The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1910-12-15
tCepyright. 1910. by Associated
Literary Press,

Ha " Literary tTeSS
4 After twenty years of harsh bat
& Hing In the marts OF tho world. Oar
!. Waller VAS about la return te TIN,
simple people OF his early year'
WRyvilie held out no alluFements. II,
4 aid not want to go back. Nevertheless
& HIS valet was, even then. packing tn,
rArefui selection of clothes that n
had decided 10 take with him. Al
this WAS in answer TO the inperious
Z demand Of a frank spoken physician
Go back" the specialist had told
him. ''1f You care I" live forget that
such n place as Wall street exists
and go hack To the village
Dan Waller vas thirty-eieht years
old. but his face was the hard, mex
prcssive face of the professional stock
gambler He looked older.
Save for palior. Ian Waller did
not have the appearance of sick
man. His every movement was preg-
nant with vitality. and his broad
shoulders were carried proudly thrown
back, as became the shoulders of one
who had conquered in his every I'll,
] with the world
1t WAS the heart OF the man tha;
had at least rebelled-~but before this
Waller had accumulated over mil
Non dollars.
An orphan. brought up with a
/ frugal farmer, who had taken him
put OF an orphans home with cal
cutating eye on the stocky frame of
the boy. Waller couldn't look back
over the experiences of his youth In
WAyville with thrifty little auivers Of
Joy. Martin. his master. had been a
master In every sense of the word,
/ He had given the lad whatever the
law compelled him To give in the
way OF clothes ana education. but ~
had always strisen TO impress upon
i Dan with each gift---if gifts they
1Eouid b. cailed-~that whatever came
from him-Martin-was charity.
All This could resuli In one thing.
There cam. a time when the boy be-
EE4me young man--and the young
f11nn was eonspicuously ahsent from
ne Martin house one morning when
Lie misery farmer attempted To call
~ chattel from, his attic room.
Dan Waller, his belongings on his
nEk and in Il cotton handkerchief
"a responded to the beckoning fin
- OF the city.
And now he wondered how Way
He would receive him. He wonder
u what Martin. his old taskmaater.
10nld say. Responsive to a sudden
As ~ tiii ANiSSS w LIE iiaSsENs
writing desk in the corner OF this
xurtant library and sprawled one
- Across a sheet OF the heavy linen
Senper bearing his monogram.
Am coming back Meet me at
5k&efnoon train tomorrow. want
~ talk with you.
# The bell brought the valet Here
GAnc from the man at the desk. mail
0is. and. by the way. you are not to
- with me TO Wayyiilc. You will re-
AAtn here. subject TO my orders"
||aSE AZ the Honorable Waller wishes"
1ne In stilted English from the
&Apanese. He bowed low and silently
1eet the room.
The only afternoon train from the
4MAf came to an impatient stop a,
49Ay-ilie just long enough to allow
Il ~ passenger for this point To alight.
kalaer. dressed in unassuming black
okhed hack The broad hat from his
|Nf0w. and stared about him for the
weaI remembered figure Of Martin. a
rim. daintiiy clad girl tripred toward
%im.
You don't know me. came in a
GoH voice.
Yeu do have the ADVANTAGE Of
&Ae. acknowledged the broker pe-
AakAiy. Withai, there waa something
Mhcut the sunny hair. the great bin
eyes that touched some dim chord Of
1nkmory.
And yet laughed the girl. Il
3knew you. but. of course. your note