The Kennewick courier-reporter. [volume] (Kennewick, Wash.) 1914-1938, 1919-10-16
Upside Down
II
By RAY FISHER


that the ten-minute interview was at an
end "but your quest is futile. l can
not allow my daughter to marry man
with no more alluring future than the
one that confronts you"
But Weldon Miller did not move to-
ward the door Of the bankers office.
Disappointment showed on his clear
cut countenance, but through it gleam-
ed hint of q smile, somewhat deter
mined smile. He creased his felt hat
carefully and asked:
"Then there's no hope. Mr.. Seymour?
You know / love Ruth sincerely, and its
not because Of your financial standing,
either. It's just her I want, not your
money"
Mr.. Seymour paused in his march
across the room.
"I'm really inclined to believe you
are sincere about that" he conceded.
lighting cigar. However. that is not
the question. 1t is not so much that
you are not wealthy. but that you evil
IDENTIFY have not the resourcefulness,
the acumen to accumulate money. My
daughter must become the wife of a
successful man, and he must have the
goods to show that he is successful.
But you are a mail carrier, and while
it is an honest occupation and very
necessary one In the running of the
world, it is so prosaic, so devoid of
thrills, so lacking in opportunity for
achievement that-well, no, / cannot
see much hope for you. You need not
tell me that Ruth loves you. be-
lieve she does, or thinks she does, but
she will forget you. I'm sorry let the
matter go so far. l didn't realize that
her activities in entertaining service
men would lead to any such serious
affair."" IL
I'm concrete terms, Mr.. Seymour"
said Weldon, '.just what would you
require of me to make me eligible as
a son-in-law? I'm determined to meet
your requirements. Just tell me how
to go about it and I'll leave you"
This was a fair proposition, the
banker conceded. .. =
'Sit down." he said abruptly, and
dropped into his own swivel chair.
;I'm wasting time, but / want TO be
square. Here's the crux of the thing.
You're not on your feet, figuratively
speaking. You're upside down. Nine
young men out of ten are upside down;
they're like turtles Topped on their
backs. unable to make progress. Some
times fellow will get on his feet over
nj rlnt hn aan IN l,n
heights of success. You're honest or
sou wouldn't be carrying mail for n
living. You're too honest 10 succeed.
My advice may sound hard. but it's
the only recipe for success. Go after
the coin and get it. no matter how, so
long as you don't run afoul of the law.
Use your brains; put il over the other
fellow; grab his coin and you'll win
everybody's admiration. especially
your victims, TO use u harsh but appli-
cable term. You'll find such course
profitable and also thrilling; not hum
drum like carrying mail.
You ask for a plain business propo-
sition. We'll, here it is. 1t sounds inn
possible, and for you it probably is. If
you can come TO me inside of two
weeks with ten-thouSand-dOllar bank
account you can have Ruth and thereIl
be no questions asked. 1t will prove
your resourcefulness. Good day"
Weldon Miller went to his boarding
house and spent the rest of the day
shut in his room, smoking and think
ing. Early i'm the evening he appeared
TO come to a decision, for he flung on
his coat and hat and took street car
to the Second National bank. His
card brought quick action, for i'm few
moments he was shaking hands with
the president of the institution, who
appeared to have seen no more than
thirty years.
by George! I'm glad to see you,
Weld" said the president, shaking his
visitors hand warmly. what can /
do for you? Ever since inherited
this soft job I've been trying to start
you in business, but you've always re-
fused" s@ ."s. -
You can do something, all right,
Ferd." said Weldon. accepting long.
brown cigar and light. "You can help
turn me rightside up. You know old
man Seymour of the First State. don't
you? Well, listen" *
-
If there was one subject on which
Mr.. Horace Seymour was tOuchy 1t
was his courage. During his rather
adventurous career. before settling
down to become rich and rotund, he
had hunted in the jungles of both Wall
street and Africa.
He had engaged in hot struggles
against brokers, with money as the
object. and against wild beasts. with
life as the stake. He had never been
afraid and he was proud of it. He
was in his prime, even if he did tip the
scales at PA. 81 eat danger" was his
boast.
Consequently, when the question of
courage in aeronautics came up at the
club one night he took a prominent
no ~ in tho dohato Ho had road nm IN