The Press., 1915-07-07
]. A Certain Rich Man s Son
 How He Worked Out His Own
 Reform.
By GUY C. BAKER

q mean just what I said-Pm no ready to go to work There were unlimited complacency and assurance in Killings voice as h, said it.
 'aThen what-what do you want te do?"
 Il want to run around bit, yol know, and see what's going on in the world"
 ''See the world! Why, good heavens from reports I've had of your college career there's nothing left for you tt see or dol"
 "Plenty of time for drudgery and al that sort of thing later, dad. I want to knock about bit like the other fel lows l know"
 By thunder, you shall do as yor don't give tarnal rap where-but go Go and see the world-all of it, every stratum of it. I'll pay the freight-ev cry penny But this is the condition you've got to stay away five years You are not to write home, nor shal any one from home write to you. You will draw upon my New York banker for your needs. I-but that's all- there is no need for further discus sion."
 Young Killing stared with mild sur. prise at the broad shoulders of his ia ther for moment; then, the exas- perating look of superciliousness re turning, he arose languidly to his feet
 "Aw-er-I say, dad. isn't that--er- just trifie strong?
 The older man did not look around.
 No; not bit of it! Scoot!'
 For a moment the mask of insolence fell away from the young mans face, and the natural strength of his fea- lures stood out strikingly.
 "All right, sir; you're on! The five years begin today. Goodby, dad"
 As he swung jauntily down the street of the prosperous southern town "a town that had seemed a good place in which to live before his eight years of college life-he became suddenly conscious of feeling of uneasiness as he thought of the gentle mother who but a few hours before had thrown her arms about him in a joyous well come home. Many months passed be- fore a realization filtered through his brain of how inconsiderate was her disillusionment.
 When couple of hours later Killing boarded the train for the north he car ried with him the disturbing picture of his mothers disappointment and solicitude. To him she had ever been the diplomatic buffer between the acer pity of his father and his own self willed follies. But he realized this last this five years silent absence indulgence.
 But, whatever of remorse his pre- cipitate departure caused him. it was of short duration.
 He went abroad and for a time reveled in the glitter of the cafes of Paris. He idled precious hours in Italy. He barely escaped duel in Berlin.
 Then. after a month of stupid bore dom in London, he hastened back to New York
 Thus two years passed.
 Not once- had he heard from either his father or mother. Not once had he written home. Once or twice his submerged manliness threatened to break through the veneer of his pleas ure seeking existence-some eddy of memory which brought 1eeting rec o11o of fh.,k 1nc <rli ,Nf hi mother-but always would he brush it stubbornly aside and plunge with in creased abandon into the whirlpool of folly.
 Then one evening, after an excep- tionally strenuous day. he arrived at the theater during the third act just as a prima donna of worldwide fame was rendering her finest number.
 Killing stood at the head of the aisle for moment. carele..sly sweeping the audience filled theater with his glance; then, with scornful shrug, he turned and strolled down into the smoking room.
 The singer finished, and tremen- dous outburst of applause filled the
  dors. Again and again the singer re- sponded to the encores.
 Curiously, Killing, wandered back into the foyer and once more took up his position at the back of the theater and watched the audience. Rowing and smiling. the prima donna was ap- preaching the footlights for her fifth encore.
 Killing watched with patient an tipathy. He fidgeted nervously, his forehead drawn in scowl and his lips curled With unbounded sarcasm.
 Then in notes low and tremulous the singer began the line. "Far from the old folks at home." At the same mo- ment, with the startling suddenness of crash of thunder, the audience was electrified to hear a mans voice-dis- cordant. raucous. scoffing-join in the song with the prima donna.
 Then, with scornful laugh, Killing permitted himself to be led away by a couple of pale faced. agitated ushers.
 Out in the lobby he impatiently shook himself free of the ushers and imperturbably passed out and stepped into his motorcar. As the chauffeur threw on the power and the machine glided swiftly away Killing flung back at the undecided group of theater att taches the words of the song with taunting mockery.
 When, at in the morning. his valet admitted him to his apartments Killing had worked himself into a frenzy, He seemed obsessed with the notion that the valet in some ingenious way was responsible for the hideous words of that song and treated him accordingly
 He tossed sleeplessly until daylight. the words of the song pounding his eardrums unceasingly. Gradually the whole line blended into one word home.
 "Confound that internal, asinine wordr'
 Irascibly he got up and dressed, sent for b;c o,rfoYnahiIa d;e,Y,;cer5