The Washington herald., 1914-06-28

, no indication OF any feeling in the mat
ter, and the slight smile that played
round his delicate lips was inscrutable
as ever.
The miIIionaires, after a parting hand
shake with the placid old man. filed out
OF the room. leaving Bill, alone with his
Uncle Andrew.
SO. in the short space Of week you
have become a manager?" he said look
ing kindly at his nephew.
oh" said Billy carelessly, I'm work.
ing while look around"
Yes remarked The elde- Duplane
placing the tips OF mis- fingers together
and looking thoughtfuIly at the young
man, II Judged you were working"
Il don't think Perkins should have
shown me in here" said Billy, somewhat
resentfully I hope you don't mind-my
being in these togs?"
No. no: not in the least" said his
uncle genially. Il rather like II, in fact
II shows progress"
Billy only laughed. rather ruefully. be-
ing determined not TO speak in the wrong
place.
They were all self-made men" his
uncle said. and think little interested
in seeing Duplane on the bottom round
OF the ladder
We'll. 1t isn't soul-inspiring perch. all
AAAt SdAASs AAAaA OOllOID ECJOluCo
Billy.
Let US hope you will soon have to
move to make room for the next man
Each gets his step upward and general
delight Is the result said the old man
cheerfuly.
Again Billy laughed. but this time
rather nervousy. He wasn't getting on
with his request for capital The gently
smiling face before him was disconcert-
ing. and he felt that q little harshness
would have been a welcome tonic.
He sat in one Of the chairs lately va
waited by a millionaire. while his uncle
sat at the head Of the table in the chair
he had resumed when his co-directors
had gone
Bnly's eyes dropped to his hand that
rested on the long table. and he had the
air OF one thinking deeply. as. indeed.
was the case. Old Andrew Duplane must
have considered his attitude a dis
couraged one. for he said, in a consoling
sympathetic tone:
AT the first plunge you were sure to
find the waters OF business a little chilly,
but it's a healthful chill you have got,
you will feel all the better for the plunge
couraged. nephew William Andrew" The
old mans voice was now almost cares
sing. and Billy looked up brightly.
"Oh. I'm not discouraged. Uncle An
drew" he said. I'm only considering
how to put a proposition to you in its
best light"
State your proposition, nephew, and
never mind the light My sight is good"
said the old man pleasantly. gently pat
ting his finger tips together as he looked
almost coaxingIy at the young man.
o. n ,--ErN
enlarging. II he could get S25,oOO or $50 900
it would prove a good investment for his
capitalist
Crudely and baldlY Billy thrust his
proposition at his uncle. while he should
have known that the capitalist is shyer
than a partridge. requiring much more
delectable bait than does even that fas-
tidious bird.
twenty-five or thirty thousand" re-
peated Andrew Duplane. smiling benign
ly. his finger tips still moving.
For a wild, brief moment Billy thought
he had succeeded. Then the gentle voice
went on:
You want this money for ]. D. Wood
and not for yourself?''
For ]. D. Wood directly, but indirect
ly 1 shall beneit. I shall get on the
first round all the quicker If ]. D. gets
this money through me-"
II am glad to know your proposition
is not wholly a phIlanthropic one" re-
marked Andrew Duplane in a pleased
manner.
''Oh. there's no philanthropy about it."
said Billy firmly.
LAS said" continued the old man.
Il am pleased to know that, for philan-
thropy is business
Uncle Andrew, will you come in or
NJ IA - Erharna7-
Billy broke in brusquely. for he was
growing impatient at the prospect Of a
lecture, without success at the end of
II. He stood up as he shot his question
straight and clear and then moved to-
ward the door. as one who has no time
to waste in useless conversation.
why such haste. nephew? There's no
need for you to hurry away"
"A man on the first round Of the lad
der has no time to daily" Billy said. and
continued his progress toward the door
Yet a man in that position must re-
main there until he has served a useful
apprenticeship" rejoined his uncle.
serenely.
Billy paused.
You won't come in, I take it," he
said. but he allowed no sign of his dis
appointment to reveal itself in his voice
Andrew Duplane rose from the head OF
the table and approached his nephew. in
whose eyes. as he faced his wealthy
uncle. shOne a CLINT OF battle.
You are right. nephew: l won't come
in said the elder Duplane, cordially
shaking hands with Bill. His friendly
eyes followed his young relative to the
door.
AS Billy returned to his work he
found himself wishing his uncle had
been a stern. fault-finding man, for
his invulnerable good humor left moth
ing tangible to resent or quarrel with.
Yet notwithstanding his keen disap-
pointment at the outcome of his visit
Billy's carriage was upright, and his