Western Carolina Democrat and French Broad hustler. [volume] (Hendersonville, N.C.) 1913-1915, 1914-01-22

E
been cGngenial for Rankin since he
had encountered Broadway Jones.
The day. of the banks letter was the
first after he had reached New York
when Broadway did not go about his
gay and simple routine of up Broad
way in the afternoon and down Broad
way at night, with movements so
timed that they made long pauses near
the Circle and near Forty-second
street cen natural. He went home
before five.
When Rankin ventured to express
surprise at his return to the apart
ment at that hour, he snarled at him.
go to the devil, Rankinl" he sug-
gested when he fingered.
Eyes, sir; thank you, SIR" said Ran
kin and withdrew.
He reached the kitchen with a face
so troubled that the Japanese boy, who
had sought domestic service here with
Judging from his wages) the COM
mendable intention Of periodically
sending home, each year, enough
American money to build a warship
for his nations navy, showed interest.
"W'at ISIS matturr, tRanekeen?" the
sympathetic Oriental queried.
81 know men," said Rankin, "and if
I didn't know that Mr.. Jones is really
a millionaire-made it out of chewing
gum, his family, I'm told should say
he vas hard up"
The Japanese boy stared politely;
he did not understand at all.
"Of course he's not hard up" Ran
kin continued. mo hard-up man could
have sworn at me as he did just now.
It can't be money, so it must be
women"
"Limmin,' said the Japanese, who
had not mastered WIS.
Lemons Rankin granted. you're
almost right. I never saw a man
more popular. He spends his money
like he didn't care for it, and does it
well because that is the fact. He
doesn't care for it. I never saw a
human being who cared less. Why,
he never counts the money on his
dresser in the morning. Just throws
it there when he gets into bed, and"
The japanese laughed merrily. "You
gettin lich!"
mo; you little heather; 1 only know
he does it, that is all. I stack it up
for him. Sometimes he throws 1t all
abous-that and his clothes and fur
niture. He's often merry that way.
He threw me about one night. a fine,
strong youth! / thought it better not
to say much till he went to sleGp, and
then, as I crawled out from unier the
bed, had a chance to see lis arm.
Quite muscular it is-just as it felt
when he was joking with me-
The next day, by chance, willie visit
ing the kitchen, Rankin had y sudden
inspiration. ct wonder If he Is in
lover he pondered. THAT Mr.. Hen.
riot that I attended just Iefore he
married that grass widow was as alb.
sent-minded-oh, quite abseNt-minded,
quite! Now, which one
Rankin suddenly came to a stand In
horror. Even to the small and very
yellow cook 1t was plain that tragic
thoughts had flashed into his mind.
81 wonder" he soliloGuiZed if 1t
could possibly be that terrible Gerard
old woman. She's had her y on him
ever since the first night that she got
a glimpse of him"
AS he spoke his master, as request
ed, was talking with the first vice1pres
ident Of the bank. The man seemed
rather se~rious-minded, although on
that previous occasion when he had
marked the beginning of their ac-
quaintance, when Broadway had gone
to open his account with just two
hundred thousand dollars, he had been
geniality itself.
7 merely wished to have a little
talk with you-er-Mr. Jones' said he.
You know your balance is-er-run-
ming rather low"