Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-12-04
The Masterfu1 Hire1ing
Continued from page 4

at dawn. For Larkin-with his millions,
who had mercilessly overridden all obstacles
he had ever met in everything under the
skies was wrapped up in the skill of that
man, the man who had threshed him in
settlement of BILL The Lord only knows
where he found his faith; but it was well
founded!
THE girl recovered, and Our doctor had
had time to rest when Larkin paid his
second visit to the crossroads. 1t must have
been a strange meeting.
He didn't send the chauffeur in this time
Somehow doubt if he would have done SO
in any circumstances; for Larkin, of Lar
kin's Living Liniment, had changed, and
those who were nearest to him said they had
discovered he had heart. When he opened
the door of Harvey's Office he looked about
the same, except that he was less hard and
forbidding. That hardest trial of his life,
with its hours for introspection, perhaps.
had wrought some subtle change; just that
the difference between hard and selfish
man and one who is charitable and SYM
pathetic.
Harvey lifted his tired eyes, and looked
bewidered as if aroused from some abstract
study, opened his lips as if to speak, and then
leaned little forward. Larkin, big and en-
barrassed, stepped slowly into the room and
came to a stop before the doctors desk.
For an instant both seemed at loss for
words. The call of distant plowboy, the
humming of the waiting motor, and the
"whish'' of some woodsman's ak on the
mountainside blended in autumn diapason.
Doctor" Larkin said. looking confused
as if in an unaccustomed role, - shall bother
you but a moment. Ive-I've-" The
big man was actually stammering for speech
-Larkin who was used to believing his COM
mands at timid boards of directors! He
cleared his throat and proceeded more
brave1y.
1--WE come to apologize for calling you
hireling and few other things. It's the
best can do. If ever one man owed another
anything, everything, | am that man. |
haven't come to pay you money, but to
square myself. l want to be friends with
you. May II"
Larkin couldn't have said more; for Har-
vey was soft hearted sort when his OBJ
stinacy was not aroused. He colored up.
pretended to sort some papers on his desk,
fumbled at his tie, and then got to his feet.
and went around and took the heavy, red
hand that had been held out-and both
were still more embarrassed. The motor,
and the plowboy, and the woodcutter all
seemed to have rested from their activities,
and there was no noise to relieve them; so
they stood there, without another word, for
several seconds, looking into each others
eyes and understanding. Then Larkin used
a few rough EXPLANATIONS to hide sentiment
and bolted for the door. He rushed out as
if running away from something; for it is
hard for men of his sort to betray them
selves, fairly jumped into his car, and
bawled to the driver, "Go on!"
On Harvey's desk lay an envelop which
~ appeared strange. After he had run
his fingers through his hair few times, be-
rated himself for having emotions, and
Gained down, he opened it. There was
cancelled mortgage and check which was
signed but left in blank, and this note:
shall try to leave this with you. somehow
In what way don't know because you are
very hard man to deal with. l don't leave
either of the Enclosures in payment of your
bill to me and mine, but to show you, in the
only way l know. that l want you to be my
friend. Life hasn't been easy with me, and
I've been taught in school where men often
make mistakes. l owe you one lesson which
that school never taught: that there are many
things which money cannot buy.
JOHN LARKIN.