsion. Not unlike the very worthy governors of the Arareek Country Club"
 "H'm!" sniffed Conover in high con- tempt. ''If the Rabbi person had took the trouble of postin' himself on those
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