Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-07-23

wouldn't have one of them"
The old lady's deep wrinkles relaxed.
And diamonds he went on. shes
got half peck; but can't get her to put
them on
Mrs. Rumsen did not reply, only exam
ined him with her small eyes through her
lorgnon "You know, Mr. Wray, ever since
you came into the room you have been
puzzle to me- Your features resemble those
of someone | have known-years ago
someone | have known intimately. Curious
| can't
Have you ever been West?"
"Oh, yes. Were your people"
Il have no people, Mrs. Rumsen,' he said
with quick air of finality.
"Oh,' she still looked at him wonderingly,
IL beg your pardon then went on calmly,
"You really interest me great deal.
have seen Westerners in New York before;
but YOU re different mean," she added,
"the cut of your nose, the lines of your chin,
the set of your head on your shoulders. |
hope you Il forgive an old woman scuriosity."
Jeff bowed politely. "I'm very much fiat
tered, Mrs. Rumsen."
"You and my brother have business inter-
eSts in common"
"Yes, I've a mine-a chain of mines and
property interests, including control of the
| Denver & Western Railroad"
She laid hand impressively on his arm.
"Hold them. Take my advice and hold
them l know it is great temptation to
extend your control, to be big man East
and West; but don't try it by weakening
what YOU have. Other men have come here
to set the Hudson afire-"
"Some of them have done it too, Mrs.
Rumsen.'
She shrugged what is the use? You
have an empire of your own. Stay at home,
develop it. Hadn't you rather be first in
Mantua than second in Rome?"
"I-I'm afraid l don't just take YOU"
: al mean hadn't you rather be an En-
peror among your own people than fetch and
carTy-as so many others are dong for
Wall Street,
That's just the point; only the boot is on
the other leg. Wall Street needs the West.
Wall Street doesn't think so. It's away be-
hind the times. Those people down town
are so stuck on themselves that they think
the whole country IS STOPPING with its ear to
the ground listening to what they're doing.
Why, Mrs. Rumsen, there are men in the
West-big men too-who think Wall Street
is a joke Funny, isn't it? Wall Street
dom seem to know that millions of acres of
corn, of wheat and potatoes, keep growing
just the same. Those things don't wait to
hear what Wall Street thinks. Only God
Al1mgnty can make ell SlOo growing. AIlu
/ as long as they grow we don't bother much"
She smiled approvingly. "Then why do
you care?"
"Oh, I'm a kind of missionary. These
people down town are heather critters
They're so ignorant about their own coun-
try, it almost makes me ashamed to talk to
them"
The last vestige of the grenadier aspect
in Mrs. Rumsen had vanished and her face
dissolved in smiles.
-Heathens-they are!' she laughed de-
lightedly. "Cntters-yes, critters too!
Splendid! Have you told Cornelius, my
brother, that?"
Wray's truffle stuck in his throat and he
gasped, "Good God, Ma'am! No! You
won't tell him, will your"
"I'd like to" she chucisled; @but won't"
Jeff laughed. am afraid I've put my
foot in it.. I'm apt to. I'm rather a raw
product"
whatever you do, Mr.. Wray, don't
change. You're positively refreshing. Any
body can learn to be good form. It's as
simple as A, B, c. If it wasn't easy, there
wouldn't be so many people practising it.
The people in the shops even adopt our adj
jectives before they re well out of our mouth.
Hats are smart when in simple days they
u,ar.s Sin,p1y 'bacOrninU (,owDS are fetch