The Press., 1912-03-27
The Plain
 Young Man A Case of a Very Sudden Honeymoon By JEFFERSON PORT Copyright by American Press Asso- citation, 1911.
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Bx JEFFERSON PORT


 Three young men waited in the out CT office of Silas Peddington, the grea cotton mill owner. Two of the mel appeared to be acquainted for the, occasionally broke into embarrassed attempts at conversation only to lapse into fits of nervous abstraction, eacl
 furtively watching the other.
 Of these two young men, one wal clad in an automobile dust coat an( cap while pair of goggles protrudet from his coat pocket. The other wore leather puttees and a checked woole1 cap placed hindside before with tho visor pulled down over the back of his sleek dark hair. Both were handsome
 The young man was plain of face with squarer, blunter features suggest ing frankness and certain tenacity of purpose that might win by its very raightforwardness where clever fnesse would fail entirely. Unlike his companions in the waiting room. the clothing of the plain young man did not denote any especial fad or calling He sat with folded arms and under. l Jaw prominent, so that one mighl imagine that his teeth were tightly clinched.
 Suddenly the closed mahogany inner door swung open and large. massive ly framed, middle aged man appeared on the threshold. He bowed with the same degree of warmth to each of the | young men and referring to a card ill | his hand raised his eyebrows at the automobile man.
 "You wished to see me, Mir. Avery ? Come right in, please"
 Frank Avery followed Silas Pedding- ton into the private office and, stuff ing his cap in his pocket, sat down OH the edge of one of the leather cush- toned chairs. He was obviously nerv- ous. for he mopped his brow constant ly and gripped the floor with his toes as though he was afraid of falling in an ignominfous heap at the well shod feet of the rich mill owner
 MT. Peddington smiled thoughtfully and joined the tips of his fingers to- gether, looking over them at the em. barrassed young man.
 ''Well, Frank" he said at last, with suddenness that caused his visitor an anxious instant on the perilous edge Of the chair. II received your letter this morning and I telephoned you to come down here. hate to write let ters, so prefer to discuss matters of personal interest verbally rather than otherwise"
 "Of course certainly" observed MT. Avery.
 "Now. about Airline. Have you seen herP'
 "Yes, did see her."
 "Its mighty funny business" said MT. Peddington.
 Funny" echoed Avery.
 T said funny, queer, old, strange, sin gular, extraordinary, uniquev' rapped out MT. Peddington sharply. He tap ped an open letter on his desk with a blunt forefnger. Here's letter from l another lOvelorn youth, Frank He has seen my daughter very recently in fact, at the Nautilus dance on Sat urday. You asked her, then, too? An, thought so! She must have looked uncommonly well. I'll know how much it cost when the bill comes in. We'll, young Hicks-he's outside there too. He says that Airline has told him that she doesn't love him; but, like a duti- ful daughter, she refers him to me. Now I've got you both here I don't know what to do.''
 'I didn't know Joe Hicks was inter- ested," muttered Avery sullenly.
 hot k@ I.- throngs." returned Arlines father blandly. You've got plenty of money, Frank, and know you can take care of a wife, although I'd like it better if you didn't live a life of leisure. Seems to me I'd have more confidence in you if you wanted to work in spite of your millions. AS for Joe Hicks, he isn't blessed with too much money, but he's brainy and bound to make his mark in the field of scientific aviation. Think Of the clever flying machine he has just perfected. He's won no end of prize money. and with royalties from his patents he'll be rich and a worker too"
 eff he had all the money he wanted he wouldn't be working so hard for it now." retorted the young man bitterly. 'I happen to have inherited a lot, so what's the use of working9''
 "It's an achievement to invent an air machine that can travel as fast as an express train." remarked MT. Pedding- ton.
 Its consolation to be able to pur- chase a motorcar that can outdistance the fastest express train. That's what have just done." flashed Frank Avery in reply.
 "Got your machine here?" demanded MT. Peddington suddenly.
 Down at the door"
 "I wonder if Joe Hicks has got his monoplane in town.''
 Frank smiled bitterly "I wouldn't be surprised. He's got his cap on wrong side before.'
 "I have an idea. I'll have him in.'' MT. Peddington jumped up and opened the door into the outer office and called to the waiting aviator. When Joe Hicks entered the inner office MT. Peddington did not quite close the ma hogany door. He left it ajar, and the plain young man who was patiently awaiting his turn for an interview turned away and stared out of the dow into the mill yard. ..u
 "Now, boys," began MT. Peddington as he lowered above the young men, 'I find you're both in the same fix con- corning my daughter. Don't blush. Might as we'll have the matter out fair and square and no favors to either one. Airline has told each of you but that if her fond papa, meaning myself, commands her to marry ei- ther one of you she will show herself to be an obedient daughter. Now, which shall it beY'
 The two rivals glared at each other and tInr, loclzAd EanoA.,llzz O CiIas