Heppner gazette. [volume] (Heppner, Morrow County, Or.) 1892-1912, 1910-08-04
CHAPTER VT

| Rooney merriam and Morris Leigh
ton walked up High street to the Tip
pecanoe Club which occupied a hand
some old brick mansion that had been
built by the Merriams who had after
ward lost his money. Merriam usually
went there late every afternoon to look
over the newspapers and to talk to
the men who dropped in on their way
home. He belonged also to the HAM
ilton, much larger and gayer club
that rose to the height of five stories
in the circular plaza about the SOL
diers' monument at the heart of the
city; but he never went there, for it
was noisy and full of politics. Many
young men fresh from college belong
ed to the Tippecanoe, and Merriam
liked to talk to them. He was more
constant to the club than Morris,
though they often went there together.
A number of men were sitting about
the fireplace in the lounging- room.
The lazy blazing logs furnished the
only light A chorus of good Evenings
greeted the two men in unmistakable
cordiality, and the best chair in the
room was pushed toward Rodney Mer-
riam.
"Mr. Merriam, Captain Pollock; and
Mr.. Leighton"
young man rose and shook hands
with the newcomers. Merriam did not
know most of the group by name. He
had reached the age at which it seems
unnecessary to tax the memory with
new burdens. 1t was, he held, good
club manners to speak to all the men
you meet in a club, whether you know
them or not. The youngsters at the
Tippecanoe were for the greater part
college graduates, just starting out in
the world and retaining a jealous hold
of their youth through the ties of the
club.
Captain Pollock has been telling us
about the Philippines" said one of the
group. We've been trying to find out
whether he's an imperialist or how
about it, but he won't tell"
THAT shows his good judgment"
said Merriam.
1T shows that 1 want to keep my
Job" declared Pollock, cheerfully.
And I'll be cashiered now for certain,
if l don't get back to the Arsenal. Ma
jor Congrieve expects me for dinner"
Baker, who had brought Pollock to
the club, shook himself out of his chair
and the others rose.
I'll see that you find your way back
to the reservation" said Baker.
That's very kind of you. And I'm
glad to have met you. Mr.. Merriam"
1t was soft voice, and as they went
out into the hall, Merriam looked at
the owner Of it with interest He was
a sim young fellow, with friendly
blue eyes, brown hair, and a slight
moustache. His carriage was that Of
the drilled man. West Point does not
give a degree in the usual academic
sense; but she writes something upon
her graduates that is much more USE
ful for purposes of identification. Frank
Pollock had been the shortest man in
his class; but his scant inches were all |
soldierly. The young man with whom
he had spent an hour at the Tippeca- !
noe Club had been gathered up by Ba- |
ker, who had met Pollock somewhere |
and taken a fancy to him. They all |
left the club together except Merriam |
and Leighton, who went to the news |
paper room. But Merriam stared at /
the evening paper without reading it, |
and when he got up to go presently, he
stopped at the club register which lay /
open on a desk in the hall He put on /
his eyeglasses and scanned the page. /
The ink was fresh on the last sigma
ture:
Frank Pollock, U. S. A"
Rodney Merriam then walked to-
ward his own house, tapping the side
walk abstractedly with his stick
The next morning he called for his
horse early. He kept only one horse.
Tor he never drove; but he rode nearly