The Fairmont West Virginian. (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1904-1914, 1914-06-19

was dining on fiicf misnon. dry toast
and apolIinaris Tint man wis con.
Ianslt Van phsekinE MN worth.
$4,000. coo who Inherited and held 4,
sacred seat In the exclusive inner cir
eiesof society. : Ssi ~
Billy Mcaiafan spoke to no one
around him because he knew no one.
Van Duyckink kept his eyes OF his
plate because he knew that every eye
present was hungry TO catch his. lie
tould bestow knishthood and prestige
by nod, and he was chary of crcatin;
i'too extensive nobility
And then Billy MeMalian conceived
Ind accomplished the most startling
md 'audacioas net Of his life. lie rose
deliberately and walked over to Cort.
landt Van Duycklnk's table aud held
out his hand.
Say. Mr.. Van Duycklnk." he said,
live heard you was talking about
starting some reforms among the poor
people down in my district. I'm Nc.
Alahan, YOU know. Say. now, II that's
straight I'll do all can TO help you.
And what says goes in that neck OF
The woods, don't It: Oh, say, rather
guess 1t docs"'
Van Duyckink's rather somber eyes
lighted up. lie rose to his lank height
and grasped Billy McAIahan,s hand.
'Thank you, Mr.. McNIahan." be said
In his deep. serious tones. 81 have
been thinking of doing some work Of
that sort Shall be glad OF your rs.
sistance. ltpleases me 10 become nc.
quainted with yOu."
Billy walked bnck to his seat. His
shoulder was tlngling from the accoJ
lade bestowed by royalty. A hundred
eyes were now turned upon him In
envy and new admiration. Mrs. vii.
liam Darragh McMalan tre,nhlcd with
ecstasy. so that her diamonds smote
the eye almost with pain. And now II
was apparent that Mt many tables
there were those who suddenly remem.
bered that they enjoyed Mr.. McAIa-
hans acquaintance. He saw smiles
and bows about him. He became en-.
veloped In the aura of dizzy greatness
His campaign GOODNESS deserted him.
Wine for that gang" lie command.
ed the waiter, pointing with his finger.
wine over there! Wine TO those three
gents by that green bush! Tell 'cm
It's on ME. See? Wine for everybody"
The waiter venturcd TO whispcr that
1t was perhaps inexpedicnt to carry
out the order In consideration of the
dignity OF the house and IFS custom.
"All right" said Billy. at it's against
the rules. wonder II 'twould do To
send my friend Van Duyckink n bottle.
No? Well, It'll flow all right Mt the
caffy tonight. just the same. tn lie
rubber boots for anybody who comes
In there any time up to . n. m"
Billy McMahan was happy.
He had shaken the hand of Cort'andt
Van Duyckink.
The big pale gray auto with It's shin.
Ing metal work looked out of place
moving slowly among the pnshcarts
and trash heaps on the lower east sillc
So did Cortlandt Van Duycklnk. with
his aristoeratic face and white. thin
hands. as he stecred carefully between
the groups Of ragged. scurrying young
sters In the streets. And SO did Miss
Constance Schuyler. with her dim.
ascetic beauty. seated at his side. Z
"oh. Cortlandt." she breathcd. "isn'.
It sad that human beings have 10 live
In such wretchcdness and poverty?
And you4how noble It is Of you to
think of them. to give your time and
money to improve their condition"
Van Duyckink turned his solemn
eyes upon her. $500 "'H..
at Is little" he said sadly, that |
can do. The question IS a large one
and belongs to society. But even in.
dividual effort is not thrown away,
Look, Constance! On this street have
arranged to build soup kitchens. where
no one who is hungry will be turned
away. And down this other street are
the old buildings that l shall cause TO
be torn down and there erect others in
place of those death traps Of fire and
disease"
Down Delaney slowly crept the pale
gray auto. Away from It toddled GOV.
eys OF wondering, tangle haired, bare.
footed, unwashcd children. 1t stopped
before n crazy brick structure. foul
and awry.
Van Duyckink alighted to examine
at n better perspective one Of the lean.
Ing walls. Down the steps of tho
building came young man who
seemed to epitomize Its degradation.
squalor and infcliclty-a narrow chest
ed, pale, unsavory young man. putting
at cigarette.
'obeying a sudden impulse, Van
Duyckink stepped out and warmly
grasped the hand Of what seemed TO
him living rebuke.
~ want to know you people," he
said sincerely, IL am going to helm