The herald., 1914-09-10
A MAN OF FAITH
BY HAROLD CARTER.

When Billy Durham was at school
he was the butt OF his companions,
because he believed everything that [,
he was told. AS he grew older, how |
ever, instead of jeering at him the fell |
lows used to go to him with their con- /
fidences. He had that captivating
frankness and belief in human nature
that, when genuine, proved irresistible.
1t was just the same when Billy was
discharged from the insurance office.
Mr.. SomeTs, the manager, had been or
dered to lay of some OF the employees.
He thought Billy was not cut out for
the insurance business. You'd better
lay off for while and look round to
see if you don't find something moro
suited to you," he said.
He never expected to see Billy again,
but, five weeks later, Billy was found
at his desk one morning. Il didn't see
anything like better, SO came back,
he said. Billy stayed and was pro-
NOTED to be assistant manager by old
hayden, who had taken fancy 70 the
young man.
Old Hayden, being a millionaire, was
not the man to pick up an insignificant
| subordinate and take him into his
home. However. Billy had been to the
| Madison avenue mansion once or twice
| with important papers. He had seen
! Elsie Rayden there and bad at once
! fallen in love with her. With his SIM
plicity Of mind, it did not occur to him
that there would be any difficulty
about marrying her, provided he could
make her love him.
That summer he brooded over his
work, hoping against hope that the
occasion would arise for him 70 go to
| Mr. Rayden's house again. But he was
not summoned, and presently he dis
covered through the papers that Elsie
Hayden was spending July at Allan
tic City.
Billy took his vacation in July and
went there. He met Miss Hayden on
the board walk and, taking OF his hat
reminded her who he was. Elsie Ray
| den was at once amused and inter
ested. She was tired Of society life
and she had begun to suspect that she
was in love with Mr.. Gerald Lomax
who had been reported in the newspa
pers several times as paying her at
tention.
The result Of that conversation wal
that Billy was invited to call at thu
hotel. Miss Elsie had plan in mind
She wanted to discover whether Ger
aid loved her, by the simple process o
trying to make him jealous.
She timed Billy's second visit 80 tina
!. Il should coincide with Gerald's regu
; lar Sunday trip to Atlantic City, an
for an hour the two men sized eacl
other up, while Miss Elsie chatte
n amiably and impartially with each i
turn, and both together.
Billy was the first to leave and some
y thing which might have been called
scene" in less exalted circles hal
pened afterward. The next time Bill
, called Miss Elsie was more encoul
aging than ever. That was the begiI
/. ming Of a week of ecstacy for the youn
s fellow. They went for long countr
walks, they swan and drove, they pa
', ronized theaters and all the anus
ments. And presently the inevitab
society item found its way into tn
New York papers.
"Rumor has It that Mr.. Willial
Durham and Miss Elsie Hayden wi
shortly announce their engagement
Billy read the item and turned viii
with indignation. He went straight
, Miss Eleie's hotel and slapped Il
newspaper down on the table befol
her.
81 don't know what cur put that In
he said, "but / want to make 1t tru
VIII you, dear?'
my dear boy, you don't unde
stand" she said. Il am engaged
a. marry Mr.. Gerald Lomax."
Billy stared at her incredulousl
n But you have gone for walks al
drives with me-" he exclaimed.
:. 20, go away, Billy, and learn SON
III thing Of the world" Miss Elsie q
y swered.
Billy went away to learn. Then g
ly regretted her words. The fact W
that she had received letter from b
al father that morning demanding poll
eddy to know what she was dol
I'd fooling with one Of his clerks at
m lantfc City" He also demanded th
she go home.
Elsie went home, and a hard we
% followed. There was Mr.. Lomax,
:, postulating and indignant, and her
~ Their, furious at the publicity. Thr
IT, days later, when Billy got back to
l.; lodgings, he found letter stating tt
I'D his services would no longer be
quired in the insurance office.
Now ninety-nine men out of a hi
dred would have whistled and gone
to look for a Job. But Billy's absr
faith took him right round to