The state herald., 1915-07-09

from Misery.
Does Billy Conrad still keep store
1t stagbonef'
Samson started and his gaze fell in
amazement. At the mention OF the
name he saw crossroads store with
rough mules hitched to fence palings.
1t was picture Of home. and here was
man who had been there! With
glowing eyes the boy dropped uncon.
sciously back into the vernacular OF
the hills.
"Hev ye been thar, stranger"
The writer nodded. and slipped his
whisky.
Not for some years, though" he
confessed, as he drifted into reminis.
cence, which to Samson was like wa.
ter to a parched throat.
When they left the cafe the boy
felt as though he were taking leave
Of an old and tried friend. BY homely
methods. this unerring diagnostician
Of the human soul had been reading
him. liking him, and making him feel a
heart-warming sympathy.
1t was not until much later that
Samson realized how these two really
great men had adopted him as their
little brother" that he might have
their shoulder-touch to march by. And
1t was without his realization. too,
that they laid upon him the imprint
Of their own characters and philoso-
ply.
Il have come. not to quarrel with you,
but to try to dissuade you." The He :
Mr.. Wickliffe bit savagely at his cigar
and gave despairing spread to his
well-manicured hands. You stand in
danger Of becoming the most cordially
hated man In New York-hated by the
most powerful combinations in New
York"
Wilfred Horton leaned back in a
swivel chair and put his feet up on his
desk. For while he seemed interested
in his own silk socks.
IT'S very kind OF you to warn me-
he said. quietly.
The Hon. Mr.. wickliffe rose in ex.
asperation and paced the floor. The
smoke from his black cigar went be
fore him in vicious puffs. Finally he
stopped and leaned glaring on the
table.
Your family has always been con.
servative. When you succeeded to the
fortune you showed no symptoms OF
this mania. In Gods name, what has
changed you?"
Il hope have grown up" explained
the young man, with an unrufiled
smile. "one can't wear swaddling
clothes forever. you know"
The attorney for an instant softened
his manner as he looked into the
straightgazing. unafraid eyes of his
client.
i've known you from your baby
hood. advised your father before
you we're born. You have. by the
chance Of birth. come into the control
OF great wealth. The world Of finance
is Of delicate balance. Squabbles in
certain directorates may throw the
Street into panic. Suddenly you
emerge from decent quiet and run
amuck in the china shop. believing
and tossing your horns. You make
war on those whose interests are your
own. You seem bent on harikari
You have toys enough to amuse. Why
couldn't you stay putt"
They weren't the right things
They were. as you say. toys" The
smile faded and Horizons chin sci
itself for moment as he added:
III you don't think I'm going to stay
put-watch me"
why do you have TO make war
to be chemically insurgent7"
Because young man. who had
walked up. spoke SLOWLY am read
Ing a certain writing on the wall The
time Is not far on when. unless we
regulate a number of matters from
within we shall be regulated from
without"
Take for instance this newspaper
war you've inaugurated on the police.
grumbled the corporation lawyer. ITS
less dangerous TO the public than
these financial crusades. but decidedly
more so for yourself You are re
garded as a dangerous agitator, n mar
plot. ! tell you. winfred. aside from
all other considerations the thing is
perilous to yourself. You are riding
for a fall These men whom you are
whipping out OF public life will turn
on you
so heai. Here's letter I got this
morning-unsigned. That Is. | thought
II was here. Well. no matter. II
warns me that | have less than three
months to live unless call on my
dogs"
II ia said that the new convert IL
ever tho most extreme fanatic. VII.
fred Horton had promised to put on
his working clothes. and he had done
II with reckless disregard for conne-
quonces. Al hrst. he was simply obey.
Ing Adricnnc's orders: but soon he
found himself playing the game for
the games sake. Political oyeriords.