The Madison journal. (Tallulah, Madison Parish, La.) 1888-current, 1913-10-04

HIelI have behaved as il they
~l thought the moral here
but faulty. Colonel Loree
OF the Solar Selling Com
pany, however thinks the affair rich
in the hic-fabuladocet element. Sc
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 II over in his slow
moving mind as he has lain roll
ed in his blankets while the snow silt
ed through the moaning pines. that he
has not made up his mind. AS for Eos
ter Van Dorm and Gwendolyn. their
opinions-but the story itself is not
long.
Williamson says that when he left
Van Dorn's office with his application,
he was as near walking on air as in
surance men ever are. People had
been so slow in writing their auto
graphs on the dotted line-and here
was a six-hgure 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-
pah strike in the poker playing ennui
of a Poverty fiat
What's that, williamson" ejacu-
lated the cashier. Five hundred-you
don't mean thousand"
Why, confound you" sneered Will
Hanson, look at that application!
Let me see it," painted the man.
ager, bursting In. Foster G. Van
DORM half a million. Holy cat, Will
hanson; but this will put you and
the agency in the lead, for Is he
good for 1t, williamson"
Why, don't you see that check"
inquired the lofty solicitor. Il tell you,
fellows, there's always a way to land
any man. Why, for year, Tve-by
George! I'm forgetting to send DR..
Watson over to make the examina-
ton. Van Dorns going on a hunting
trip, and we've got to hustle, and get
him nailed before he goes!"
The manager stood by Williamson
during the telephoning. who is Mr..
Van Dorm" he asked, as the agent
hung up the receiver.
President of the Kosmos Chemical
Company" replied Williamson. Son
in-law and enemy of Colonel Loree of
the Solar Selling Company, you know"
said the cashier
"Oh-h-h-h!" replied the manager, as
II recalling something. Il remember
the romance in the newspapers; but
i thought the young fellow was poor.
Fixed it up with the colonel, sup
pose-the usual thing"
Not on your life." replied William
son. "Loree would kill him if he
dared-old aristocrat, you know; but
Van Dorn's too smart for him. You
remember he was an engineer for
Loree's company. and met the daugh-
ter on some inspection trip. Love at
first sight-moonlight on the noun
tains-runaway and wedding on the
sly-father's curse-turned out to
starve. and all that
II remember" answered the mana
ger; but 1t doesn't seem to lead log
ically up to this application
Well" went on Williamson, Van
Dorm turns up with a company formed
to work deposit of the sal-ammoniac.
or asphaltum, or whatever the stuff
the Solar Company had cornered may
be. and began trust busting. The colo
mel swore the new deposit really be-
longed to his company. because Van
Dorm found 1t while in Lis employ, and
called him all sorts of a scoundrel.
But the young mans gone on, all the
same. floating his company, and flying
high"
Il heard that Loree was sure to ruin
him." interposed the cashier.
Ruin nothing" said Williamson.
1T was a case of the whale and the
swordfish. Van Dorn's got him lick.
ed-why, don't you see that check"
That does look like success" re-
piled the manager. Il hope his siren
nous life hasn't hurt his health-Wat-
son is fussy about hearts and lungs"
That's the least of my troubles"
replied Williamson Van Dorn's an
athlete, and first-class risk. There's
nothing the matter with Van Dorm"
And yet, Trudeau the guide. far up
in the Minnesota woods. looked at the
young man and wondered If there
wasn't something the matter with Van
Dorm. They had come by the old tote
road TO the deserted lumber camp
armed and equipped to hunt deer.
Most young men in Van Dorn's situa-
ton were keeneyed, eager for the trail
and the chase-at least unit. tanned by
WEAKNESS. But Van Dorm was like
somnambulist. Once Trudeau had
left him behind on the road and on re-
tracing his steps TO find him. had dis
covered him standing by the path,
gazing at nothing, his lips slowly NOV
ing as if repeating something under
his breath-and he had started as if
in frigh at Trudeau's hail. He had
been careful to give Trudeau his card.
and admonished him to keep it; but
he seemed careless of all opportuni-
ties of following up the acquaintance.
Most OF these city hunters were anx-
fous to talk; but what troubled Tru-
deau, was the manner in which Van
Dorm sat by the fire. wrote in a book
from time to time. and gazed into
the flames Now that they had reach
ed the old camp. Trudeau hoped that