Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-09-15
TIE % A f Sss'ss2|-
STEERING
VXXXH~"T Haffo~ Of
" HHA HAPPY
HAWKINS
CHAPTER XII.-Continued.

little stiffly. You treated me outrage
ously this last time. After wandering
around the entire globe. l came back like
the prodigal SON
"Prodigal hell.' exclaimed the old man.
You came back like the fatted calf. The
three tramps who are fleeing you are
more like the prodigal son. They are
simply working you, Dick
THAT will do interrupted Dick. de-
cisively. Il am willing for You to revile
me. but / refuse to listen when you insult
my guests
"Oh. never mind them,'' said his uncle,
largely. I'm give them jobs, too. the very
moment you are willing to go to work
tell YOU. Dick. that year at hard work
would give you a truer view of life thar
seven centuries spent in sitting down and
studying over it. We are after a big gov
eminent contract noW-nobody can handle
it except Burton or us-and it will give us
workout. l have it about figured down
to the roots, for we have to have it. Our
credit Is beginning to limp little. and
getting this contract means that We'll be
able to make the grade: while losing
means that we never can get over it-that
the bennington steel plant is whipped
once and for all
What good will it do if YOU have it fig
ured down to the roots?" asked Dick
sincerely interested.
well. now, Dick replied the old man,
with dry wink, there is always a little
something in the roots-hut the main
thing is that it will bolster up our credit.
I'd give hundred thousand dollars TO
know exactly what Burtons bid will be
and YOU might have found oft, too.
How in the world could / have found
out?''
by marrying his daughter
I'm never marry her answered Dick
SD0TltN. BiIl II ! already married
10 her, | don't see what good it would do
She wouldn't know anything about the
contract. and it wouldn't be fair sport for
| her to tell if she did
Fair sport" grinncd the old man.
You'll find out quick enough that the
steel business isn't PLAYED like foot ball
that IS, not the way YOU played foot ball.
I'd find out if ! could. Burton would find
it
II am sorry. uncle, but the more |
learn of business the more dislike it
And the more | know of YOU the more
hopeless | become. You act like some
oversrown boy with his pockets full of
money. Do YOU know what your income
Will be if you cut loose from me-"
Il don't suppose it will be anything
until earn one for myself" answered
Dick. confidently.
You'd starve to death long before
that" Scoffed Harrington. You have an
income of exactly nine hundred dollars
from Your mother-and that's all you will
have"
MY poor little mother" said Dick. soft
" II can't even remember her-and did
she leave me an income"
You can call il income if YOU want
| TO. said the old man. incensed that Dick
had not received the news as blow.
but a heap of good it would do you.
Nine hundred dollars, Why you can't
scrimp along on that for month without
| practicine the strictest economy And
you have the nerve to tell me that You
are going to live on a measly. underfed
stipend of nine hundred
Dick put his hand gently on his uncle's
arm. Never mind finishing. uncle he
said. softly Il remember it all now.
This little innome of nine hundred year
was the fortune my mother brought my
father-and it was fortune to him then
1t doesn't sound very large today, but it
was the start of the Bennington steel plant
and neither of us can afford to sneer at
it,
a half-Shamed expression came to Ban
nington's face, but he hardened instantly.
There was something back of it when it
started the plant" he said: brains and
industry and hard common sense.
And | believe that | can take it and
start something else began Dick. hold
ing himself erect. but speaking in low.
even tones. Something which will not
turn me into a machine, but will keep
me-
Then go-Ive done all I can and now
I'm through with you His uncle's voice
was impaca BILE.
IAN right" replied Dick. refusing to be
ruffied. Il am going TO take a walk
about the grounds, now. ! have sent my
stuff down to my quarters; but ]
don't want to leave as though we had
been quarre1ing. and III stop in and say
goodbye to you before / go-if l miss you
at dinner.
Dick started toward the door. stopped
and looked at his uncle, who sat with his
broWs drawn together in pain rather
than anger. For moment the noy hest
tated. and then. with a shrug. he turned
the knob and stepped into the passage
way.
l. For a full minute the old mans eyes
remained sternly on the door which had
closed behind his nephew. and then he
drew his hand YEARLY across. his fore
head.
II can't see what possesses the boy he
muttered. Here | have given him the
best years of my life and am willing to
throw in the rest of it. | think of moth
ing but his welfare: and yet he never
loses chance to defy me. Well. let
him." he continued, gruiliy after a pause
Hang it. | haven't reached the stage Yet
where I'm going to let infants dictate to
me. Confound the three loafers who led
him astray."