Oxford Democrat., 1916-09-12
His Price
Il Turned Out to Be
His Own, Not the
Other Mans.
By CLARISSA MACKIE


Skiff Babcock was a self made man
That was his chief boast. One day
after he had made this assertion one
Of the persons who heard 1t said to the
other:
Reckon he did make himself. The
Lord never would have made q mar
like him"
Skiff left school when he was nine
years old.
There were two things that Babcock
coveted. The one was the most ex
pensive automobile he could buy, and
the flashiest. The other was Celia
Hart, a young milliner. Celia was OF
the same sphere IN life as Babcock, but
she must have been made Of different
clay.
He got the automobile, and it ne.
NAMED for him to get Celia Hart-if
he could. The only thing in the way
Of his getting her so far as he knew
was Tim Casey. Casey was In Bah
cocks employ, and Babcock considered
that he owned every man he hired. 1t
CALLED him to feel that this common
workman as he called Casey, should
be in the way Of his getting anything
he wanted. But Casey was fa1 before
him In Celia's affections, and he knew
It But 1t wasn't natural that this
should be so. and he thought up way
to change it-a way that only such a
man as he would choose.
For three succeeding days Skiff Bab-
cock had permitted his brand new red
touring car to crawl along the street IN
the hope Of meeting Celia as she went
to or from the milliner's where she
worked.
Skiff could always pick Celia out Of a
crowd by the graceful swing OF her
slender, erect figure. but recently she
had identified herself beyond all doubt
by perching coral colored hat on her
abundant black hair.
All at once Skiff's beady little eyes
discerned her. First the coral hat
came into view, then Celia's lovely
laughing face and finally the hulking
form of none other than Mr.. Babcock's
head truck driver. who held Celia's ell
bow in one big hand with most often
sive air of proprietorship.
Suddenly Skifr Babcock whirled his
machine around and dashed into an.
other street.
An hour later be sat at his desk IN
the office of the Skiff Babcock Truck
ing company. At the curbstone his
red car painted impatiently. Through
the archway that connected the street
with the stables behind his Office his
employees were passing to and fro.
A haze Of tobacco smoke blurred the
little room. for Skiff was smoking ci-
gar after cigar in dogged, persistent
way, very much as If he knew that
when he reached the end of a certain
number Of these fragrant smokes he
would find a solution to the problem
that troubled him.
All at once he flung a half finished
cigar through the window and pounded
the desk heavily with one pudgy fist
every man has his price," he said
slowly. 81 wonder what is Casey's
price?'
Again he meditated.
"a truckman," he snorted scornful-
", against me, who can turn every
vote In this ~ard-me, with that auty-
mobile, and could dress her in dia-
monds, with a fat in Central Park
West, If she wanted It The nerve OF
Tim Casey!
He rang a bell sharply.
HAS Casey come backY he asked OF
the boy who responded.
mo, sir"
"Send him here when he comes"
scowled Skiff, and he lighted another
cigar.
By the time Tim Casey's huge bulk
darkened the Office doorway Ski1 Bah,
cock had smoked himself into a fit OF
cold anger, tempered only by his favor
lite maxim that every man has his
price"
That this was true to degree In
skift Babcock's political circle account
ed for his self-confdence to settle the
case of Tim Casey OF hand.
"You wanted mel" grinned Tim
Casey good naturedly.
skift frowned up at the big, hand
some young Irishman. whose every
muscle was tense with strength and
vitality. Tins blue eyes sparkled and
his white teeth shone. Life was good
sport to the hard working truck driver.
81 saw you on Sixth avenue this
noon," blurted forth Skiff. This was
not the way he had intended to open
the subject.
"I guess I wasn't breaking no speed
limits" grinned Tim. 'That gray
horse amt got the grit to cart heavy
dry goods. He ought to be put on the
ostrich feather route"
"You wasn't carting that kind Of
dry goods up the avenue. What do you
mean by loaflng around when you
ought to be on your job, ehr'
Casey's back stiffened and his blue
eyes narrowed.
1T was noon hour" he said sharply.
Where was the truck?"
"Here In the stable"
Seems to me you can get around
pretty fast when you've mind to-"
growled skiff, as he studied the time
card on his desk, which showed the
arrival and departure Of the trucks on
their different assignments.
Casey said nothing. He folded his
arms across his chest and looked down
at the fat, disturbed countenance Of his
employer. Heretofore they had always
been on good terms-something must
have occurred to turn Babcock's anger
upon him. The simple fact Of bis
walking on Sixth avenue or any other
thoroughfare during his incoming could
not account for this inquisition.
Then, all at once he remembered
Celia Hart had once said she had met
Skiff Babcock several times, and liked
him.
Casey's face grew cold and hard.
"I've an interest In you, Tm," said
Skiff with a sudden change Of tone.
"I'm obliged"
slave you ever wanted to 60 into
the trucking business for yourselfr
The younger mans face underwent q
brief change.