New-York tribune., 1914-11-22

10 the attack. Time and again his auditor
declined 10 consider the proposal and looked
at the clock. At last ne spoke irrltably
bluntly, harshly:
absolutely nothing doingl Beside, nc
added. wishing TO make his refusal distinctly
positive. "thcrc is no firm that would think
of taking this project up ON well ono
mans word You have practically nothing
10 offer but pardon me practically noth.
ing but your own judgment and reliability.
He could not entirely conceal the snccr III
his voice. the intolerance for one who came
with neither standing, references, nor back
ing
CLOWLY the old mans eyes turned full
~ ON him with a hurt, puzzled stare, and
then cleared 10 a harsh and angry irown
Even his patience was at an end. ! V'
waited long time, "A little morc'n seventy
wears. ne said stcrnly, "to have my honesty
questioned and that too by the son Of the
man who once slept under the same blankets
with mel Ny reliability IS somcthln you
could have found out by tclcgraphn TO TN.
West where come from, out there where
He stopped for moment, reminded by
his own words OF his great home hunger Oh
his faithful trust that his old friend would
prove his rock Of refuge in storm, Of the day,
and nights when they together had shared
the trail. and his fierce protest was disslpatcd
in a food Of old memories. The elaborate
office. the muhlcd clangor of streetcars Tar
bclow. the strange hum and noisy throD ol
the great macstrom into which he had wan
dcred unwittingly, were gone, and once
more ne was back in his young manhood
trcading the hills, loving the PLAN, homeily
pirl that TO him would ever be young, work
ing. planning fighting, side by SIDE with inc
father Of this man who had the power TO
save. but withheld even hope in this great
emergency when everything, even honorable
sovcncy. was at stake He spoke almost
TO himself, indignant, yet sorrowtul
"I'vc played the game fair, as ! saw
how. I've owed nothin didn't pay. I've
made no promises didn't keep. Other men,
all nv life. have taken my word. And now
in nv need for someone to stand behind me,
when nv back against the wall, it's the son
of Toluse Oakcs that turns me away! some
how. If IL had been someone else, 1t wouldn I
have hurt quite so bad 1t would have been
a lcctlc easier 10 go back home, licked FOR the
first time. and tell Nav that 1t was someone
else that did it.
He got 10 his feet, tired, trembling old
man. and Strengthened himself TO his gaunt
height. and looked down at the embarrassed
fnancier who was watching him
1--WE been a fool" he said in thoughtful
voice. Il carried all my eggs in one basket
because had faith in a friend, and because
didn't know the ways Of men who have 50
much money in their hands. You've made
me see it, But you're not the kind that un-
dcrstands me, nor that understand. You re
not ike the men who worked with their
hands. as your father did, and as | did, men
whose words were worth more than all they
had in the bank. amt sure that you're 10
blame for not bein' Of and ike such men;
but. Young Mr. Oakcs, I'm damned sure |
don't want to be like YOU though | don
wish your fathers son any hard luck!'
Quite dignifcd and conccaling his wounds,
ne walked 10 the door, out icto the hall
way. and down the twenty flight of STAIR.
that led him TO the street Of the hcartlcSs
world in which ne had been rcbutfcd.
BEHIND him the fnancicr, product Of en-
IL yironmcnt and education, reached for
push button TO summon his next visitor