The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1917-07-18

A MYSTERY SOLVED

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as Jimson's. Jimson knew enough Of
the man to be sure that he paid the
lowest price possible for them. The
meals were a la carte, If the guests
preferred, or there was a fair table
d'hote at a reasonable fixed price.
Unison invariably ordered a la carte,
and extensively, being particular in
his eating. Old Uckersted took break
fast a 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 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 a big salary
from a wholesale house downtown
and spent it like a 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 DISPOSE
ton and pleasant to everybody. Old
Uckersted had his millions $50 1t was
reputed), spent no more than was abb
solutely necessary, was almost shabby
in his attire and morose in his man.
ner.
It amused Jimson to see the slavish
Difference paid to Uckersted's wealth.
It was the way Of the world, he said
natural enough. AS for the proprie-
tor of the hotel, it vas 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, c%at-footed,
%low-voiced, deferential, blandly impas-
sive, bald and MISUNDERSTANDING
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 dropped eyelids, as he
feeds old Creosus his crackers and
milk; note the anxious assiduity with
which he places the hot water at the
magnate's elbow; get on to the solicit
tude. And here reposing in my trou-
sers pocket is a silver half dollar and
he knows it will soon be In his. We
want more of these crawfsh, but that
cuts no ice with William"
"Give it up" said the friend. BE
cause he's got the money, I suppose"
mot at ALL" said Unison. las far
as William is personally concerned it
is I who have the money. Moralists
give US fits as a nation for dollar wor-
ship. They're mistaken. We don't
care a hang for The coin. It's only
the power that it %symbolizes 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-
fore the peer. Why? Because the
peer had power. He or his ancestors
won it 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 a
way. That Is, they respect the aris-
tocracy less than we do the plutocracy
see? 1, therefore, acquit William of
sordid aims. Still-hi! william J"
Until more than a year after this
conversation Jimson had been abroad
looking after his firms interests and
when he returned William was gone
and a James-an altogether inferior
betng-handed him the bill Of fare
when he took his old seat. One eve
ming Jimson got into a 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 raost magnif-
Gently. A silk hat William wore; his
suit was of superfne BLACK; his cravat
was fastened with an %undeniable
pearl pin and he rested his gloved
hands on a gold-knobbed cane
"Come over here and sit by me-" in
vited Jimson. II want to talk to you.
You're looking we'll, William. Where
are you working?"
"Tm occupying a responsible posi-
ton in Mr.. Uckersted's household,
sir" replied William. 81 am his but
Ter, in fact-major domo, you might
say, sir. He married, you know, sir"
81 did hear something Of it," said