Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1909-01-07
What Poulding Collected.

IeplleO eteT duluiDS, &C uo ieSoA"
ed the erect form before him. 81 had
begun to think that you were trying
to qualify as a salesman in sporting
goods store"
Dick PauldiDg smiled grimly at THE
allusiou to his athletic prowess. I'm
any event" he reminded his father,
my medal winning should assure you
that you will get sound mind in a
sound body"
II wish could be as certain of the
mind as 1 am of the body was the
sharp retort, as tie older man regard.
ed with frank admiration his boys
phyeique. You know what ! told
you, boy. If you want to come after
me in the bank you'll have to start at
the bottom.
And sweep the foorf" asked Dick
quietly. II CUES, l can do that, cir. "
We're not educating you to be a
ianitor," explained the elder hastily.
Il mean at the bottom of the financial
ladder. You will have to start as
runner"
"Is that one of those chaps who go
to the other banks to collect drafts and
things, and carry wallets attached to
chains2" asked Dick with interest.
Just that" said the father dryly.
1T will be novel experience for you
10 have about you any money that is
chained. I trust the sensation will in
culcate lessons of industry and pru-
dence. There is some collecting to be
done that is not from hanks-from
Hiram Pettis, for instance. He owes
$4,000 that he won't pay. See what
you can do with that.
"Wby, I thought that old Pettis was
good for millions !" cried Dick, won
deringly.
80 be ie-when he wants to pay.
The trouble is that in this instance he
thinks that he has been badly treated
by the bank, and he says we can wait
his p easure. We don't want to sue,
so l guess that you had better go af-
ter him. That will keep you busy for
a while"
"I'll run over to his Office right
away" cried Dick. alertly. II guess
it won't take long to get that out OF
him."
"Wait and see before you brag,"
warned Peter. Anyway, don't 20 to
bis Office. This is a personal matter,
and you want to 60 to his house. Pet.
tie is crank about keeping his per-
sonal affairs out Of the Office of Pettis,
Pinkertou & Permain. You might run
up this evening""
Dick nodded, and after some Talk
about other business matters he left
the bank. firmly convinced that his
new lite Was not going to be 30 bad
after all.
On leaving college he had asked that
be might have a couple Of years in
which to travel, but instead he swung
athletics. Thus four years had passed
while he was acquiring case of tro-
phies. aud be was now content to be-
gin his business training.
He had rather dreaded that begin
ming, for bis father, though just, was
strict, and his son knew that it meant
starting at the bottom.
1t was rather good fun to be sent
after Hiram Pettis. Dick had never
mat the eccentric old millionaire, for
be had mixed little with society while
in training, and, on the other hand,
Pettis was breaking into society on his
daughters account.
Dick had heard many odd tales Of
the old man. and he thought it would
be more or less Of lark to camp on
his trail for a while.
BE was even better content after
his fret visit, and be rather hoped
that the collection would not be made
quickly, for on that occasion he met
Eleanor Pettis. She was indeed good
to look upon.
he had not seen much of the women
of his mothers set. He had made stb-
letics his hobby, and he had noticed
women only at the track events. Then
they formed merely a macs Of brilliant
color in the stands. and he thought Of
them only in the plural.
For the first time he now thought
of but one woman, and be mentally
decided that Eleanor Pettis was the
one woman worth while thinking Of at
all.
For her sake he took up his social
du.iea HypOcridcally he pretended
to himself that it was merely for the
sake of being able to meet Pettis with