The Hope pioneer. [volume] (Hope, N.D.) 1882-1964, 1915-02-11
A MAN OF FAITH
BY HAROLD CARTER.



because he believed everything that
be was told. As he grew older, how.
ever, instead Of jeering at him the fel.
lows used to go to him with their con.
adences. He had that captivating
frankness and belief In human nature
that, when genuine, proved Irresistible.
1t was just the same when Billy was
discharged from the INSURANCE Office.
Mr.. Somers, the manager, had been or.
dered to lay off some of the employees.
He thought Billy was not cut out for
the insurance business. You'd better
lay off for q while and look round to
see II you don't find something more
suited to you," he said.
He never expected to see Billy again.
but. five weeks later. Billy was found
at his desk n morning. Il didn't see
anything I like better, SO l came back"
he said. Billy stayed and was pro.
NOTED to be assistant manager by old
Hayden, who had taken a fancy to the
young man.
Old Hayden, being a millionaire, was
not the mar to pick up an insignificant
subordinate and take him into his
home. However, Billy had been to the
Madison avenue mansion once or twice
with important papers. He had seen
Elsie Hayden there and had at once
fallen in love with her. With his sim.
pltcity Of mind, 1t did not occur to him
that there would be any difficulty
about marrying her. provided he could
make her love him.
That summer he brooded over HIS
work, hoping against hope that the
occasion would arise for him to go to
MIR. Rayden's house again. But he was
not summoned, and presently he dis,
covered through the papers that Elsie
Hayden was spending July at Allan,
tic City.
Billy took his vacation in July and
went there. He met Miss Hayden OF
the board walk and, taking off his hat
reminded her who he was. Elsie Ray.
den was at once amused and inter.
ested. She was tired Of society life,
and she had begun to suspect that she
wae in love with Mr.. Gerald Lomax,
who had been reported In the newspa
pers several times as paying her at
tention.
The result Of that conversation waa
that Billy was invited to call at the
hotel. Miss Elsie had a plan in mind
She wanted to discover whether Ger
aid loved her, by the simple process Of
trying to make him Jealous.
She timed Billy's second visit SO that
1t should coincide with Gerald's regu'
lar Sunday trip to Atlantic City, and
for an hour the two men sized each
other up, while Miss Elsie chatteG
amiably and impartially with each In
turn, and both together.
Billy was the first to leave and some
thing which might have been called 9
scene" in less exalted circles hap
pened afterward. The next time Billy
called Miss Elsie was more encour
aging than ever That was the begin.
ming Of a week Of ecstacy for the young
fellow. They went for long country
walks, they swan and drove, they pat
ronized theaters and all the amuse
ments. And presently the inevitable
society item found Its way into the
New York papers.
"Rumor has It that Mr.. William
Durham and Miss Elsie Hayden viii!
shortly announce their engagement"
Billy read the item and turned white
with indignation. He went straight tc
Miss Elsie's hotel and slapped the
newspaper down On the table before
her.
II don't know what cur put that in
he said, but / want to make 1t true
VIII you. dear?"
my dear boy, you don't under
etand," she said. Il am engaged te
marry Mr.. Gerald Lomax."
Billy stared at her incredulously
But you have gone for walks ant
drives with me-" he exclaimed.
%, go away, Billy. and learn some
thing Of the world" Miss Elsie an
swered.
Billy went away to learn. Then she
ASoASSsSo AS1 WOlOS. 1u0 IdcL was
that.she had received a letter from hel
father that morning demanding point
edly to know what she vas doing
fooling with n Of his clerks at At
lantic City" He also demanded thai
she go home.
Elsie went home, and a hard week
followed. There was MIR. Lomax, ex.
postulating and indignant. and her ia.
Their. furious at the publicity. Three
days later. when Billy got back to his
lodgings, he found a letter stating that
his services would no longer be re-,
CURED In the insurance Office.
Now n%inety-nine men out Of a hun,
dred would have whistled and gone ou,
to look for a job. But Bllly's absurd
faith took him right round to the
house on Madison avenue. AS Mr..
hayden had no expectation Of seeing
him again, he had left no instructions
with the butler concerning him. So
Billy. walking In. found himself In the
midst OF an animated family scena.
Il beg your pardon" said Billy to
Mr.. hayden. Its about that letfar