The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1915-10-02
CHAPTER /.

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q king, sat in his library III no
w very contented frame of mind.
There was u thorn in his flesh,
aud he began TO feel 1t more and more.
II was not an agreeable sensation,
thorn In the flesh, for soap King
whose cutlcle was not accustomed TO Il.
lie traced 1t moro OF less vaguely 10
his meeting that morning with his old
friend and rival in the soap business,
John Clark. They had fallen in with
each other us often happened. ut tnu
Directors club about lunch time and
had one Of their half friendly, half hos.
tile chats together. And to make
long story sliert, Martin had bet CLARK
$4,000 that his son, Rodney Martin,
would he making more money in
years time than Clarl's son Ellery. AS
neither boy had ever made a penny In
his life. unless betting on a football
game or winning II jackpot could be
called nNE:nS money, there was Il fair.
y sporty flavor to the bargain.
The bits Of business lore and anec.
doteS OF sagacity md trade TINT Clark
represented as coming from the preco.
cious lips Of the marvellous Ellcry had
finally goaded old Martin into fury.
He at least knew that Rodney was
nlncompoop in business, II he was his
sou: lie had no Illusions about TINT,
But the comparisons had reached
point finally beyond which he would
not let them proceed unchallenged, and
SO he had made his ridiculous wager
and must abide by 1t. The prospect OF
turning over $4,000 to John Clark in
years time aud admitting Rodney's In.
competence to boot was devilish.
Whit was the matter with rich
mems sons anyway? thought Cyrus
Martin. Rodncy's father had not spoil
ed him. his fathers conscience was
clear on that point at least. Perhaps
he had not spoiled him enough. his
mother used to thinl; so. Perhaps his
mother. had she lived. with that ncrv-
Gus way she had Of rrodding people
on, would have been Of benefit when
mere stcrnncSs Ind failed.
The boy had spent more money in
college cach year than the sum total
OF his fathers md mothers expenses
during the first childlcss years Of their
married life: not necessarily on fast
living. his father was reasonably sure
Of that. but for luxuries and gew-
gaws Mt which young men in the old
days would hare turned up their noses.
Rodney's father had not gone to col.
lege himself. though his parents could
have sent him. He was not altogether
self made man. His own father,
Rodney's grandfather, n country bank.
er in Connecticut, had left him the
heritage Of modest fortune and
thrifty habits, and in the soap kings
mind now these seemed more to be
thankful for than half dozen college
professors and their snap courses. Yet
tSere was nothing particular the mat.
ter with Rodney's Inheritance and en-.
vironmcnt. there. was Just something
lacking In the boz himself.
Compare Rodney, for instance. with
young Rutus Plodman, son OF old Ell
hu Plodman OF the State Wire and
Iron works. Rufus was one OF the
livelicst young men in the business
world, married to nice wife and with
family growing up already. His
name was beginning to be mentioned
more and more. Then there was
Chauucey BrInthurst, who took the
burden OF the Excelsior National bank
almost entirely of old Brinkhursts
shoulders, and a good thing for the de.
positors too. There was even Wilt.
Robinson, Jr.. OF the Pine Hill Dye
Works company, who had brought in
orders that set the concern on its feet,
there was good reason to believe, In
Just the nick OF time. Compare all
these and good few others with his
own young hopeful. and which name
got the best OF It?
The boy was attractive. too; his father
had always liked him. Perhaps that
was one Of the chief troubles. Even a.
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