Abbeville progress. (Abbeville, Vermilion Parish, La.) 1913-1944, 1920-04-10
CHAPTER vi.

Whatever the effect Of this CONVEX
satiOn had been upon Edith. she con
cealed 1t carefully. and Dave counted
ii one Of the fortunate events OF MS
life. He had been working under the
+ spur of his passion for Irene, hut now
this was so be supplemented by the
friendship of Edith. That it was more
than friendship on her part did not
occur to him at all. but he knew she
was interested in him and he was
doubly determined that he would
Justify her interest and confidence.
But just at this time another incl
dent occurred which was to turn the
flood of his life into strange channels,
Dave had been promoted 20 the diStinc-
ton of a private ottice-a little sjN-hy-
six box stall" as the sport editor de-
scribed it-but, nevertheless, a dis
titrtion shared only with the manag-
ing editor and Eert Morrison. compiler
Of the WomaH'S page. Her name was
/ Roberta. but she WAS masculine To the
tins and everybody called her Bert.
Into Dawes sanctuary one after
/ noon in October came Coward ftis
/ hahitual cig.gerre hung from is ac-
I oH~tomcd ,hor. tooth. and his round
iiorid face seemed pulitzer than usual.
Ills aversion to any exercise more Wig
orou- than offered ty q billiard cue
WAS hg-.nniuc 10 reflect Itself in al
premature romlir OF figure
10, Dave" hr said. "Aionc?"
almost" said Dave, without look
Ing up from his typewriter Then,
turning nc b-~1,"d rfe door shut with
his heel and said, shoot"
This strenuous life is spelling your
good manners, Dave, my boy" said
Coward, lazily eXhaling a thin cloud
of smoke. IF work made Il man rich
you'd die a millionaire. But it isn't
work that makes men rich Ever think
Of that?"
IF man does not become rich by
work he has no right to become rich
at ALL" Dave retorted,
what do you mean by that word
right Dave? Define y"
Haven't time. We 20 to press at
four"
That's the trouble with fellows like
you,' Coward continued ''You
haven't time. You stick too close TO
your Jobs. You never see the better
sssas 4 4y.i; ~'i sssasF;tI ~ soDsl
fsose Jon let thenfgo 10 press without |
you today and you listen to me for a |
WHILE" 4
Dave was about to throw him out |
when gust Of yearning for the open
spaces swept over him again. 1t was
true enough. He was giving his whole
life to his paper. Promotion WAS slow,
and there was no prospect OF q really !
big position at any time. He remem-
bered hr. Duncans remark about
newspaper training being the best
preparation for something else. With
sudden decision he closed his desk.
Shoot" he said again, but this time
with less impotence.
That's better" said Coward.
Have you ever thought Of the future
II this town.
well. l can't say that 1 have. rye
been busy with its present"
That's what l supposed. You've
been too busy with the details Of your
little job to give attention to bigger
Kings. Now let me pass you a few
pieces of Observation-Disclosures Won
must know. but you have never put
hem together before. What are the
natural elements which make q coun-
ry or city desirable place to live?
II tell you. Climate, transportation,
'ood water, variety of landscape, op-
'ortunity of independence. Given
hese conditions, everything else con
'e added. Then there's transnorta-
ion. This is one of the few centers
n America which has North-and-
'Outh trade equal to its East-and-West :
rade. We're on the crossroads. Every
sttief who goes into the North-and
is mighty North-means mere
'orth-and-South trade. | tell Won.
ave, the movement is on now. md
etore long it'll hit us like a tidal
'aye. I've been bit of a gambler
II my life, but this is the biggest
lck-pot ever was. and I'm going to ,
1t in. How about you?"
I'D like TO think it over. Promo.
on doesn't come very fast on this iob
hats sure"
Yes, and while you are thinking II
yer chances are slipping by. Don't r
iihk 1t over-put it over. | tell Won. y
ave there are big things in the air. b
hey are beginning to move already :,
ave you noticed the strangers in
'"h OF lateF That's the advance
uard-"
Advance guard of a real estate !.
)om?" h
"Hish! That's bad word Get q
way from it. Say industrial devel. !,
)ment.' :,
Let me elaborate. Wen say Alknu n
axe Is railway station where lots % "
sgging a. hundred dollars each. In n
ops weil-dressed stranger-buys III
u lots at a hundred and fifty each ft
III the old-timers are chuckiinp over h
licking him. But in drops another u,
ranger and buys a block of lots at II
70 hundred each. Then the old. tc
ners begin to wonder If they didn't
IL 100 soon. BY the time the fourtb
fifth Stranuor ba. -