Evening capital and Maryland gazette. (Annapolis, Md.) 1910-1922, 1918-03-27
Fast Friends
By ELEANOR LEE

I
whatever within came into his mind,
| drove his automobile from his home
town over to Moorville. fifty miles dis
/ tant, with a plan in view that at least
temporarily lifted him from the men,
tai slough of little interest in life into
which he had fallen.
He carried letter from his lawyer
10 brother, also a lawyer, AT Moor
VILE and, arrived ut his destination,
was speedily in consultation with the
| latter.
Il wish to be extremely confidential
with YOU" announced Thomas. Il
have not living relative in the world
that l know of, no close friends, few
familiar acquaintance. 1 have done
my duty by my native town, donated
a library, subscribed generously to all
| public charities and the like, but am
not only lonely, but the thought that no
one is bound to me by any influence OF
real interest and friendship depresses
me. / have determined TO take up
some deserving. ambitious young fel-
low, educate him, make him my heir
and have the consolation of some one
caring unselfShly for me in my old
age.
MY mind naturally ran back TO the
early days when l had real friends.
Two of them formerly lived in Moor
| Vile. Both are now dead, but / find
| that one of them, Robert Martin, has
left widow, two sons and daughter.
The other John Willis, Is survived by
| a son only. have made some quiet
investigation. The youngster son OF
the Martin family. Arthur, is at a
pliabte age and / think / should like
him. Stanley Willis is a few years
his senior, but from what / learn is
a bright, Industrious young man.
think my selection would rest between
the two"
Then" insinuated the lawyer deli
cately, "yOur plan is"
ITO try them in turn. Say we take
Arthur Martin first. l wish you to
act as my intermediary. You doubt
less know Mrs. Martini"
Intimately"
"You can impart to her my plan,
basing 1t on my former acquaintance
with her husband. Arrange 1t so that
young Martin lives with me for a
month. / will feel him out, test his
capabilities and If he completely fills
my ideal we need go no further and
Stanley Willis need not know that he
was in the selective list. You think
you can meet my wishes in this af-
fair?'
without doubt" assured the law
yer 81 know both the young men and
they are models OF their class. Ar
| thur Martin has a great longing for
| thorough education and will make an
able man. Stanley Willis is inclined
towards invention and has quite Il
/ clientele requiring electrical work to
be done You could not have chosen
more deserving and promising candi-
dates for your favor"
Arthur started in on his probation.
| His mother and his sister, Luella, were
| greatly delighted to realize that the
! ambition of his life to become n great
| scholar was about to be realized. For
a month Mr.. Thomas and his protege
got along famously.
| 1Htil, biit hllAVA thlAhit htASf AhN
| twain got into a political argument.
Alas for Arthur's future. They al
| most came to blows. for being fairly
| beaten in the discussion. Mr.. Thomas
| hacked Arthur home and sent word
| for Stanley to come on. Now Stanley
| was a close friend Of Arthur, because
| he loved his sister. Furthermore he
| was earning n good living.
Don't worry, Luella" he said to the
| disappointed sister of Arthur "Pll
| guarantee this whimsical old man will
soon Danish me and call back Arthur"
The old man missed Arthur after he
! had gone away. He had discovered
many fine qualities In the young man,
but the political faith of Mr. Thomas
was nearly as strong as his religion.
Come to think of 1t, however, as he
cooled down he realized that he had
acted arbitrarily and came near send
ing word to the lawyer not to have
I Stanley come on.
But Stanley came, and with a pur-
nose. He ''blew in" at daybreak. Mr..
Thomas heard of him before noon. His
| latest protege was tearing up the
town." Thomas found him at the hotel
treating a lettering crowd to cigars,
| boasting of Wild freaks as his daily
| amusement, and telling how he was
TO become the adopted son Of "a rich
old guy" whose cash he would keep in
rapid circulation
When Stanley Willis Joined his
amazed patron, he greeted him famil-
| ,arly as a hail-fellow well met He
| forced an argument upon the old man
at their first talk, and jeered at him
and knocked about the opinions of his
| natron In a way that, by comparison.
tended to make Arthur an angel of
light.
"TTl have my jolly chums get I'D a
| Marty on us next week." he began.
mo, you can go back home. TIL
nav YOU to-" stated the old man. "You
won't do at ALL" and Stanley chuckled
at his purpose accomplished.
Arthur was sent for the next day to
resume his studies and harmonious re-
Iattons re-established.
aOh. Stanley" said Luella, "how
| could you cast aside the chance of a
lifetime, Just because you liked Ar
| thur"
| ssruaJI xor1 coo" observed Arthur