United labor bulletin., 1914-01-24

| Henrietta Schuyler and was SO de-
voted and open in his preference that
the matrimonial schemers were one
and all discouraged
But with all his wealth and superior
position. the course of true love did
not run spiooth for Temple Bonner.
/ The facts would make a plot for
novel. There was yet another young
man among those who came acquiring
at the old brownstone mansion, but
one vastly different in many respects
from Bonner. This mans name was
Wiilard-Max willard"
I've heard the name" muttered Van
vechten-
1T was an irony of Fate" pursued
Mr.. Flint. that Bonner and Willard
should not only be friends. but the
closest sort OF intimacy existed be-
tween them. a genuine Damon and
Pythias attachment
Willard lacked about every Cd
vantage possessed by his rival; he
Vas poor. unattractive in appearance.
and had many peculiar traits which
made enemies where Templer Bonner
won friends. He was regarded as
visionary. n crank. a man who would
never make his mark However. he
must have possessed some unusual
quality. because Temple Bonner had
implicit faith in him-believed that he
was n genius OF some sort: but II was
Characteristic OF Willard that he would
accept no assistance from his more
fortunate rival.
Bonner, II would seem. felt his own
position keeniy. He realized that his
/ friend was almost Overwhelmingly
handicapped. and as well as can ece
out from wha, actually happened. he
withdrew temporarily from the field
and gave Max Willard every oppor-
tunity to advance his suit. ! suppose
the idea was. that II willard was sue
cessfui, Bonner would abide by the
/ consequences: n not. then Willard
was to stand aside and give Bonner
his chance. Much OF this Is guess
work: Il is hard to arrive at the truth
at this late day. but certain oircum-
stances exist which Indicate that what
] am telling you is what actually hap
/ pened
/ 1T would appear from the sequel
that Max willard had been the favored
one all along. Temple Bonner vent
abroad: within two months Willard
and Miss Henrietta had eioped and
were married. within ten minutes aft
er he received news Of the runaway
wedding Compton Schuyler had blown
out his brains
There are the naked facts
Temple Bonner never returned to
America. and Max Willard. instead of
justifying his friends confidence in
his talents-whatever their bent might
have been-had dropped entirely from
sight His wife. you tell me. has been
dead long time: but were there no
childrenl Is Max Willard still alive.
where is he. has he any family. what
ia his occupation7 Those are the
things I want you TO ind out. fancy
the runaway match. with all its at
tendant circumstances. created some
thing OF a stir Mt the time: some of
your older friends should be able and
willing to supply you with tho facts :"
"Oh, l have no doubt that | can
learn all you want to know" agreed
Van vechten. Most OF what you have
just told me is not exactly news; but
/ had forgotten it--it all happened be-
fore my time. you know. Josephine
1
a woman who has suffered much. one
deserving pity and sympathy; but
heavens and earth-she is no martyr
to tribuiation: she's the jolliest sort
Imaginable. But how will this
help you to solve your murder prob
lem, or-what more nearly concerns
me--find some trace of my cousinT'
For some moments Mr.. Flint sat
silent, gazing meditatively through the
window. Number 1888 dingy front
loomed dingier than ever in the late
afternoon sunshine; but MFR. Flint had
no eyes for the old house just at pres
ent After a bit he turned to Van
vechten.
Before answering your question.
Mr.. Van Vechten. l am going to lay
another matter before you." said he
gravely: "it may seem impertinently
personal. but there are occasions when
the ordinary civilities and amenities
must be laid aside and disregardei. /
know that you and Miss Carew are en-.
gagged to be married: do not mention
the sentiment that usually accompa-
nies such n conventionality. for per-
haps shall pain you; but isn't there n
possibility that she has become in
terested in another more recent love
affair?"
Flint" was the prompt response.
you are not trespassing upon my feel
ings I'm the least, and am going to bc
frank with you. The engagement you
speak of has always been more or less
OF tacit understanding in our family.
Paige is only distant cousin. you
know; but we are clannish set. we
Van Nechtens. and she and | have al
ways been awfully fond of each other.
but MS for love. That's another
matter. In strlctest confidence. Flint