Macon beacon. [volume] (Macon, Miss.) 1859-1995, 1913-09-05
CHAPTER ~.

Az Judge Gilbert was about to en-
ter his front door. having accom-
panied Mr.. Kendall as far as the gate.
he saw a carriage stop in front OF the
house. The man who got out and
came up tho walk he recognized In
s~tantly. None the less he did no walk
like the David Kerr Of yesterday; he
seemed in every motion as he came
into the light cast by the porch lamp
TO be the David Kerr OF ten years
hence. Realizing that only something
unusual could bring the master or
Locust Lawn out at night, and to his
house, too, the lawyer went down the
porch steps to meet his visitor.
Good evening. Mr.. Kerr" was Gil
bert's greeting. This is an %unexpect-
ed pleasure"
Evening, Amos, Can | q you
alone? ! don't want to be interrupted
I'VE a 90 into the library. NO
one will disturb US there"
To this Kerr made no reply. lie
toiled heavily up the steps and INTO
the house. Gilbert's surprise increased
on finding, when his visitor removed
his o~vercoat, that he had on evening
clothes. 1t was more an intuitive feel
ing than observation which made Gil
bert understand how uncomfortable
the boss found his unaccustomed raj
ment.
AS Kerr walked through the hall
and into the library, his " thoughts
did not weigh SO heavily upon him as
to prevent him from satisfying his
curiosity by gazing about him. 1t
was the first time In his life that he
had ever set foot In Gilbert's house.
The invitation had been extended
many times, but Kerr knew his social
limitations and had always refused.
The Judge pushed forward a big
leather chair and into it Kerr dropped
without a word. His hands rested
listlessly on the arms of his chair, the
bosom Of his shirt wac rumpled and
bulged out Of his waistcoat. his
breath came heavy and fast, and he
gazed duly at the fire In the crate.
Gilbert had never seen him In such
q condition before. Until now he had
always been the man Of iron, accept
ing his many triumphs and his few
minor defeats In the same imperturb-
able manner.
Il tried to get you by telephone
several times today" Gilbert began.
81 know 1t. but | wasn't In the mood
for nothin'." The very ton in which
he spoke betrayed that fact.
Il promised Kendall I'd call you UP
in regard to the new franchise he's
anxious for you to support"
"Thatll keep"
II told him that personally | could
not be Interested"
This drew no answer from the boss.
Gilbert made no further attempt at
making conversation and for a time
the two men sat in silence. When
Kerr launched his first question 1t
seemed aprOpOS OF nOlnlnE.
How long you been in Belmont,
Amos?"
Gilbert's brain went through a Sc
ries of rapid thought transitions in
an effort to divine whittier the ques-
ton led. He a accustomed to Kerr's
~interrsgatory methods, but everything
Hyo On ont nf thn nr1innry fhic nuap.
ing hat he tried his best to fathom
the boss's purpose, before, in his usual
indirect fashion, he disclosed the OBJ.
ject Of his visit. The question was
one easily answered, albeit with some
surprise,
why, a little more than twenty
years"
Kerr continued to gaze into the fire
seemingly oblivious to his surround
ings. Gilbert could not have sworn
that the boss had heard him reply
Then came another question. still
seemingly apropos Of nothing.
Remember your first o~tfice-aftel
you quit keeping 1t in the top OF you
hat?"
Yes, very we'll. | paid you tive
dollars a week for desk room in
corner OF your real estate ofice-il
that same old Office you still have OF
Fifth street"
That's what | charged you-but
don't guess you've got a receipt TO
every week. Vas 1t you or Bill Stone
in them days used to use my big alta,
for a ironin' board"
Both OF us, l believe"
Kerr moved restlessly in his chair
AAoA mani an