The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1916-08-25
CHAPTER xcontinued.

IL
Charlie Thomas, now an art student
with an amazing knack for drawing
caricature Of man and showing
that mans soul in the drawing, has
Just caricatured Jones, reporter.
Jones took the sketch. gave it 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. what's
that boy trying to do. make fun Of me?
It's clever. but
He paused and stared stupidity az
the sketch. 1t was like looking into a
glass which reflected not alone his line
aments but his very soul. Every mean
ness. every little narrow. petty preju
dice. every SNUG conceit. stood there
as legibly as If printed in Gothic type.
.'This young man." said McGregor.
''may or may not be an artist some
finy. often wonder If he will. But
he has this astonishing gift of earica
ture and hardly ever uses 1t. He SAYS
he doesn't dare to: he hates to hurt
peoples feelings. He is singularIy
tender-hearted. and | wonder that he
should have allowed himself this indui-
gence."
II guess my face was too much OF
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 troub .
N ..I'm awfully sorry. Mr.. McGregor.' .
said Charlie in distress when the ele-
vator door had slammed. II wish /
hadn't done that"
Il shouldn't worry, Thomas. Come
and sit down here. / want to talk
\ to you"
Charlie sat down quite humbiy.
Maybe he was in for a lecture.
..Thomas," said Mr.. McGregor. ''tlid
you ever hear the parable Of the tai
ents?'
'.sure have" said Charlie: every
body has"
II think you have very remarkable
gift. my boy. Your pencil often dis
covers the splendid traits Of some sub
jects us well as the meanness Of 9th
ers. The day may come when you will
be an instrument for good. because
yon have this wonderful gift OF telling
the truth with a pencil or a bit Of
charcoal
Maybe it will help me find tho
Grail" said Charlie gravely.
1.-THE Grail?"
"IIs boys had society called the
Galahad Knights. Francis Willett was
the founder of It. Most of them went
Off to school or college. But I've stuck
to 1t ever since"
.You haven't given up the Quest,
fhen?"
mo: I'm going to follow it az 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
1t said nothing about Charlie Thomas.
Jones took home the sketch and hung
II with Il pin on the wall near his bed.
Every night before he turned In, and
every morning when he arose. ne stud
led 1t.
,.If that's the kind of chap am. y
z,.he would repeat. I'm going to change
or bust"
Mary Alice Brown looked up. one
morning in the gloves" and caugh'
the eye OF young man standing In
the aisle before her counter.
Hello, Mary Alice" said the youns
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 mans red hair was par
ticularly noticeable, because he wore
no hat. 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 store
Well. we're both here"
'But how about your education
Francls?"
'.I'ye just begun. was expelled
from college last week"
Likely. Why don't you tell the
truth? Are you sick orr"
Crazy? Yes. I'm crazy. guess
or was. If hadn't been crazy. I'd
still be in college"
Mary Alice studied Francis Willeti
thoughtfully. She wished she had Char
lie Thomas talent. She guessed
shrewdIy. that his father had given
him too much money to spend and 4
Ind partly spoiled him. This grieyed
Mary Alice. for at heart she was very
fond of Francis
'.What are you doing in the store?'
1ho oeka,1