The Calhoun chronicle. [volume] (Grantsville, W. Va.) 1883-1984, 1916-08-31
CHAPTER x-continued.

OS'ehhhCus
IL
Cnariie Thomas, now an art student
with an amazing knack for drawlno
a earlcature Of a man and showing
that mans soul in the drawing, has
gust caricatured Jones, a reporter.
Jones took the sketch. gave il one
look, and burst into roar of laugh
ter. He eyed the caricature again. and
the smile faded from his face.
Say, professor" he said. whats
that boy trying to do, make fun OF ne?
Its clever, but"
He paused and stared stupidly at
the sketch. 1t was like looking into q
giass which reflected not alone his line
aments but his very soul. Every mean
ness, every little narrow, petty preiu
dice. every SNUG conceit. stood there
as legibly as IL printed I'm Gothic type.
This young man." said McGregor.
may or may not be an artist some
day. l often wonder II he will. But
he has this astonishing gift of carica-
ture and hardly ever uses IL. He saws
ne doesn't dare to; he hates to hurt
peoples feelings. He is singularly
tender-hearted, and 1 wonder that he
should have allowed himself this indul-
gence"
Il guess my face was too much or
temptation to him." said Jones. He
slipped the sketch into his pocket.
"Goodby, young fellow; much obliged.
Goodby, Professor McGregor. Thanks
for your time and trouble"
I'm awfully sorry, Mr. McGregor."
said Charlie in distress when the ele-
vator door had slammed. 'I wish I
hadn't done that"
Il shouldn't worry, Thomas. Come
and sit down here. want to talk
to you"
Charlie sat down quite humbly.
Maybe he was in for a lecture.
Thomas" said Mr.. McGregor, did
you ever hear the parable of the tai
entsT"
Sure 1 have" said Charlie; every
body has"
II think you have a very remarkable
gift. my boy. Your pencil often dis
covers the splendid traits Of some sub
jects as well as the meanness of 9TH
ers. The day may come when you will
be an instrument for good, because
you have this wonderful gift of telling
tie truth with a pencil or a bit OF
charcoal
Maybe 1t will help me find tho
Grail" said Charlie gravely.
THE GrailY
Galahad knights. Francis WIllett was
the founder OF 1t. Most OF them went
or to school or college. But I've stuck
to 1t ever since"
you haven't given up the Quest,
thenY'
"No; I'm going to follow it as long
as live"
well. then Thomas. let me tell you
that your talent will help you find the
Grail, as you have suggested. That Is
all for this morning.
Jones went back to the View office
and wrote his story. which in due time
appeared in the Sunday Issue. But
II said nothing about Charlie Thomas.
Jones took home the sketch and hung
Il with pin on the wall near his bed.
Every night before he turned In, and
every morning when he arose. he stud
led IT,
"If that's the kind OF chap I am."
he would repeat, "Tm going to change
or bust"
Mary Alice Brown looked up. one
morning IN the gloves" and caught
the eye OF a young man standing In
che aisle before her counter.
Hello. Mary Alice" said the young
man. He had a good-humored face,
a complacent manner, and very red
hair.
Francis willett," cried Mary Alice.
Where did you, come fromT
The young m6h's red hair was par
dcularly noticeable, because he wore
no hat. a circumstance which struck
Mary Alice as odd.
II came down from the general Of
fees OF this establishment to see you.
Mary Alice" said Francis. "I'm work
ing here. DO you remember, we both
said we wished we didn't have to be
educated. so we could work in a store? ?
Well. we're both here"
''But how about your education,
TrancisY'
"f've just begun. was expelled
from college last week"
Likely Why don't you tell the
truth? Are you sick or"
"Crazy7 Yes. I'm crazy. I guess
or J was. 1f I hadn't been crazy, ia |
still be I'm college"
Mary Alice studied Francis Willett |
ihoughtfully. She wished she had Char |
lle Thomas talent She guessed, |
shrewdiy. that his father had given |
him too much money to spend and It /
had partly spoiled him. This grieved !
Mary Alice. for at heart she was very /
fond of Francis.
what are you doing in the store?"
she asked.
I'm learning the business; began /
this morning. I'm q sort OF cub as
sistant 40 Mr.. Stacey, general handy /
little man in his office, not quite 80
humble as an Office boy or nearly so
exalted as a ssieslady. I'm neither
nay nor grass. but need cuttings and
they've started IN with my allowance.