St. Johns review. (Saint Johns, Or.) 1904-current, 1910-08-12


As the thoroughbred bore him rap
Idly back 60 town, Rodney Merriam
several times repeated to himself abb
stractedly: Hes n nice little followi"
CHAPTER VII
II In no longer 80 very iaudable for
a young man TO pay his way through
college. and Morris leighton had done
this easily and without caring 10 be
praised or martyrized for doing so. He
had enjoyed his college days, he had
been popular with town and gown; and
he had managed 10 get his share OF
undergraduate fun while leading his
classes. He had helped In the college
library. he had twisted the iron letter.
press on the presidents correspond
ence late into the night; he had copied
briefs for a lawyer after hours; but he
had pitched for the nine and hustled
for his frat" and he had led class
rushos with ardor and success
lie had now been for several years
q the Offices OF knight. Kittredge q
Carr az Mariona, only an hours ride
from Tippecanoe. and he atlil kept In
touch with the college. Michael Carr
fully appreciated young man who
sit down In court room on call morn
inEH. when need be. and turn on n de-
murrer without paraphrasing II from q
textbook.
Mrs. Carr, too, found Morris Leigh.
ton useful. and she liked him. because
he always responded unqueationingly
60 any summons 10 fll up blank at
her table. Young men were at a pre-
mai "a Ia 81 hgF
places. and II was something 10 have
one OF the species. OF an accommodate
ing turn. ana very preaentahie. within
telephone range IL was through Mrs,
Carr that Leighton came 10 be well
known In Mariona, she told her friends
90 ask him 10 call. and there were now
many homes besides hers that he vis-
ited.
An errand 10 law frm IN one o.
the fashionable new buildings that had
lately raised the Mariona skyline led
him one afternoon past the once OF his
college classmate, Jack Balcomh, -
Arthur Baleomb" was the inscription
on the door Leighton had seen little
OF haleomb for a year or more. and
his friends name on the ground glass
door arrested his eye.
Two girls were busiiy employed az
typewrlters IN the anteroom. aud one
OF them extended a blank card 10 Nor
ris and asked him for his name. The
girl disappeared into the inner room
and came back instantly followed by
Balcomh. who seized Morris hand,
dragged him In and closed the door.
well. old mani" BalcOmb shouted.
I'm glad 10 see you. It's downright
pleasant TO have a fellow come In oe-
casiOnaiiy and feel no temptation 10
take his watch"
Morris cast his eyes over the room.
which was handsomely furnished.
There was a good rug on the moor and
the desk and table were OF heavy oak;
an engraving OF Thomas Jefferson
hung over Baleomb's desk. and on the
opposite side OF the room was a table
covered with financial reference books
What is your game just now. Jack.
II II isn't impertinent? It's hard 10
keep track OF you. remember very
well that you started In 10 learn the
wholesale drug business" said Norris
"Oh. tush! don't refer 10 that. as
thou lowest mel That is one OF the
darkest pages OF my life. Those peo-
pie down there Ia South High street
thought was jay, and they sent me
out 20 help the shipping clerk |
Wouldn't that jar YOU overalls-and |
a hand truck. / couldn't get out OF
that fast enough. Then, you know. |
went TO Chicago and spent a year in |
brokers' office. and | guess | learned |
few up there. oh, rather, They sent |
me into the country 10 sell mining |
stock and | made record. They kept |
the printing presses going overtime 10 |
keep me supplied. Say, they got AFRAID |
OF me; was too good"
What's your line now? Real estate.
mortgages. lending money TO the door? |
How do you classify yourself?"
You do me cruel wrong, Morris. |
a cruel wrong. You read my sign on
the outer wall? Well. that's a blum. |
There's nothing in real estate. Aud /
the loan business has all gone 10 the
bad-people are too rich; farmers are
rolling in real money and have IL 70
lend. There was nothing for little VIII
lie in petty brokerages. I'm scheming
-promoting-and l take my slice on
OF everything that passes"
That certainly sounds well. You've
learned fast You had an ambition to
be a poet when you were In college.
think l still have a few pounds of
your verses In my traps somewhere"
sAnd then. you remember" Balcomb
went on. In enjoyment Of his own REM
iniscences. Il wooed the law for a
while. But / guess what / learned
wouldn't have embarrassed Chancellor
Kent. really had a client once.
didn't see a chance OF getting one any
other way. so l hired him. He was a
coon. employed him for two dollars
TO go TO the Grand Opera House and
buy a seat In the orchestra when Sir
Henry Irving was giving The Mer-
chant OF Venice" He went TO sleep
and snored and they threw him out
with rude. insolent. and angry hands
after the second act; and brought
suit against the management for dam
ages, basing my claim on the idea that
they had spurned my dusky brother
on account OF his race. color and pre-
sieus condition Of seryiture The last