The Tabor independent. [volume] (Tabor, S.D.) 1913-19??, 1915-11-25
CHAPTER Nv.
EN1ER FREDDIE SWAIN.

. ri
1 fell, rather than climbed, down the
ladder, snatched the white missile from
the grass. and saw that IL was, indeed
a sealed and addressed envelope. had
somehow expected that address to in
clude either Godfrey's name or mine;
but IL did neither. The envelope bore
MR.. FREDERIC SWAIN.
1910 Fifth Avenue,
u #... New York City.
II not at this address,
please try the Calumet club.
sat down on the lowest rung OF the
ladder, whistling softly to myself. For
Freddie SWANS address was no longer
1910 Fifth avenue, nor was he to be
found. in the luxurious rooms OF the
Calumet club. In fact, it was nearly
year since he had entered either
place. For some eight hours of every
week day, he labored In the law Of
fees OF Royce & Lester: he slept in
q little room on the top floor OF the
ming, Saturday, Sundays and holidays
excepted, were spent at the law school
OF the University OF New York; and
the remaining hours Of the "a in haunts
much less conspicuous and expensive
than the Calumet club.
For Freddie Swain had taken one OF
these toboggan slides down the hill OF
the most deserving. HIS father, old
Gen. Orlando Swain, had, all his life,
put up pompous front and was sup
posed to have inherited a fortune from
somewhere; but, when he died, this
edifice was found to be all facade and
no foundation, and Freddie inherited
nothing but debts. He had been ex-
pensively educated for a career as an
ornament Of society, but he found that
career cut short, for society suddenly
ceased to find him ornamental 1 sup
pose there were too many marriageable
daughters about
am bound to say that he took the
blow well. Instead of attempting to
cling to the skirts OF society as a VEN
der of champagne or an organizer OF
fetes champetres. he-to use his own
words-decided to cut the whole show.
Our firm had been named as the
administrators OF the Swain estate, and
when the storm was over and we were
sitting among the ruins, Freddie ex-
pressed the intention Of going to work.
What win you do?" Mr.. Royce i'm
quired. Ever had any training in
making money!"
mo, only in spending it." retorted
Freddie, easily. But can learn. I was
thinking Of studying law. That's
good trade, isn't it?"
"Splendii!" assented Mr.. Royce,
warmly. And there are always so
mary openings. You see. nobody studies
law-7lawyers are as scarce as hens
teeth" ..-......-
Just the same, think I'll have a
try at It." said Freddie, sturdily. There's
always room at the top, you know"
he added, with a grin. Il can go to
the night school at the university, and
/ ought to be able to earn enough to
live on, as O clerk or something. /
know how to read and write"
afryx All -
Mr.. Royce. But I'm afraid that, right
at first, anyway, you can scarcely hope
to live in the style to which you have
been accustomed"
Freddie turned on him with IRE in
his eyes.
give me a job. I'll do my work and
earn my wages--try me and see."
There was something in his face that
touched me- and / glanced att MIR.
Royce. I saw that his gruffness was
merely mantle to cloak his real feel
ings; and the result was that Freddie
Swain was set to work as a copying
clerk at a salary of SIS a week. He
applied himself to his work with an
energy that surprised me. and learned
that he was taking the night course at
the university. as he had planned. Fin
ally, one night, met him as was
turning in to my rooms at the Mara
IILOuy anu LOuhN lhASAN AAS AAeAA ACASC0
la cubby-hole on the top floor of tho
building. After that, saw him oc-
casionally and when six months had
passed, was forced TO acknowledge that
ne was thoroughly in earnest. I hap
pened to remark to Mr. Royce one day
that Swain seemed to be making good.
YES" my partner agreed; Il didn't
think he had IL in him. He had a rude
awakening from his dream OF affluence,
and IL seems to have done him good"
But, somehow, had fancied that It
was from more than dream Of af-
fuence he had been awakened; and
now. as sat staring at this letter, (
began to understand dimly what the
other dream had bee /.
The first thing was to get the letter
into his hands, for was certain that
IL was cry for help. glanced at my
watch and saw that 1t was nearly half
past IL. Swain, I knew, would be at
lunch. and was not due at the office
until l o'clock. Slipping the letter into
my pocket, / turned back to the house,
and found Mrs. Hargis standing on the
front porch, - "a