The Owosso times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1897-1926, 1917-04-13

out there was a very broad wooden
scarf around his neck. the fringed ends
railing almost to his knees. A black
SOFT hat Of ancient design, more pic
turcsque than the style of today, was
upon his head, and woolen mittens
were upon his hands. He removed one
of these mlttens as approached. and
observed that the hand which he ex-
tended toward me was as white as
marble. Thus knew that he had aged
greatly since I 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. Kerwin was not calling and that
he was devoting himself anew to the
study of ponderous books, doubtless as
a means of diverting his attention from
worldly affairs.
After tea Mr.. Butterfield and re-
tired to his study, where we lighted
two long stemmed clay pipes, and Just
as l was about to open the subject of
dnance Lucy came In and announced
the arrival of Mr.. Kerwin.
The banker was hard featured.
sturdy man Of ffty-flve. with mouth
that was perfectly straight line and
eyes capable Of extraordinary concen-
tration. so that his glance was not for
ones face in general, but for partic-
ular part OF 1.-THE tip of the nose or a
line In ones forehead. I found this De.
~ tvSo a
disquiettng. yet he seemed. upon the
whole, to be 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-
Spouse to letter which 1 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 1t probable that this rural
banker of nearly twice my years would
resent my intrusion into the affair, but
ner and with no further hint from Mr.
Butterfeld he proceeded to lay the
whole matter before me briefly, but
with exemplary cleamess l listened
with increasing amaZement. The in
vestment was Of a speculative charac-
ter In the sense that 1t promised ex-
traordinary returns, yet it was so
shrewdly considered and so wisely
based upon important private informa-
ton that could find no basis for criti-
cism. 1t was an opportunity such as
one may not have In q lifetime. and
there was a practical certainty that
Mr.. Butterfield would quadruple his
money within a few years. Nothing
couM 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 surreptitiouslyr read from
a large book which he held open on his
knee and that he was only mildly inter-
ested I'm my approval Of the investment.
81 am satisfied, quito satisfied" he
said. my friend Kerwin has kindly
taken this whole matter off my mind.
I trust his judgment implicitly. Sure
ly," he added after momentary pause,
81 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 man whom have long
misjudged." And he beamed upon the
iron faced Kerwin. ''Doctrinal differ
ences," he continued. "have 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 q nervous impotence. upon
that point which we were discussing
the other evening l find here the fol
lowing statement"
He read from the big book 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 tie man was a 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 q great mass of high grade
scientific literature late in life, but
have never had n groundwork of scien-
tiflc training. They know what the
scientists say. but not what they mean
1t is nearly impossible for any man
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 and
chlorine" The greatest chemist In the
world might say that, but he would
mean only that no one whom he knew
Of had ever found anything else in salt
The true scientist takes his readers
lack Of dogmatism for granted, and
that is why he is so rarely understood
Mr.. Butterfield seemed bewildered by
the skeptic's array Of facts and to be
vainly seeking for some higher scien
tific authority which would contradict
his enemy. Such struggle Is futile
and tends more strongly than anything
else to throw the mind into a condition
Of miserable and hopeless doubt. With
- II.