The Catholic bulletin., 1915-05-15
A FRIEND INDEED

J
Mr.. Boyton's legs failed him. He sat
down abruptly on the street and gazed
after the car with a pained and puz-
zled smile till a man caught him un-
der the arm and, lifting him up, put
him on his feet.
'Hurt?" inquired the man, handing
Mr.. Boyton his silk hat, and leading
him to the pavement.
mo, Just a bit surprised Mr.. Boy
ton answered, recovering his breath
and donning his hat. Many thanks I
he added. d .s, s7 z, s-t,..I 80 .a4
Welcome said the man, and went
on his way. aft
Mr.; Boyton brushed some Of the
dust-fortunately the weather was dry
from his frock coat, and turned into
the side street which, on leaving the
car he had been told was a short cut
to the Offices that We're his destination
He had not proceeded far, however,
ere he realized that, although. unin-
jured, he was, considerably shaken by
his fall, and desired to rest for few
minutes. At siXty-one a man is apt
to fall heavily, even if one be the re-
verse of stout and apparently in the
best of condition, as was Mr.. Boyton.
A small, secondhand book shop
suggested the retreat he sought, and
he entered the doorway which more
burly individual would, have found
difficult of passage owing, to the piled
up boxes of eheaply priced and, more
or less damaged volumes, After the
glare of the street the light in the.
shop seemed dim, and Mr.. Boytoni
looked about him for few minutes:
ere he perceived a short counter on
which stood desk, and behind which
he distinguished the bowed head Of a
man, probably, he thought, the. pro-
prietor. Mr.. Boyton laid his hand on
the back of a chair a little distance.
from the counter. Don't let me dis
turb you, and pardon my intrusion,
he said. pleasantly. May sit here.
for little while? | had a slight fall
outside just now, and it has rather
shaken me. l. only want a. seat-noth-
ing else.''
The man behind the counter
small person, gray-haired and pale
had risen, and stood holding a book
marking a place with one Of his fin
gers. For an instant he stared at Mr.:
Boyton, checked an exclamation and
let his book drop. He STOPPED and
CROPPED for it, found it at last. and say
ing, Certainly, certainly, sir; take a
seat" he resumed his own, and once
more bowed his head.
Mr.. Boyton expressed his thanks,
and feeling no particular desire for
conversation, apart from the fact
that the bookseller appeared to be
engrossed with his own affairs, he
seated himself and fixed his attention
on company prospectus which he
drew from his pocket, unaware that
the bookseller several times raised his
eyes to gaze, earnestly, If. stealthily
over the desk. :.
In ten minutes Slr. Boyton felt him.
self again, and rose to take his de
parture. 81 am very much. Obliged to
you," he said turning toward the coun.
ter At first the bookseller appeared
not to hear. him. Then he raised his
head as though politeness forced him
to do SO against his inclination.
You're very welcome. Good day, .
he said quietly, and bent, over his
book again NJ
Mr.. Boyton hesitated, said, Good
day mechanically, and walked out
of the shop. On the pavement he
halted, and looked up at the board
above the window and door" James
Carnachan, Bookseller
Good heavens" he muttered, feel
ing even more shaken than by his re
cent mishap; ito think of finding him
here! Jamie Carnachan!" ~
He turned to re-enter the shop, but
abruptly changed his intention, and
having hailed and secured cab, was
driven to the great Offices where half
a score of prosperous gentlemen sat
around a large table waiting the adj
vent of MIR Boyton of New York" /"
whose signature would complete a
financial deal calculated to increase
still further their own prosperity and
more than likely to wipe the names
of hundred or SO less prosperous
gentlemen from the map of commerce.
The individuals round the table, il
must be mentioned, were anxious and
fearful lest Mr.. .Boyton, whom none OF
them had met, should, get the best of
the bargain, as individuals; are who
want the best of the bargain for them
selves, and they whispered virtuously
one with another, of his seruples and
agreed that their own. nations. interest
be protected before everything.
They need. not, however,. have ex-
cited themselves. Mr.. Boyton arrived,
drank a glass of water, and came to
business, looking rather bored. The
matter was carried through far more
speedily than anyone had anticipated
/ The nations interests were duly pro
tected, and after Mr.. Boyton's de
/ parture-he refused several luneheons
on the plea of other engagemfnts-the
prosperous gentlemen congratulated
one another and came to the conclu.
sion that he vas not nearly as smart
i as they had feared, in that he might
easily have cleared another hundred
thousand pounds on the transaction.
It was some minutes after Mr.. Boy.
ton left the shop ere the bookseller
/ raised his head. But he had not been
reading. He laid down the book, and
took up the morning paper, turning