, 1915-11-11
CHAPTER I.
A Rich Mans Son.

LID MARTIN, b soap
king, sat in his library in no
~ very contented frame of mind.
There was a thorn in his flesh,
and he began to feel 1t more and more.
1t was not an agreeable sensation, a
thorn in the flesh, for a soap king
whose cuticle was not accustomed to it.
He traced it more or less vaguely to
his meeting that morning with his old
friend and rival In the soap business,
John Clark. They had fallen In with
each other, as often happened, ut the
Directors club about lunch time and
had one of their half friendly, half hos
tile chats together. And to make a
long story short, Martin had bet Clark
$4,000 that his son. Rodney Martin,
would be making more money in a
years time than Clark's son Ellery. AS
neither boy had aver made a penny I'm
his life, unless betting on a football
game or winning a jackpot could be
called making money. there was a fair
~ sporty flavor to the bargain.
The bits of business lore and anec-
dotes Of sagacity and trade that Clark
represented as coming from the preco-
cious lips of the marvellous Ellery had
finally goaded old Martin into fury.
He at least knew that Rodney was a
nincompoop In business, If he was his
son: he had no illusions about that.
But the comparisons had reached a
point finally beyond which he would
not let them proceed unchallenged. and
SO he had made his ridiculous wager
and must abide by it. The prospect of
turning over 100000 to John Clark in a
years time and admitting Rodney's in
competence to boot was devilish.
What was the matter with rich
mems sons anyway? thought Cyrus
Martin. Rodney's father had not spoil
ed him. his fathers conscience was
clear on that point at least. Perhaps
ne had not spoiled him enough, his
mother used to think so. Perhaps his
mother, had she lived, with that nerv-
Gus way she had Of prodding people
on, would have been of benefit when
mere %sternness had failed.
The boy had spent more money in
college each year than the sum total
or his fathers and mothers expenses
during the first childless years of their
married life: not necessarily on fast
living his father was reasonably sure
OF that. but for luxuries and gew-
Jaws at which young men In the old
Jays would have turned up their noses.
hodney's father had not gone to col
lese himself, though his parents could
nave sent him. He was not altogether
a SELF made man. His own father,
hodney's grandfather, a country bank
ef In Connecticut. had left him the
perltage of a modest fortune and
'lrltty habits, and In the soap kings
n'lhd now these seemed more to be
thankful for than half a dozen college
proressors and their snap courses. Yet
mere was nothing particular the mat
Ter with Rodney's inheritance and en-.
Vlronment. there was just something
lacking In the boy himself.
compare Rodney. for instance, with
Young Rufus Plodman, son of old Eli
nu Plodman OF the State Wire and
IRON works. Rufus was one of the
IlVeliest young men in the business
world, married to a nice wife and with
d FAMILY growing up already. His
name was beginning to be mentioned
more and more. Then there was
~.hauncey Brinkhurst, who tool the
burden Of the Excelsior National bank
almost entirely OF old Brinkhurst'B