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


lowest price possible for them. The
meals were la carte, IL the guests
preferred, or there was n fair table
dhote at a reasonable fixed price.
JimSon invariably ordered la carte,
and eXpenSively, being particular in
his eating. Old Uckersted took break
faSt In 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 or trade counter. 1t was light
lunch. Dinner he ate at the hotel,
table d'hote, and 1t 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 a nod Of good
Fellowship. Jimson drew q big salary
from Wholesale house downtown
and spent IT like prince. He patron
lied fashionable tailor wore as
many diamonds as good taste permit
ted, perhaps sometimes more. He
was of an eminently sociable disposi-
tion and pleasant to everybody. Old
Uckersted had his millions ESQ it was
reputeO, spent no more than was alb
solutely necessary. was almost shabby
In his attire and morose In his man.
ner.
1t amused JimSop 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. il 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
llonaire; that was natural, too. But
what puzzled him particularly was the
behavior Of William. the waiter.
very suare was William, cat-fOoted,
low-voiced, dcferential, blandly impas-
Sive, bald and notwithstanding
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
ms humbly dropped eyelids. as he
feeds old CrcOsus his crackers and
milk; note the anxious assiduity with
which he plac IS the hot water at the
magnate's elbow; get on to the solici.
tude. And here r..iosing In my trou-
sers pocket is ;: silver half dollar and
he knows - will soon be in his. We
want moe OF these crawfish, but that
cutss-o fee with William"
Give 1t up." said the friend. BE
cause he's got the money, suppose"
mot at ALL" said Jimson. LAS far
as William is personally concerned 1t
is l who have the money. Moralists
give us hts as q nation for dollar wor-
ship. They're miStaken. We don't
care hang for ,he coin. It's only
the power that it synbolizes that we
reverence. William knows that Ucker-
Sted Is 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-
fore the peer. Why? Because the
peer had power lie or his ancestors
won II with the sword-by murder
and might and leadership. The result
Is that in Europe they are getting to
be more democratic than we are, In q
way. That is, they respect the aris-
tocracy less than we do the plutocracy
see? /, therefore, acquit William of
sordid aims. Still-hi Williamr"
conversation JimsOn had been abroad
looking after his firms interests and
when he returned William was gone
and JamcS-an altogether inferior
being-handed him the bill of fare
when he took his old seat. One eve
ming JimSon got into street car and
opposite to him he recognized William
with some difficulty and doubt for
the model waiter had grown rather
portly and was dressed most magnifi-
Gently. A silk hat William wore: his
suit was Of Superfine black; his crayat
was fastened with an undenIable
pearl pin and he rested his gloved
hands on gold-knobbcd cane.
Come over here and sit by me-" in
vitcd Jimson. ~ want to talk to Won.
You're looking well, William. Where
are you working?"
I'm occupying a responsible posi-
lion In Mr.. Uckersted's household
SIR" replied William. II am his but
Ter, in fact--major domo, you might
say, sir. He married, you know, sir"
II. did hear something of It," said
Jimson. well, well. You seem IN he
prospering, certainly"
..Drnttu .ir