Highland recorder. (Monterey, Highland County, Va.) 1877-1972, 1912-08-09
The Plain
Young Man
A Case of a Very Sudden
Honeymoon
By JEFFERSON PORT
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
By JEFFERSON PORT
Copyright by American Press Asso-
citation, 1911.

Three young men waited in the out
er office of Silas Peddiugton. the great
cotton mill owner Two of the men
appeared to be acquainted for they
occasionally broke into embarrassed
attempts at conversation only to lapse
into fits of nervous abstraction. each
furtively watching the other
OF these two young men. one was
clad In an automobile dust coat and
cap while pair of goggles protruded
from his coat pocket. The other wore
leather puttees and checked woolen
cup placed hindside before with the
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 straightforwardness where clever
fnesse would fall 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
jaw prominent, so that one might
imagine that his teeth were tightly
clinched.
Suddenly the closed mahogany
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 in
his hand raised his eyebrows at the
automobile man.
"You wished to see me. Mr.. 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 on
the edge Of one of the leather cush,
ioned chairs. He was obviously nerv-
Gus. for he mopped his brow constant
ly and gripped the floor with his toes
as though be was afraid Of falling in
an ignominious heap at the well shod
feet of the rich mill owner.
Mr.. Peddington smiled thoughtfully
and joined the tips of his fingers to-
gether. looking over them at the en-
barrassed young man.
"Well. Frank" he said at last. with
a suddenness that caused his visitor
an anxious instant on the perilous edge
of the chair. Il received your letter
this morning and | 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 Mr..
Avery.
Now. about Airline. Have you seen
herp
"Yes. did see her."
It's a mighty funny business" saiG
Mr.. Peddington.
Funny" echoed Avery.
II said funny. queer. old. strange, sim
gular, extraordinary. unique" raped
out Mr. Peddington sharply. He tap,
ped an open letter on his desk with q
blunt forefnger. Here's letter from
| 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? All
l thought so! She must have looked
uncommonly we'll. I'll know how much
1t cost when the bill comes in. Well
young Hicks-he's outside there too
He says that Airline has told him that
she doesn't love him: but. like a duti-
| fRl daughter she refers him TO me-
Now I've got you both here don't
know what to do"
II didn't know Joe Hicks was inter
ested." muttered Avery sullenly.
You both seem to be units among
throngs." returned Arline's father
blandly. You've got plenty of money
Frank. and know you can take care
Of wife. although I'd like 1t better
Seems to me I'd have more confidence
in you if you wanted to work in spite
of your millions. As for Joe Hicks. nc
isn't blessed with too much money. brl
he's brainy and bound 10 make his
mark in the field Of scientific aviation
Think of the clever dying mach!na he
has Just perfected Hes won no enl
Of prize money. and with royalties
from his patents he'll be rich and !,