The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1913-07-02
The Fortunes of the Landrays
BIZ Vaughan Kester A. S .: s The re- r U Judge

you are or what you are, sooner or
later you're made TO feel his import
ance. III you are poor man, the time
Is certain to come when you'll house
yourself I'm one OF his tenements, with
tne privilege OF handing over the rent
each month TO old Gibbs; II you are in
business, it's pretty certain he can
help or hinder your schemes. There
Is just one thing! Don't lock horns
with him; those who do, go away Grip
pea. He's a potent influence In the
life here. Steve; perhaps we don't
analyze or realize II, but he stands for
the power that money gives; he is the
fist and last expression OF that power
To most of u.s.
but he's very simple ard kindly"
suggested Stephen.
| Il don't know, with SO much TO say
in the affairs of his neighbors, he'd
hardly dare TO be autocratic but he's
a great lawyer, for a country lawyer,
he's really big man; there's no gain
saying that" Wade spoke with en-
thusiasm. When he takes case
now, he picks and chooses, his fight
ing days are over, and he is on the
winning side or else out of 1t. He's
always been most kind TO me; first
and last he's thrown quite a little
| practice my way
You're an energetic fellow, Wade,
and deserve to get on. They can't say
enough about you at the Nortons.'
They're mighty good to me there"
said Wade heartily. You know, my
people not being rich or important
here has made difference. There
were those who were disposed to pat
| ronize me. | mighty soon let 'em
know | wouldn't stand for that, but
from the first. Mr.. Norton and his FAM
| lily just let me know they were plain
| friendly"
rs Clara interesting" asked
Stephen insnuatingly. Clara he had
not yet met.
Ben shot him a shrewd glance out
of the corners OF his eyes, then he
centered his attention on the knife
with which he WAS still jabbing the
arm of the chair.
Well, yes" he said hesitatingly.
Pretty
Yes" and the yes came slowly
from between slight smiling lips.
She's younger than Elinor?"
"Yes-two years-you'l like her.
I.andray." A slight but perceptible
enthusiasm was betraying itself In
his manner. This aggravated Stephen.
Why should Wade want him to like
Clara, and why shouldn't he?
They're both nice girls said
Wade.
Landray looked out OF the window
and said nothing. Wade now saw fit
to change the subject
Il heard from Reddy the other day
oh, yes. told you
Il liked Reddy,' said Stephen.
One would have thought that he'd
have made fine practice for lawyer"
said Wade, but nothing Of the sort
has happened. The spirit of prophesy
hos gone wide of the mark In his case;
he ie so successful, In moneyed
seriee Imean, that he's hardly gotten
over the surprise Of It. He can't re-
press latent enthusiasm at the
thought that he's Rily Crittendon. with
several thousand head Of choice beef
cattle all his own. Perhaps | found
him depressing because he's gotten
ahead so quick"
But you'll find perhaps that your
point Of view will change with little
of the same kind of luck, Ben" said
Stephen.
Wade shook his head
mo, don't know that Il will. I've
always expected TO succeed; I've been
impatient that should be kept out OF
my own but by the same token,
don't feel any special enthusiasm
when | come into it.
When Wade had told him, as he had,
that much as he despised society, still
from motives that always bore upon
professional gains, he found it well
worth his while to keep in and do the
right thing, stephen was inclined to
jeer. Then the made the discovery
that he was curiously involved with
Wade: and realized that in assuming
the burden OF his social destinies as
he had done, that thrifty fellow was
still doing only the right thing. and
with an eye single to his future: that
somehow he was to be made contribu.
tary to his success present and to
come, and that IL was something more
than mere affection that had prompt
cd him to claim an intimacy on the
score OF their boyish friendship.
Every one wants to meet you,
Steve" he had once said.
"Why?" Stephen had asked.
Its natural, amt It? First and last,
the Landrays have filled a pretty con-
splcuous place here. and then your
relation to Mr.. Benson makes you in
teresting; everybody thinks you'll
come into lot Of his money one of
these days, and they're none of them
above wishing to get next to poten-
tial millionaire"
What about your designs on me,
Benz
"Oh, well, | guess whoever writes
my opitaph will have to say He never
Gid anything for nothing At the least
| shall expect to be your lawyer. My
designs are no more sinister than
that"
Stephen laughed He rather liked
him for his candor. He felt that the
best Of Wade was his candor
In spite Of the social Obligations
with which he sometimes accused
Wade, In the character Of friend and
mentor, with having loaded him up,
he was oftener at the Nortons than
at any other house In town.
II was Elinor who drew him thither;
she had attracted him from the hour
OF their first meeting. There were
times when he thought, when indeed
he was quite sure, she liked him
There were also other times when he
was equally sure she did not
He even went so far as to suspect
Wade In some degree with being re-