Putnam patriot., 1915-10-29

CHAPTER /.
A Rich Mans Son.

y king. sat in his library iii no
very contented frame of mind.
There was a thorn in his flesh.
and he began To feel it more and more.
ii was not an agreeable sensation, a
thorn in the flesh, for soap king
whose caticle was not accustomed to it.
He traced it mere or less vaguely to
bis 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, at the
Directors club about lunch time and
had one of their half friendly, half hos
tile chats together. And to make
long story short, Martin had bet Clark
$4,000 that his son. Rodney Martin,
would be making more money in a
wears time than Clark's son Ellery. As
neither boy had ever made penny in
his life. unless betting on a football
game or winning Il jackpot could be
called making money. there was fair
y sporty flavor to the bargain.
The bits Of business lore and anec-
dnteS of sagacity and trade that Clark
represented as coming from the preco-
eious 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 $4,000 to John Clark in a
years time and admitting Rodneys in
competence to boot was deyilish.
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
he 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
\ oHege each year than the sum total
Nof his fathers and mothers expenses
Sdnring the first childless years of their
*married life: not necessarily on fast
living, his father was reasonably sure
8ef that. but for Injuries and gew-
&eaws at which young men in the old
Ss7ays would have turned up their noses.
Nfoduey's father had not gone to col
Il iege himself, though his parents could
Have sent him. He was not altogether
&l self made man. His own father,
Eltodney's grandfather. a country bank
Ger in Connecticut, had left him the
sheritage of a modest fortune and
thrifty habits, and in the soap kings
Snind now these seemed more to be
thankful for than half a dozen college
professors and their snap courses. Yet
There was nothing particular the mat
Ter with Rodney's Inheritance and en-
sironment. there was just something
hacking I'M the boy himself.
81 Compare Rodney. for instance, with
young Rufus Pfodman. son of old Eli
IN Plodman of the State Wire and
Iron works. Rufus was one OF the
Hveliest young men in the business
World, married To a nice wife and with
IL family growing up already. His
lit WIS RSEiAIlAil- " ~
more and more. Then there was
Ehauncey Brinkhurst who took the
Aslrtlen of the Excelsior National bank
Utmost entirely or old Rrinkhurs's
Goulders. aud n good thing for the de-
Rositors too. There was even VIII J.
Robinson. Jr.. Of the Pine Hill Dye
~ ofks company. who had brought in
oriers that set the concern Oh its feet
tLere was good reason to believe, Ia
5Gst the 1ick Of time. Compare all
tbese and 4 good few others with bis
cvn young hopeful, and which name
SCI the best Of r.
he log was attractive too: his father
ha1 always liked him. Perhaps that
was one Of the chief troubles Even as
4 little c1ild he had never flown into
teInpers or had hateful ways. His own
Whining and noncomhats.e disposition
had been the chief means, no doubt, Of
warding IF the disciAines Of life. He
was amiahle and good looking In an I'M
obtrusive way. and everybody liked
him To look at him impartially yon
Would not have thought he lacked cLar-
&cter. unless you yielded too much 10
yG0r prejudice against slight lisp and
- otherwise somewhat dnicky way Of