Evening star., 1911-08-31
CHAPTER I.
Dick Arrives.

Bennington Park, comprising fifteen
acres. Is situated in the second rise OF the
Jersey hills Landscape artists had not
been called on to add to its natural
beauty to any great extent. and the an
cient trees had fought their own way into
an exalted station. where they reigned in
dignified complacency. :
In front OF the large. square brick house,
the lawn was well kept. and the box
hedge which surrounded the entire place
was luxuriant and fairly well trimmed,
but there were few flowers and these were
of the sturdier and simpler kinds. Other
country homes were clustered along the
well kept road, or, rather, street. which
continued into Minister, and the entire
neighborhood suggested discriminating
content and comfortable independence.
Richard Bennington was a name Of ma
tional familiarity and yet the man him.
self was known to but very few. He had
been written up and he had been written
down; but there was nothing to indicate
that all this very skillful writing had
given him a moments irritation or modi-
fled to the slightest degree a single one
Of his actions.
On this July morning he was pacing up
and down the library and. as was his Gus
tom. talking to himself in a low and
SOHneWHdI STufHDiln& tone. III De Sidu
to see the young scamp again., he said,
as he paused at a window overlooking the
driveway. Come to think Of it. haven t
seen much of him since he went to col
lege. Haven't quite lost track of him,
though. II the young cub can only earn
money one-half as easily as he spends it,
he'll be big help to me Well, what
do you want?"-to a tall, dry-looking foot
man in dingy green livery. who had just
entered. All the male servants at Ban
nington were tall and had the appearance
of having been seasoned in a dry kiln
and of having been kept in just a shade
too long.
''If you please. sir answered the foot
man. the carriage broke down"
Broke down? On such morning as
things are in good order when you know
that they are going to be needed?"
THE coachman told you over a month
ago. sir began the footman, but was
interrupted by hasty wave of the hand.
Never mindful be all the better
said Mr.. Bennington pursuing up his thin
lips. 1T will give me a chance to see
what kind Of rig he hires to drive out in.
Tell the coachman to have the carriage
put in good order and next time not to
bother me with such details
The footman bowed and withdrew, and
Richard continued to talk to himself: Il
hope he's not like most Of these college
fellows. But that trip around the world
SHOui0 nave put a UnlSf1 on MIN. nope: IL
has. l could never stand it IL he was one
of these strolling clothes forms. Not
much fear of that. though. Probably has
the same cool. calculating, practical head
his father had. BY CAD, l do hope he has
ideas and is ready to pitch in and help
me fight Burton. ! hate to tell him how
hard put to it the old Bennington plant
is
His brows were drawn down in fierce
scowl and weary droop came to his
mouth for a moment: but he shook 1t off
with toss of his head and with a dry,
throaty chuckle, continued: Il wonder
IL he will stand driving as we'll as / did.
His father was only two years older than
l, but land, how he did goad me through
stint Of work. I'll not be too hard on
the boy. but I'll not stand much non
sense. either. / can't see why it should
take four times as long to change from a
| boy to man nowadays as it did fifty
years ago. He'll have. to make a quick
job of it. l need him and he has to make
good. The trouble is that these rich
| mems sons are pampered and fused over
| until Well, what is it?'--to the butler
who had entered noiselessly and was
standing in a respectful posture
Shall / give orders, sir, to have Mr..
Dicks bath drawn as soon as he comes
into sight?' inquired Higgins.
Now see here. Higgins" replied Rich
ard Bennington, severely, Mr. Dick is
twenty-fo years old, and IL he hasn't
| bath and how to get one when he does
need 1t. why I'll get governess for him;
| but l want you to treat him as though he
| were a full-grown mana full-grown
| man. Understand?'
Higgins bowed apoloseticalIy. II only
| thought. sir. that bein' as 'ow Mr.. Dick
'ad been away for SO long-around the
| world and over in China and Africa and
India and"
THAT will do" interrupted Bennington.
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abridged directory Of the EARTH
And you don't think, then, that I need
| to ave is bath drawn, sir?' persisted
Higgins.
"Hang it, no." exclaimed Mr.. Dic6's
uncle. HE has probably stopped long
enough along the route to take a bath.
If not. they'll give him one in quarantine.
Now clear out! Wait, come back here.
When he does come ] want all the SER
wants drawn up at the steps to receive
| him. He is bringing some titled foreign
ers back with him. and ] want to show
them that we can do the thing right, If
we want to-though it's all idiotic non
sense. / don't want you to show that II
| to do things in some style. That's all.
1t was plainly evident from his actions
| that Mr.. Bennington was a man who had
| little patience with nervous people. He
was himself nervous this morning, and 1t
| was easy to see that he was also disgust
ed with himself. He picked up the morn
| ing paper. glanced at it, threw it down.
| looked at his watch. saw that less than
| a quarter of an hour had elapsed since
| he had last looked at 1t. and made mo-
| tion as IL also to throw the watch down,
| but changed his mind and strolled over
| to the window instead.
| Il wish that boy would GOMEZ he NUT
| tered. 1T seems to me as IL have been
waiting for him ever since the day l sent
him off to boarding school. I don't see
how l could think any more Of him IL he