The Beaver herald. [volume] (Beaver, O.T. [Okla.]) 1895-1923, 1917-01-11
CHAPTER xxi--contInu.d.
"a

Our daily actions are controlled by
q variety of opposing influences which
are like threads pulling at us from
various directions. When for any rea-
son certain of these threads are
snapped and the balance is disturbed
we are drawn into strange pathways.
and our whole lives may be changed
through the operation OF what seems q
most trivial case. , In Bob's case the
cause approached, all unheralded. In
the person OF Mr.. Richard Cady.
youth whose magnificent vaculty of
purpose was the envy OF his friends,
Cometlike. he was destined to appear,
flash brightly, then disappear below
the horizon OF this tale. Mr.. Cady
greeted Bob with llstless enthusiasm,
teeterlng the while upon his cane Ike
a Japanese equilibrist.
Haven't seen you for ages" he be-
gan. Been abroadT
Bob explained that he was spending
the summer in New York, a statement
that. filled his listener with the same
horror he would have felt had he
learned that Bob was passing the heat
ed season In the miasmatlc jungles OF
the Amazon.
"Just ran down from Newport"
Cady volunteered. "I'm sailing today.
Better Join me for trip. know"
he cut Bob's refusal short-"travel's
an awful nuisance; l get seasick my
self"
'Then why play at it?"
Cady rolled mournful eye upon his
friend. "GirlT said he, hollowly.
"Show grill II stay I'll marry her,
and that wouldn't do. Positively mott
SO I'm running away. I'll wait over
If you'll join me-"
"I'm working man."
"Hawr' Mr.. Cady expelled a short
laugh.
''Truei And I've quit drinking"
Now Cady was blase, but he had a
heart: his sympathies were slow, but
he was not insensible TO misfortune.
Accordingly he responded with a cry of
pity, running his eye over his friend
to estimate the ravages of temperance.
up against itT" inquired the other.
$50 says my heartless father. He
has sewed up my pockets and scuttled
my drawing account, hence the dinner
pail on my arm. I'm in quest Of toll"
"I'll bet you starve," brightly pre-
dicted Mr.. Cady, In an effort at en-
couragement. "I'll lay you five thou
sand that you make a flivver OF any
thing you try"
ave quit gambling, too"
Ao tboy ebnnIr hands Cadu eyruptad .
''My invitation TO globe-trot is with
drawn. Fine company you'd beg'
As Bob walked up the avenue he
pondered deeply. wondering II he real
1y were so lacking In ability as his
friends believed. Money was such a
common thing. after all; the silly
labor OF acquiring It could not be half
so interesting as the spending Of 1t.
Anybody could make money, but to
enjoy 1t, to circulate 1t Judiciously, one
must possess indlviduality-of sort
Money seemed to come to some people
without effort, and from the strangest
sources-Kurtz, for instance, had
grown rich out OF coats and trousersl
Bob halted. frowning, while YlnG
peered out from his hiding place at
the passing throngs, exposing a tiny
limp, ping-rIbbon tongue. If Kurtz
armed only with a pair of shears aud
a foolish tape. had won to affiuence
why couldn't another? Stock broklnp
was no longer profitable; and old
HannibaTs opposition evidently forced
a change Of occupation.
The prospect Of such change was
annoying, but scarcely alarming to ar
angrained optimlst, and Bob took com
fort in rejecting that the best-sellinl
literature of the day was replete with
instances of dislnherited sons, impov