Roanoke Rapids herald. [volume] (Roanoke Rapids, N.C.) 1914-192?, 1914-12-04
CHAPTER |.
The Club Of Five.


The great task performed by the direc-
tor, decided that here was subject
worthy OF an ADLER pen than mine.
Whether have done THE Fifth Man"
Justice in noveli2ed form you who may
AVE seen the play, or who may view
he play after reading this, must be
he judge.
will set forth the story as saw 1t
unfolded before my eyes and just as
1t was unfolded before the perpetual
ing eye of the camera. All | can do
is the best can do So permit me
now to efface my own identity and
become merely the story teller relat.
ing the story Of Tho Fifth Man"
Five men were seated around table
in luxuriously furnished library.
These FIVE men were engaged in sew
eral different professions in which
each had still to make his mark"
The library was in the house of
Thomas Wynn, attorney-at-law. Wynn
was one whose wealth did not in the
least mean any abatement OF ambition
in his chosen profession. Wynn was
the host of the evening. His butler
now appeared with tray containing
carafe Of wine and FIVE glasses. The
French clock on the mantel struck
midnight.
The five men lifted their filled
glasses and Wynn said;
Boys, it Is midnight and our little
club is about to disband. For two
years we have met here every Satur-
day night to exchange thoughts on the
meaning Of life and discuss the fight
that all must fight to attain success.
You, my four closest friends, are about
to leave the city of New York to go to
four different parts Of the world to
perform professional tasks that may
or may not crown you with the wreath
of laurel. Shall We now. boys. pledge
ourselves to meet again at certain
specified time when each will relate
his experiences In his chosen fleld?-
and when each will set forth the rea-
sons for his success or the causes Of
his failure? What say your"
All four Of Wynns guests agreed to
this proposition and each expressed
his opinion as to when and where they
should meet.
To put into writing the consensus Of
ideas relating to the meeting. Wynn
wrote the following:
I'VE, the undersigned, do solemnly
pledge ourselves, il we live, to meet
In the home OF Thomas Wynn. New
York city. at nine o'clock in the eve
ming, exactly five years from this
! date"
The first to sign this document was
Wynn himself. The second signature
was that Of Doctor Saddler. the physi-
clan of the party. The third to sign
was William Berry, who had special.
lied in railroad engineering. The
fourth signature read; Happy Gala
gher"--the signer being civil engi-
neer. And then-then the pen was
handed to the Fifth Man.
The fifth man was easily the most
distinguished looking Of the group.
He was tall and broad shouldered and
he looked the picture of health. His
manner expressed ease and self-conA.
dence and reserve strength. In short,
everything about this fifth man COS.
siped of lofty character. good breed
ing, high ideals and well-ordered
mind. And this fifth man signed his
name thus-John Gaunt.
The specified FIVE years had passed
The time was now few minutes be-
fore nine on the evening Of the date
mentioned in the signed paper where
In the five men had agreed to meet.
In his library Thomas Wynn was
waiting anxiously for the arrival of his
four friends To him now came a
charming young woman-his wife.
81 know what Is to happen tonight,
DEAR" she said, "and l suppose you
will want to be alone with your
friends"
Eyes, sweetheart" Wynn replied.
at would necessarily be stag party
at least until after we have snapped
our yarns covering our experiences in
the last five years.
A little girl toddled into the room
in her night clothes.
Naughty" cried the mother. you
ran away from bed"
Il came to say another goodnight
TO my papa" the little one said.
And papa took her in his arms and
kissed her again and again.
And now" the mother said, "to bed
you sleepyhead. Goodnight, dear. 81
she added, turning to Wynn. Good
pisht--f5r the present"
Don't wait up" Wynn said. per
| bapS tnelr STORIES VIII De 30 long tna'
we shall sit here till the wee, small
hours. II we have finished In rea'
sonable time, however. will call you
to meet my four friends"
Four" she said, inquiringly. "How
do you know there will be four? You
say there are two from whom YOU
have not heard for very long time.
Wynn sighed. We'll, 1t is one min
ute before nine now" he said. "Anoth
err minute will reveal whether there
shall be gathered here tonight thre'
men--or four-or all Ave. Again good
night, dear"
He kissed Mrs, Wynn tenderly ant