Highland recorder. (Monterey, Highland County, Va.) 1877-1972, 1911-04-14

ware 90, the whole evening Delore
us in which to chin. Sit down. He
Iad Duncan to an armchair and gently
but firmly pumped him into its capa-
cious depths. well have snug III
flo dinner here and what do you say
r. +otino in q show afterward"
81 say no."
"You dassent, my boy. This is the
night we celebrate. I'm feeling pretty
good tonight ,
"you ought to, Harry" Duncan
struggled to rouse himself 70 snare III
the spirit of graduation with "nach
Kellogg was bubbling. I'm mighty
glad, old man. It's a great step up
for you"
"It,s all of that. You could nave
knocked me over with feather "nen
Bartlett sprang it on me this morning
Of course, was expecting someth.ns'
a boost in salary. or something Ike
that. Bartlett knew that otner houses
in the street had made me offers. I've
been pretty lucky Of late ana pul'eu
off one or two rather big deals. nut a
partnership with L. j. bartie''-
Think Of it. Nat!'
"rm thinking of it. and it's great
It'll keep me mighty busy Kellogg
Numbered blindly on. 1T means iot
of extra work. but you know like to
work"
"That's right. you do" agreed Dun
can drearily. ITS queer to me: IL
must be q great thing to like TO Work.
"You bet it's a great thing. Why'
T couldn't exist if l couldn't WORK.
You remember that time l laid Off for
a month in the country for my health
sake? I'll never forget it-hang'nS
round all the time with my hahos
empty-every one else with something
to do. l wouldn't go through with 1t
again for fortune. Never felt so use
less and in the way
But" interrupted Duncan. knitting
his brows as he grappled with this
problem. you were independent
weren't you? You had money-could
| pay your board"
of course. Nevertheless l felt in
the way"
That's funny"
'It's straight"
81 know it u.s. Tt wouldn't he you II
couldn't pay your board and had moth
Ing to do. How'd you feel in that
| case?'
q don't know. Anyhow that's
rot
No. it isn't rot I'm trying to make
you understand how ] feel Which,
when it's that way with me, as it gen.
orally is" He raised one hand and
lei it fall with a gesture of desponden-
cy so eloquent that it reused Kellogg
out of his own preoccupation.
why, Natp he cried, genuinely
sympathetic. 1--WE been so taken up
with myself that forgot. l hadn't
looked for you till tomorrow"
You knew, thenT'
81 met Atwater at lunch today. He
told me. Said he was sorry, butt
Yes, everybody is always sorry
i but
kellogg let his hand fall on Duncan's
shoulder. Pm sorry, too, old man.
But don't lose heart. l know it's pref
ty tough on fellow
"The toughest part Of 1t is that you
got the job for me, and l had to fall
down."
Don't think Of that. It's. not your
fault
you're the only man who believes
that. Harry"
"RuoE ,1r MI - - 1890
! - opening for you before long,
and''-
"Stop right there. I'm through
Don't talk that way, Nat. I'll get
you in right somewhere"
you're the best hearted man alive,
Harry, but I'll see you blasted first"
wait" Kellogg demanded his at
tention. Here's this man Burnham.
You don't know him, but he's as keen
as they make EN- He's on the track
Of some wonderful scheme for making
illuminating gas from crude OIL If it
goes through. if the Inventions really
practicable it's bound to work rev.
olution. He's down in Washington now
left this afternoon to look up the
patents. Now. he needs me to get the
car Of the Standard Oil people. and
I'll get You in there"
"What right we you go to do that|'
demanded Duncan. What the dick
ems do | know about Illuminating gas
or crude oil? Burnham d never thank
! you for the likes O. me-"
"But. thunder. you can learn. All
you need
"Now. see here Harry" Duncan
gave him pause with manner not to
be denied. "Once and for all time
understand I'm through having you
recommend an incompetent just be-
cause we're friends"
"1ut. Harry
".And I'm through living on you
while I'm out Of a job. That's final"
"But. man. listen to me-when we
were at college,
"That was another matter"
How many times did you pay the
room rent when | was strapped? How
many times did your money pull me
through when I'd have had to quit and
forfeit my degree because couldn't
earn enough to keep on?"
"That's different. You earned enough
finally to square up. You don't owe
me anything"