Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-05-28

country CROPPED among rumors. Money
went into hiding; banks drew the curtains
over paying-tellers' windows and calmly
declared that there was no cause for
alarm. Finance whistled in q graveyard
and every one pretended that nothing was
the matter. Col. Craighill, astute student
Of affairs. fed the journals with optimistic
statements affirming the perfect security
of the national glory as proved by cred
ible statistics. Everybody was rich. yet
nobody had any money; credits were
never sounder, but nobody could borrow
a cent. The great prosperity had been
followed by the great scare. and yet there
was no panic in the strict sense OF the
term. Col. Craighill was encouraged by
his business friends to talk in the news
papers; no one else was SO plausible, no
one else could so deftly enwreathe the
smiling brow of Mammon. His pronounce
ments soothed the fretful and put to
shame those dull persons who had been
disposed to question the edicts Of the ma
hogany tables. If Col. Craighill said that
finance is a science not intended to be
! understanded of the people, it must be so,
and mere ignorant mortals did well not
to bother their poor heads about it.
Col. Craighill, believing firmly that
merit and length of tenure should be IA
vored in promotions, had installed as
Walsil's successor an accountant who had
many years. Walsh had mildly suggested
Wayne. but Col. Craighill rejected the
recommendation.
"The suggestion does credit to your
kindness Of heart. Walsh. but-you must
know ii is impossible"
Paddock called on Wayne at the Office
one afternoon to find him bending stu
diously over a mass Of papers. Wayne
/ greeted his old friend amiably.
Don't be afraid I'll not bite YOU this
time
He cleared q chair of papers and bade
the clergyman make himself at home.
II won't conceal it from you, old man,
that was in bad shape that night you
came in on me here. l saw everything
red-not pink. but a bright. burning scar
let You won't mind my saying it. but
your call was deucedly inopportune. l
had come up here with my tongue hang
ing out to drink that quart. and to be
caught with the goods on by a gentleman
your feelings in the matter! And then
you looked so fresh and fit and good that
that riled me too. l was ashamed of 1t
afterward-the way l received your life
did you eat it?' laughed Paddock. de-
lighted to find his old friend in this gay
humor.
IT told you 1 was going to the bad that
night. and you went out with hurt look,
as though had kicked your dog or done
some low thing of that sort. Your tact
word to me when I told you l had
started for h--ll / should have screamed
and made terrible fuss. Strong men
| could not have held me. You went away
and left me, by which token know you
possess the wisdom Of serpents. And
proceeded at once to get beautifully
drunk
Paddock said nothing, but smiled sadly.
But I have cut it out now. l shall
look no more upon the rum bottle when
| it's red. not because I don't like 1t. but
because I've thought Of much more dread
| full and heinous Sins"
Then" said Paddock. not understand
ing. II have merely stimulated your am
bition as q sinner
That's exactly it. There's something
rather contemplate about drunkenness.
| A man of education ought to do worse or
be very. very good. Well, how goes the
work.
First rate. That's what came in to
see you about I want you. as leading
citizen. to come and look at my plant
Certainly, I'll do that with pleasure.
! some time, provided your real design
| isn't to show me OF as an awful example.
Mind you. don't stand for that. At any
rate was brought up In the strict letter
of the Presbyterian faith. and IL 1 have
any value as an example of what