The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1911-05-27
BENEFITS BAD DREAM

lee; in the second. it was the stall
wart son who sailed. the old father
on the Ice. Bennett nodded his I'M
derstanding of 1t.
The newspaper told him that How
ellis and Weston were the eastern
creditors in the many-thousand-d DOL
lar smash-up. Bennett called up
their offices in the late afternoon.
Mr.. Weston was out OF town; Mr..
Howells had just gone home. Ben
nett made an appointment TO see the
senior member at once before ne
started toward Canada.
on his way up town Bennett ran
across Marcy.
Man alive" his friend commented
briskly. you look as grave as a
tombstone. Have you got funeral
to attend to or are you looking for
place to have another Of those fits q
Bennett did not stop TO explain.
Marcy was welcome to the unhappy
news when he happened to run
across IT.
In MIR. Howells. Bennett found a
courteous gentleman of middle life.
His rich surroundings simply en-
phasized In Benefits mind his own
fathers poverty.
anyway" he promised himself.
N dad is wrecked he and / will
hang together and paddle through
life somehow on the wreckage."
The business with Mr.. Howells
was quickly stated. Bennett wanted
to set forth the extent of his own
resources and place them at the
disposal OF his fathers creditors.
resources and to place them at the
Mr.. Howells looked at him over
kindly spectacles. Il lost son years
ago" he unused. gravely. He would
have been about your build now. I
should think. I'm wondering whether
he would have done for me what You
are doing for your father"
Bennett could offer no opinion.
The merchant looked him over care
fully and continued;
However. you give yourself need
less anxiety. Your father ~ our
western agent. The smash-up was
an investment which he placed for us
which he warned US against. too.
| We can afford to lose the money and
| learn our lesson
Bennett was ready 10 kick UP his
| heels with Wild Joy. His father {
absence in Canada had nothing what
ever to do with irreguIarity Of bust
ness, Furthermore, he had just tele-
graphed Mr.. Howeils that. in view OF
the disaster, he WAS well enough to
try and start for home. Bennett had
no need TO make the trip. He &C.
: cepted an invitation to stay for din
ner.
\ servant came in to tell the rer-
chant that his automobile was ready
/ Mr.. Howells apologized for a hasty
| errand. He had come home from tbs
! office with wrong paper and must
/ go for the right one In person.
You won't mind waiting for me -
he aueried. and Bennett bowed. Ht
/ didn't mind anything Just now. Be
sides some one was coming In 10 en
terrain him meanwhile. Buried IN q
reverie OF pleasant relief. however
Bennett hardly noticed The entrance
I Of the young woman.
My dauxhter-your TALLER until
return. the merchant introduced
! with a smile. holding thu curtain
aside for a moment before he depart
ed
Bennett looked up. She wore No
hat; but the dress was still gray, L
was the same tall figure. the fasclnat-
ing mouth. Rut as he held her hant
for an instant 81 dazed recognition hs
realized that II he we're a Thousand
times more clever than his friends
called him he never could do justice
in A pencil sketch to the girl he hat
lost on the seashore and found IT
. New y ork