The Pageland journal. [volume] (Pageland, S.C.) 1911-1978, 1917-05-02
A MYSTERY SOLVED

Old UckerSted's apartments In the
hotel were nothing like as expensive
as Jimson's. Jimson knew enough Of
the man to be sure that he paid the
lowest price possible for them. The
meals were la carte, II the guests
preferred, or there was fair table
d'hote at a reasonable fixed price
Jimson invariably ordered a la carte,
and extensively. being particular in
his eating. Old Uckersted took break
fast la carte-oatmeal and milk or
some other grain preparation and
milk, and hot water. Lunch this man
OF stocks and bonds and railroad
shares ate downtown. generally at the
board Of trade counter 1t was a light
lunch. Dinner he ate at the hotel,
table d'hote, and it may be said that
he made up for his abstemiousneSs Of
the day and got the worth of his
money.
In spite Of this the proprietor of the
hotel bowed to old Uckersted with alb
solute obsequiousness while he mere
ly favored Jimson with q nod Of good
Fellowship. Jiynson drew big salary
from wholesale house downtown
and spent 1t like prince. He patron
lied a fashionable tailor. wore as
many diamonds as good taste permit
ted, perhaps sometimes more. He
was of an eminently sociable disposi-
hon and pleasant to everybody. Old
Uckersted had his millions ESQ it was
reputed), spent no more than was alb
solutely necessary, was almost shabby
In his attire and morose in his man.
ner.
1t amused Jlmsop to see the slavish
difference paid to Uckersted's wealth.
1t was the way Of the world, he said
natural enough. AS for the proprie-
tor Of the hotel, II was quite reason
able that he should kowtow to a man
who could buy him out with a few
strokes OF his pen. Jimson did not
want any man to bend himself double
on his account. The friendly nod was
good enough for him. He found no
fault with the humbly respectful de-
meanor OF the clerk toward the mil
lionaire; that was natural, too. But
what puzzled him particularly was the
behavior Of William. the waiter.
Very suave was William, cat-footed.
low-voiced, deferential, blandly impas-
sive, bald and neat-whiskered-
ideal waiter. Jimson was very fond
Of him.
Look at him." said Jimson to a
friend who was breakfasting with him
one morning. MARK the reverence in
his humbly drooped eyelids. as he
feeds old Creosus his crackers and
milk; note the anxious assIduitv with
which he places the hot water at the
magnate's elbow; get on to the solicit
tude. And here reposfng in INV tro,,.
sers pocket la a silver half dollar and
e<knows y viii soon be % his. We
Wans more Of these crawflsh, but that
CUT no Ice with William
Give It up.' said the friend. BE
cause hes got the money, suppose"
mot at ALL" said Unison. "As far
as William is personally concerned II
is 1 who have the money. Moralists
give us fits as nation for dollar wor-
ship. They're mistaken. We don't
care hang for The coin. It's only
the power that 1t symbollzes that we
reverence. William knows that Ucker-
sted is a power and he bows down be-
fore him. 1t isn't that he expects to
get any Of Uckersted's money. In Eu-
rope the peasant abased himself be-
lore the peer. Why? Because the
peer had power. He or his ancestors
won II with the sword-by murder
and might and leadership. The result
=. a " Du'ope 'ies are settlng 10
@ a'ie IMAM we are IN
"uy. iil"l is' 'hey respect the aris-
60, .an we uo tne P,utocracy