The Washington herald., 1914-06-28
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EWHEN Billy made the acquaintance
F" of Mr.. Wood, at the time Of his

nrSI telephone SUMMONS ITOm MIs
DupIane, he had been seated in the ONCE,
but he learned later that room was
provided for the chauffeurs. On the
second morning. when Billy came down,
Wood told him Of this room, and the
new chauffeur correctly regarded this as
a hint that the ofice was for business
purposes only.
'oh, by the way remarked Wood
casually, what did the old man say
about investing little something In this
business?"
"I didn't question him on the sub
jeet"
''why7"
For two reasons. In the first place,
while in his company was kept pretty
busy. In the second place. forgot all
about it"
I'll make 1t worth your while. you
know" said Wood.
80 I understood. I'll tackle him at
the first favorable opportunity"
. Il believe the old gentleman is in
terested in the Speeding Motor works?''
called there yesterday"
We'll. that's a point you could make
the most of. It's one hand helping the
other as you might say. You could show
him that we're likely to place a big Or
ider."
"AlI right; I'll speak Of that"
Billy adjourned to the chaufeur's room,
but did not stay long. There was a time
when the young man would have been
interested in the conversation which
was light and hippant But, unknown
to himself, Billy was changing. Their
chatter tired him, so he went up stairs
end sat down in his own room.
It did not take him long to arrive
at the conclusion that yesterdays talk
with his uncle had been most i'll advised.
You must gain a mans confidence II yol
wish 10 use that man, and Billy's con-
versation had been antagonistic alt
through. He had cut no ice, as he said
TO himself; in fact, he had done worse
than nothing. He had practically ac-
cused his uncle of chicanery, and he be-
gan to realize that this was quite an
unfounded charge. He had allowed his
disappointment to run away with his
tact and he wasn't worth anything more.
There was little hope OF advancement
in such a situation, and unless he had
brain power enough TO get him into the
line of advancement. he was occupying
a rut where he would stick.
He could not help perceiving, in the
commercial round taken the day before.
that he was not the only person after
a slice of Andrew Duplane's money.
Everybody he met wanted a share, and
so his uncle lived in an atmosphere al
most of adulation.
Billy, with frowning brow and COM
pressed lips, came to the healthy con-
clusion that he had been a fool, and re-
that he knew everything.
By the time he had reached this con-
clusion, his thinking apparatus was in
better order than one might have ex-
pected. He could not afford to quarrel
with his uncle. He might earn wages
till the cows came home, and yet make
no advance. The accumulation of money
by honest labor was very admirable. but
to accumulate enough was slew business
toward getting himself into any occu-
were possible.
II was exasperating to see opportunity
passing by while he possessed no lasso
to throw over its head. To ask hisl
was a proved futility. Although Mr.
Duplane had retired from business, his
money had not. 1t was placed here and
there, undoubtedly with great caution,
and every dollar was earning something
Any check Billy drew on the bank of
relationship would certainly be dlshon-
ored. II he wished to get his hand in
tie old mans cash box. it must be by
presenting some project that would meet
with his uncle's approval
The building and endowment Of this
projected home for the aged wiped Billy
out as a legatee, and, after all. there
was something commendable in his
uncle's course, much as Billy had re-
sented it the day before. He greatly re-
GREETED his loquacity on that occasion.
and determined there and then to talk
less and listen more, which resolution
marked a milestone in his career
In the meantime Billy set about making
inquiries for a chauffeur to take his
place as driver of the Dartmore He did
not regret having abandoned that situa-
ton himself. 1t offered no prospects
either as a career or as a stepping stone
TO his uncle's favor.
He went down to Woods office, and
when the proprietor of that apartment
looked up from the inevitable newspaper
he consulted him as to the possibilities of
finding a reliable chauffeur
No difficulty at all about that said
Wood briskly. He was studying Billy
shrewdly. without seeming to do so. This
turn Of events suggested possibilities to
the keen man of business, and he was
wondering whether he could adjust them
to his own advantage before young Du-
plane developed that shrewdness which
might naturally be supposed a character
istic Of Andrew Duplane's nephew.
"I suppose that means we're going to
lose you, Mr.. Duplane?"
''Oh. I don't know about that" said