The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1912-06-04
Chapter L

Nat Duncan, lifting his highbali. emitted . sigh of envy as his cnuin' Keiiogg--tall, well-built. energetic strode across the room:
 ~Ysu bet it's great" exclaimed Kel- logg. why, | wouldn't care. to nve if | couldn't work!"
 They were In Kellogg's well-equip- ped bachelor apartments-Kellog the suceeesful young fnancier and Dun con, his ne'er-do-well college chuinL partnership in the firm of L.. J. Bart lett c Go, which he had served so lone aud Q well in Wall street. A RrGuv 6f his intimates from the street had just left the rooms. after drUpplng in to congratulate him. and Dunean, Eho stum plea upon fne h.. pareyy cy ReIloee's good fortune. remained for dinner and . chat
 They had been intimates since their cofleee days, but their relationship was on . different footing from that of meet of the ''frat" brothers In New York. who hugsed one another sheethed their knives In the market tho next morning Harry Kellogg had RoVSS steadily upward in the world, WAie Duncan had drifted along with q df11At downward tendency, due to n innate didike for work and total leek q business ability. Keaioeg nad put him on his feet financially again cd aeain. had placed him in jobs. hQ1 fngestsd upon his making his hQGne In those very apartments from tiyno to time when he was 60svn on his luck. Aua aow Duncan was back in Ntw York with a glum curve to tne ecrnsrs q hss s ort n.ras wn,on .nS spet t was oQ this accoaait that Kellokg had iaGl0tod upon hls- remaining, when he had Ghooed out the noisy crowd 1t vas Ke1lUyg' D apparent delight in the feet thAt hiO. new post meant more sad hesder work. that had called led
 Hs1nember that time I went away to tho country for my healfh Harry coutinued. ssIsit never forget 1t! Hang ing arounA Q1t the time -doinS noth- inVrand everyone else bnsy--whJ. I fesless; e llSslsss and 'n the ":R.s ss,sse spsf, so.-d -y0u had l11lny.' . suggsstsd Nat. =
 '@Qf courik k lsushsd KAliosg, 'out I fSlt it 3ust the aame: r
 'puypose you didn't have any; mon os,. 2. pnGsss: 9ss; t',:, $.oomily' How would
 soh nonUenue!'' Harry exclaimed, catching th1 drift of Duncan's re- nnkk0 en1kGee1E1nG to change the sub- jooE 'l9nf 1xe you doing east. Netf I ~ aspect you back for
 ssiS sallaa what yours .aoain and gently stirring the ice around. They sent for me. got in thib aftesaoon. didn't exactly think they'd boost my salaryEand they hldu't You see. they dfdn't know that other people had made me any sS s.sr,1sssSss . they tc .. nadn 1 .ay,ss ney
 aAbout what 2" asked Kellogg.
 Nat du11hed h1e hlghball and set the giae1: ooWn with deciDien.
 s1Rhethsr4I I thought 1t was best for them to give. up their customers in my territory or Send . man out there who could cell goods,s he said. . f1t of laughter, and Duncan man. 1eed to call up rueful smile.
 sDi0 0paul6ing say that?" Kellogg donanded, after . few moments.
 sWeH, something like that" admit tea Duupan. '~0h, might have known I ceuldn't make good" he went on. that 'ys. rot the job for me-.
 "Forget that!" said Kellogg, sharp ly. s'rn find you something else in a little while-'''. -,s,...
 "No, you won't!" interrupted Dun can: ''rll not sponge on you any long, CT. Harry.
 Don't talk that way, Nat." said Kellogg. s'I don't like it. I'll get you in right somewhere-by love the very thing! This chap Burnham, who was heee a little while ago with those fell lowB-he's promoting a wonderful scheme for making gas from crude oil oil Ill, He ssses q 9sIp my help financially. I'll
 Duncan looked at him pityingly and shook his head.
 'sWhat good would I be- he de- uanded. What do I know about either crude oil or gas?"
 'But you can learn-"began Harry, impatiently. when Duncan stopped him
 wait a minute, Harry" he said. Now, once and for all, pm through having you recommend an incompe- tent man just because we're friends and I'm through h j living on you when
 .You oughf to know that you're perfectly welcome" protested Kel-
 Nat sot .,p, and walking to. the table placed a hand saffectionately on hio frfend's shoulder.
 II kDOW that-and more," he said. T know you've been q prince to me: I know you've kept me going for two $oaroL ever since | found out couldn't t make . living for myself, and I know that | can't stand for your doing 1t any, longer!''
 They looked at each other steadily for C. moment and Kellogg spoke.
 Well, then. that's settled" he said.
 "Yes, that's settled" Duncan ex- claimed, emphatically, and he took a turn across the room.p
 Kellogg watched him in some auauooment.
 ssWould you mind telling me what you're going to do?'' he asked fr<A$1 wouldn't mind in the least" said ,3Gatyi o1eeffully, eff | knew-but I : Ssit down. Nat" suggested Harry, want to talk to you"
 Duncan dropped into . chair on the oppoofte side of the table. and Kel- l01G, resting his arms upon it, leaned toward him seriously.
 Mat, I've known you for nine yeoro," he sAid, "and you can't room with . follow all through college and SUnae time afterward without knowing ,h1nn pEuktxf well n know everything 5a3loutlyQn ae evell as you know it your ssif. and tell you. you were brought "Maybe so," admitted Duncan. ~but I've been brought down. all right"
 "y0ur fathof always sent you more cash than you could spend" Harry pf the value of money or how hard 1t Im fn fhASn-sst