Montpelier examiner. [volume] (Montpelier, Idaho) 1895-1937, 1913-10-17

A but faulty. Colonel Loree
Of the Solar Selling Com
pany, however thinks the affair rich
In the hic-fabuladocet element. SO
does Williamson, soliciting agent
for the Mid-Continent Life; and
so-emphatically so-does the Mid
Continent itself Trudeau, the breed
guide, has had SO few years In
which to turn 1t over in his slow
moving mind as he has lain roll
ed in his blankets while the snow sift-
I'd through the moaning pines, that he
has not made up his mind. AS for Fos-
; Ter Van Dorm and Gwendolyn, their
ppinions-but the story itself 10 not
long.
Williamson says that when he left
Van Dorn's ONCE with his application,
Oe was as near walking on air as In
mrance men ever are. People had
been so slow in writing their auto
graphs on the dotted line-and here
was a six-fgure application, with a
check. These accompanied by the
wide-eyed Williamson, exploded into
the mid December calm of the agency
headquarters like the news of Tono-
psh strike in the poker-playing ennui
of Poverty fiat.
Whats that, williamson" eJacu-
dated the cashier. Five hundred-you
don't mean thousand?"
Why, confound YOU" sneered VIII.
Hanson, look at that application!
Let me see it," painted the man
lger, bursting in. Foster G. Van
Dorm half million! Holy cat, VIII
hanson; but this will put you and
che agency in the lead, for Is he
good for 1t, williamson"
why, don't you see that check?''
inquired the lofty solicitor. 81 tell you
fellows, there's always way to land
any man. Why, for a year, Tve-by
George! I'm forgetting to send DR.
Watson over to make the examina
ton. Van Dorn's going on hunting
trip, and we've got to hustle, and gel
him nailed before he goes!"
The manager stood by Williamson
during the telephoning who Is Mr.
Van Dorn?" he asked, as the agent
hung up the receiver.
President of the Kosmos Chemica
Company" replied Williamson. Son
in-law and enemy of Colonel Loree o.
the Solar Selling Company, you know,
said the cashier
"Oh-h-h-h!" replied the manager, al
If recalling something. II remembe
the romance in the newspapers; blu
thought the young fellow was poor
Fixed 1t up with the colonel, | sup
pose-the usual thing"
Not on your life!" replied William
son. "Loree would kill him II b.
dared-old aristocrat. you know; blu
Van Dorn's too smart for him. Yol
remember he was an engineer 70
Loree's company, and met the daugh
ter on some inspection trip. Love a
first sight-moonlight on the noun
tains-runaway and wedding on tn
sly-father,s curse-turned out t
starve, and all that"
81 remember" answered the mana
ger; but 1t doesn't seem to lead los
lcally up to this application"
Well" went on williamson IVA
Dorm turns up with a company forme
to work deposit OF the sal-ammoniat
or asphaltum, or whatever the stu
the Solar Company had cornered ma
be, and began trust busting. The COLI
mel swore the new deposit really b.
longed to his company, because Va
Dorm found it while in Lis employ, an
called him all sorts of a scoundre
But the young mans gone on, all tn
same, floating his company, and fiyin
high"
Il heard that Loree was sure to rui
him." interposed the cashier.
Ruin nothing!" said Williamson
1T was a case of the whale and tn
Bwordfish. Van Dorn's got him llcl
ed-why, don't you see that check!''
THAT does look like success" r
piled the manager. Il hope his stree
uous life hasn't hurt his health-Wa
son is fussy about hearts and lungs
That's the least of my troubles
replied Williamson. Van Dorn's a
athlete, and first-class risk. There
nothing the matter with Van Dorm
And yet, Trudeau the guide, far l
In the Minnesota woods. looked at IL
young man and wondered if thel
wasn't something the matter with Va
Dorm. They had come by the old t'tot
road" to the deserted lumber cam
armed and equipped to hunt dee
Most young men in Var Dorns sitn
ton were keen-eyed, eager for the ira
and the chase-at least until tanned |
WEAKNESS. But Van Dorm was like
somnambulist. Once Trudeau ha
left him behind on the road, and on r
tracing his steps to find him, had di
covered him standing by the pat
gazing at nothing, his lips slowly mo
ing as If repeating something undt
his breath-and he had started as
in fright at Trudeau's hail He hs
been careful to give Trudeau his car
and admonished him to keep 1t; bi
be seemed careless of all opportuI
ties of following up the Acquaintance
Most of these city hunters we're an
lous to talk; but what troubled Tr
4deau, was the manner in which Va
Dorm sat by the fire, wrote in boo
from time to time, and gazed I'M
the flames Now that they had reac
ed the old camp Trudeau hoped thi
actual hunting would bring to h
mans eyes the fire of interest in IL
thing be had come so far to enjo
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