Askov American. [volume] (Askov, Pine County, Minn.) 1914-current, 1915-02-11

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Meade's eynictsm was not entirely
| tho vaporous output Of self-centered
youth. His was calling that took him
into every walk OF life He had stepped
lightly among the roses. which were
not for him TO pluck, and he had
wound his way through thorns and es-
capped their prick. In the great school
Of life every book and every page la
laid open to the reporter IL he will but
look. 1t Is an old story: at first the
bubbling enthusiast. then the cynlc;
and the cynictsm Is not feigned. Win
moved and sifted down and weighed
the same balance always showed. At
| least In the turmoil OF the big cities 1t
| was the same--hypocrisy and self
gain.
| But If there were no alternating
{ causes there were alleviattng effects.
Occasionally the stock yielded some
thing pure. Such product Dick had
found In the Reynolds home. OF
true love and true happiness he knew
the world contained its share, but
now the first idol In his personal OBJ
servance OF 1t had crashed and shat
tered like the glass upon the German s
bar. Or, so It seemed to him.
What other conclusion could he
reach? There were Jane and Brand
| and the supercilious Mrs. Collins In
the turbulent storm Of his speculations
she served as slight balm, but not
an effective one. He was glad that
she was there. He was glad that Jane
mad detected Brand In his purpose to
tarFy at the Inn. These were mollify-
ing circumstances, but they were
small. The great, big infectious fact
was that his friends wife was out au-
tomobile riding with a man she had
known but two days-a millionaire.
The word bit and stung as he CON
ceiVed 1t. He laughed aloud In a bit.
ter. raucous way and reached for the
beer to wet dried lips. He GUIDED it
down and babe Herr Host good day.
lhat poTtly gentleman, having pom
dered over the sudden transformation
OF his guest, scented trouble. His fare
well was as brief as Dicks
Young Meade had gone to Totem
Vile on reportorial duty. This he had
performed when he dropped into the
Inn. Ordinarily he would have spent
his time on the long homeward trip In
writing or at least. constructing his
story. But when he tried to concen.
trate his mind, the scene he had tust
witnessed tntruded and absorbed his
thought. Again and again he reviewed
the facts and tried to Danish the blight.
but II would not down. His admira-
ton for Jane was almost akin TO wor.
ship. Bob he loved and envied. Not
In any unworthy way, but as the DOS
SCISSOR and component part OF O state
OF happiness he knew existed and had
never yet found for himself
But In Dicks primitive and prac-
tical alignment OF figures. two and
two meant just one thing. Added or
multiplied the result was the same.
No algehraic could alter It; no
geometric square could efface IT, Rey.
nolds was deceived and his wife was
decelving him. Unless-and the
thought brought a quick spasm OF re-
toicing-unless Bob knew.
He became impatient at the slow
moving car and then tretful over the
hardness Of the ferry. He was eager
TO rush to his friends office and by
some diplomatic trick arrive at the
truth. But then. II Bob didn't know,
and fn sn4ta CF hirrsntR +h;n &La,.zA.
took preponderance, what would he do
then? Should he turn tale bearer and
say the word that always embitters
even when the best OF friends Ia its
mouthpiece? His loyalty to Jane, too,
might deter him. The idol was shat
tered, but It was still an idol. That
Dick did not fully know, There might
be ruins, but they would never fall to
the level OF Brands. He became
acutely conscious of an increasing
hatred for the INSCRIPTIONS million.
aire and a decreasing resentment to-
ward the woman.
Dick found his friend at work In the
laboratory OF the big construction com
pany. Bob's quarters were on the top
most floor OF Bowling Green sky
scraper and not far from the Offices Of
Brands concern. 1t was nearly six
o'clock and Bob, coatless and with
sleeves rolled up, was hurrytng through
the Anal stages OF a rush Job.
Hello. Dick" he greeted without ad,
vancing. What brings you up at this
hour? I'd shake but my hands are
mussed UP bit. Sit down. Ill be
through In ten minutes"
Dick declared he had Just dropped
in and subsidized on a convenient stool.
Fascinated, he watched Reynolds NOV
ing quickly to and fro at his work.
transferring some substance from
glass crucible to another: depositing a
bit here In small iron kettle over a
fame and dropping more there into
square Einc can packed In ice; watch
ing the tests almost simultaneously In
four or Ave different vessels; stopping
occasionally TO iot down results In a
little book: keen. alert and accurate
Here was the competent workman for,
getful of ali but his work. Forgetful
even Of employer: oblivious 10 friend:
immersed In his task. Dick could not
refrain from one question.
a