The Washington times., 1912-09-19
CHAPTER /.
The Biggest Man in Town.

The Biggest Man in Town.
"HOMAS, doorman of the Kenyon
Vile Club, laid HIS hand upon tn
i knob with a slightly exaggerated
flourish; the big plateglass affair
swung inward, and Thomas bowed.
"Good-evening, Mr.. Grafton, sir!'
The tall, brisk man in the long, lgh
overcoat stepped across the sill; hii
shorter, companion followed blinking
into the wide and brilliant hallway o.
the new clubhouse.
This tall man, Grafton, seemed to b'
parsonage of the first water; hi,
bearing bespoke him as the waikinf
incarnation of prosperity. Square o
quite unconsciously an air of mastery
and broad possessions. of the ability
to command and the intention of usins
that ability; even his walk held tn,
dent. successful man of affairs.
And yet there was not the faintest
suggestion OF arrogance In his mien
HIS eye twinkled humorously and his
voice was big and hearty; Grafton, ir
short. was simply good, whole-soueo
american citizen who had padded his
own canoe to the gold mine at the
headwaters Of the stream.
That he was popular became eveident
almost upon the instant.
from a dozen points dozen smiling
en him snd stepped dnnnT forward at the sight Of
stretched in his direction. ' were 'o''
.Good-evening, Mr.. Graftonr'
Hello, Grafton!'
t.r oh; as say. Grafton, did you see Car
Grafton shook them off with a good
natured laugh.
.,"Gentlemen! Gentlemen! No business
ms evening for me. I'm tired-we've
and and it was an exertion. Now We're
mere mere for little Relation before bed
+, One Of the waiting attendants relieved
him Of his coat, and, as an after
tnought, took that of the smaller man
also; Grafton turned to this latter in
dlVidual and laid hand upon his shoul-
"Gentlemen-Hicks and Blatchford and
Gillespie and all the rest of you-let me
Introduce Mr.: Elsford of Chicago. He
was passing through kenyonville on his
ten years"
And was he impressed?'
Grafton laughed.
He seemed to be. Eh, Elsford?"
e.. All things considered.,' said the WIS.,
taha.,s that's about all I can say in the bewil-
tesmeht town n OF r. the he, moment. The whole
But kenyonyille hasn't done IT,"
broke In one enthusiastic voice. Graf
ton did all Of it. Mr. Elsford.''
It's the truth. whether he admits it
peen for Grafton, Kenyonville would
"Blarney!" said the tall man, good
naturedly. Then he took Elsfords arm
and led him away from the crowd.
=. you needn't pay much attention to
that, you know, jim"
other. I'm inclined to think that it's
pretty near being the truth
Gra1ton shook his head and led the
round table which stood in the shadow
of some palms.
There-my customary hang-out when
IN need OF solitude and peace" ne said
Make yourself comfortable, Jim. It's a
sanctuary; l contributed the palms my
self and the. crowds too decent to in
trude on conferences which may be held
under them"
Elsford took his seat and looked around
thoughtfu'ly. Grafton called one Of the
several walters who seemed to per-
petually hover in his neighborhood and
murmured an order. When the tall,
cold bottle appeared ia the. offing, he
lighted cigar and settled back with
conterted sigh.
What are you watching, JIM"
You" said Elsford. You seem to
these years"
(which means that remembering me
as poor young man with one suit of
clothes and the deeds to the Lord only
knew how much worthless property
from dads estate, you are somewhat
surprised to turn up here and finu the
entire town offering me the gladdest
kind of a hand, eh?"
Yes; said Elsford frankly Some.
thing of the sort was in nv mind. 1
knew-we all of us knew-that you had
the sort Of stuff in you that succeeds,
but to drop down on you and find you
er-lile thlS!'
Grafton leaned his elbows upon the
table and laughed.
We'll, l don't wonder at your aston
ishment, Jim. l. has been a bi. sur
prising when you come to think CT it.
although 1t seemed natural and easy
enough as 1t came. She's mo, ed ahead,
sure enough-Kenyonville has"
And you've done most OF the NOV
ing"
"oh. I've done nothing very spec
tacular, Jim. 1t was more luck than
anything else. l suppose. although I
haven't balhed at hustling whenever 1t
ginning l had these five or six acres
OF land Ola what was then the outskirts
Of Kenyonvtlle."
Il remember. They were supposed
to be very nearly worthless"
Yes. and l fancy that they were
very nearly worthless when dad
bought them, although he believed
otherwise. However. that was all he
left, and when he was gone l had
nothing to tie me down to Chica co.
Except a girl" interrupted Elsford.
True, laughed Grafton, but the
girl has been Mrs Grafton Of Kenyon
Vile for eight years or so now"
Cad! All things go your way, don't
they? Go on, John"
well, l came down here to see what
the property was and what could be
done with 1t, and here l stayed. They |
put the railroad through here and the |
county seat went all to pieces. The |
county opened up more and more |
every year and people began to move |
in by the hundred; then the factories |
began to build, and they've never |
ceased since. It's been a great boom |
even for the middle West"
Grafton paused and stared thought |
fully at the table.
IT sold out the suburban property |
when 1t had increased about 800 per |
cent in value. and bought up city lots |
l sold them and bought more. Pretty |
soon took the notion of building and |
went in for that, and-well. as you
might say without eXaggeration, 1t |
paid for the time and trouble. Jim"
And then?"--
well, one fine day a couple of years
ago / began to slow down and take
account of things And l found that
I n hai ri inh Cnn,a-