The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1917-11-01

Of these mittens as | approached, and
observed that the hand which he ex-
tended toward me was as white as
marble. Thus I knew that he had aged
greatly since had last seen him.
Lucy told me at our first opportunity
for word in private that her father
sat up much later than had been his
habit even upon those evenings when
Mr.. Kcrwin was not calling and that
he was deyOting himself anew to the
study of ponterous books, doubtless as
means Of diverting his attention from
worldly affairs.
After tea Mr.. Butterfield and I re-
tired to his study, where we lighted
two long stemmed clay pipes, and just
as was about to open the subject Of
finance Lucy came in and announced
the arrival of Mr. Kerwin.
The banker was hard featured.
sturdy man of fifty-five, with mouth
that was perfectly straight line and
eyes capable OF extraordinary concen-
fratiOll. so that his glance was not for
ones face in general but for a partic-
llar part of 1.-THE tip of the nose or a
line in ones forehead I found this pe
culiarity of Mr. Kerwin's somewhat
disGuicting. yet he seemed. upon the
whole, to be a more amiable man than
his aspect would indicate.
AS to this money, this new fortune
Of mine," said the clergyman after the
banker had made my acquaintance and
had helped himself to tobacco, my
friend has come to talk with me In re-
sponse to letter which wrote before
you had been so good as to advise me
in regard to an Investment"
SO the money was already invested.
1t was the first that had heard Of that
fact.
| thought it probable that this rural
banker Of nearly twice my years would
resent my intrusion into the affair, but
I misiudged him. In the blandest man.
ner and with no further hint from Mr..
Butterfield he proceeded to lay the
whole matter before me briefly, but
with exemplary cleaness. listened
with increasing amazement. The in
vestment was of a speculative charac-
ter in the sense that it promised ex-
traordinary returns. vet it was so
shrewdly considered and SO wisely
based upon important private informa-
ton that could find no basis for criti-
ctsm. 1t was an opportunity such as
one may not have In a lifetime. and
there was practical certainty that
Mr.. Butterfield would quadruple his
money within few years. Nothing
could be more natural than that so re-
markable piece Of good fortune should
have excited this placid old man.
Yet, singularly enough. while Mr. Ker.
win was disclosing these facts to me the
clergyman's attention wandered. OBJ
served that he surreptitiously read from
II large book which he held open on his
knee and that he was only mildly inter
ested i'll my approval of the Investment,
Il am satisfied, quite satisfied he
said. ''My friend Kerwin has kindly
taken this whole matter off my mind
| trust his Judgment implicitly Sure
"" he added after a momentary pause
II have been very fortunate of late.
This money has been greatly blessed to
me. 1t has procured me the acquaint
ance-I may even venture to say the
friendship-of a man whom have long
misjudged." And he beamed upon the
iron faced Kerwin. "DOctrinal differ
ences," he continued, shave held us
apart for some years.
"Doctrinal differences" repeated Ker
win, with rigid grin. "That's good
phrase
"By the way" said the clergyman
| yelling nervous impatience, upon
that point which we were discussing
the other evening ! find here the fol
| lowing statement
He read from the big book u para
graph heavy with scientific terms
Kerwin's eyes glistened, and he spoke
the instant that the reader paused. He
had not uttered three sentences before
| perceived that the man was dog
matte materialist and that he was ham
mering at the foundations of the 9th
er's belief
Kerwin was one of those men who
| have read a great mass of high grade
scientific literature late III life, but
have never had a groundwork of scien
.tifc training. They know what tht
scientists say, but not what they mean
| 1t is nearly impossible for any maj
who has not received systematic in
struction in the actual labor of investi
CATION to understand the real essence
| of the simplest scientific statement
| such as ..salt consists of sodium ant
chlorine" The greatest chemist in thu
world might say that. but he woul(
! mean only that no one whom he knew
| of had ever found anything else IN salt
| The true scientist takes his readers
| lack ut dogmatism for granted, ani
that Is why he Is 50 rarely understood
Mr.. Butterfield seemed bewildered b.
the skeptic's array Of facts and to b'
vainly seeking for seme higher scien
tific authority which would contsadic
hts enemy. Such struggle is futil,
and tends more strongly than anything
else to throw the mind into condition
Of miserable and hopeless doubt. Witt
i,lexpressible pain beheld the begin
ming of the ruin Of this good old man.
faith and peace, and by II o'clock o
/ that evening ! was upon the point 0
throwing Kerwin out of the window.
/ After the banker had gone Mr.. But
terfield tried to continue the discussi9l
with me: but, finding that ! agrees
with him too well, he desisted. Fl