Los Angeles herald., 1910-10-16
OCTOBER 10, 1910.


scssment, and stock in T. R. R. fell still lower, and it
touched its lowest point when Radbourn announced
that he about out of money and that he would
probably soon have to seek another position.
There was new boarder in Mrs. Gregg S, young
man from Boston, and every one understood he was
in the house temporarily. He was queer the
members of the company decided. lie wore spectaces,
and kept very much to himself, and the little eonver-
sation he INDUCED in composed of shrewd ques-
tions He never seemed to exactly understand the
r. R. r. Company. 1t too deep or too frivolous
for him. and his questions regarding 1t were endless
His name was Emerson Dithridge.
When Bobby Mathew knocked the ash from his pipe
one night and announced that he had sold his stock
to Dithridge, Radbourn got up and objected.
'Now, look here, - said Radbourn, you haven t
really done that, have you9 | call that beastly of
you. don t want Dthridge to have any stock in me-
''Well, he s got it," said Bobby, "and that all |
have to say. You shouldn t kick, Rad. You kno"
you horrid poor property and If he WASH such
fiat | wouldn t be mean enough to stick him with you
Anyway, got more for you than thought would
Radbourn groaned.
"Sayv cried Warner, ''I wonder what Dithrdge
is up to- He took over my stock to-day, but he ddn t
say he had bought you out, Bobby
Radbourn laid his pipe on the table, and his face
became very white.
Boggs was sprawled the bed, and he simply re-
marked, 81 We sold out too, Rad.
$50 have l. - said Woody Simpson, briefly
Young Williams laid his hand on Radbourn S arm
I'm sorry Rad, - he said but | was awfully
hard up
Radbourn turned to the window and stared out into
the night When he faced about his lip was quivering
~ don t blame you, fellows he said hoarsely.
81 know IN good but it S pretty hard to be sold
out this way to a fellow like Dhridge Just think,
boys he owns me body and soul now Think of him
nagging me with his internal questions Think of
him
lie broke down and MD his face in his hands, and
the stockholders gazed at him gravely.
Bobby Mahew broke the silence. Come, old man,
he said cheerfully, cit ism t bad all that, you
know. OF course Dthridge ism t just our kind, but
he She s literary-and all that sort of thing"
Radbourn raised his face.
"Literary?'' he said fiercey. Giles a literary
dude lie s a moonfaced literary cad, that S what he
is He's an Ibsente and innercirclest. lie
coudn t a joke in year. Think of such prig
owning mel
He arose and fercely kicked his hat under the bed
''Thnk of him coming up here and sitting on the
edge of that chair and gazing at me with his calty
eyes and asking questions about the inner meaning
of my poor little jingles. -
The stockholders silently filed from the room and
left their factory to his cruel thoughts.
The next morning Radbourn, on his way to the
bath, met Dthrdge returning from his morning dip.
Radbourn ignored him, and hurrying by, but
Dithrdge put out his hand and stopped him.
81 beg pawdon, Mr. Radbourn,'' he said, "but
weally now what all this affair about stock com
pany and all that7 [ cawn't grasp it, you know.
Radbourn turned him angrily. "Comel' he
cried; cit s bad enough to buy up like lot of old
clothes, without trying to
make snort of me. What