The Washington herald., 1913-08-17
CHAPTER K.
Rolling stones Gather Moss.

Rolling stones Gather Moss.
The following week Rome had an
other sensation. The Mcfetridgt
twins came back. Now the McFet
ridge twins belonged to an older ant
not easily relished annal. They wert
the nephews of Old Mowry, the un
dertaker, and had been the village cut
ups before they inherited the Car.
michael livery stables. But even liv'
cry stable did not reform them, anc
promptly. on attaining their majority
they sold the stable and went off, tc
the relief of all Rome.
What deviltry Hen McFetridge die
not think of in his teens, Ben did
They had been pillar of red necktie:
by night and cloud of bad cigal
smoke by day on the drug store cor.
ner, since they spent their patrimony
trying to develop racers in the period
when all Iowa went mad over trottine
and built mile track in every count,
and paid fabulous prices for mare:
and drivers-the days of Allerton and
Axtell and Bud Doble. But the fleet,
limbed Morgans have long since giver
place to Percherons and Cfydesdales
and the mile tracks are innocuous
county fairs, or raising corn today
and with the passing of the trotting
craze passed Hen and Ben McFetridge
bankrupt at twenty-one.
Occasional rumor and "reminiscences
of the McFetridge boys came out Of
the West as other sons returned, bu'
one bleak day Hen and Ben, rotund
and forty. same red neckties and bad
cigars. were discovered in front OF
CarmichaePs relating a tale of Alad.
din to Rube Van Hart, the broken
tered at the Parsons House, slapped
Miss Amelia on the shoulder, dropped
their real alligator-skin cases and
walked around the Square into every
store and office; upstairs to Vawter,
the artist; blithely into the back room
of Cal Rice, president of the First
National: and to Uncle Mowry's Dick
inson's grocery. and all through the
courthouse, bringing presence OF
freckles, good living, diamond pins,
and dizziness. They saw everybody,
"jollied' everybody-within two hours
every one in town knew the McFet-
ridge boys had struck it rich.
Same old town, Ben" said Hen.
Same, Hen," answered Ben. Let's
go over to Wileys and get something
in the News about us"
But Wiley was off trying to collect
bills. He did not see the McFetridge
boys until he went to the Maccabees'
supper at Odd Fellows Hall that even-
ing. There, with Old Mowry, in his
long black coat and white tie, at the
door, were Hen and Ben. self-con-
stituted reception committee for the
ladies. Wiley was always invited to
lodge functions and affairs of the sort
because, for his share of chocolate
cake and coffee and ice cream he
would have something about it in next
weeks News Notes of Busy Day"
He had heard that the twins hadn't
changed a bit, except to get fat and
Hens diamond was in horseshoe pin.
while Ben's was set in a real and i'm
mense nugget.
Hen and Ben slapped him on the
back simultaneously and spilled coffee
over his best trousers.
Hello, Wiley-you old gazabe"
Still running the old sheet, Wiley,
that the old man used to chase us out
OFF"
''Yes. Hello, Hen-Hello, Ben! Yes,
I'm making out about the samep
Poor Shedding. ehs Hear Cal Rice
and Old Thad bumped you when they
arranged to have the Earlville papers
get over here for early delivery. Say,
heard about us in oil:'
Yes"
big. Tulare fields, California. Hen
and me was beating it from one water
tank to another one day-fippered,
both of us. Cleaned out in the dray
business in Fresno. Well, Hen and
me coming down canon along the
track about dark, saw some COW
tracks. Now, we saw the stars shining
up out of those COW tracks. Wiley. II
it had been you that's all YOU would
have seen, just stars shining back from
them COW tracks. But Hen and me
saw OIL"
Ben and me prospected. and lit for
town and entered the whole blamed
COW pasture. Then we went to Los
Angeles where all the easy marks in
the United States come out, and we
capitalized them COW tracks. Say, we
got more engraved certificates of stock
than you can shake a stick at sluing
around California this very minute"
Did they bite?" put in Ben
couldn't keep 'em off with a club"
Crazy about u.s." said Hen-"us
and the COW tracks. We organized,
and sold more stock for development,
and blew it in; and whenever we want
ed more money we assessed the stock
and got it. Finally the whole com.
pany blew up-Hen was president, and
they said they didn't want president
who spent all his presidential time at
the girl shows in Los"
Hen looked at Ben-"Was it good.
Benz"
Ben looked at Hen-"Was it. Hen?
We made those reorganizers buy us
out at FIVE hundred thou. Good
what, Hen?"
Cow tracks for mine,' sighed Hen.
First thing Hen says was: Let's
beat it to the old town back in Iowa
and show 'em we got the money We
climbed into a Pullman at Los and
Hen gives the nigger ten dollars to
buy paper. Keep the change, mig
ger,' says Hen, were going back to
see the old town."
Wiley smiled. I'm glad YOU did
WELL" He sighed, stilling resent
nent against fortune. He, too, had
,u-pney the circle rsf the lV.st ,cl ,,,,s