The Washington herald., 1920-09-12
coNr1NrED LION rAGE o..

CONTINUED PROM FACE ONE.
Billy McMahan had a wife. and
upon her visiting cards was en-
Craved the name Mrs William
DarraEh McMahan." And there
was a certain NeNation attendant
upon these cards; for, small as
they Were, there were houses in
which they could not be inserted.
Billy NcNahan was dictator IN
politics. fOur-walled tower IN
business. a moCuI. dreaded. loved
and obeyed among his own pe0-
Pile He was growing rich, IN"
daily papers had dozen men on
his trail to chronicle his every
word Of wisdom: ne had been hon
ored in CarICature holding the Ii
ger crinCinE in the leash.
But the heart Of Billy was some
times sore within him. There was
a race Of men from which he stood
apart but that he viewed with the
eye Of Moses looking over into tie
promised land. He. too. had ideals
even as had key SnlEEIefritz: and
sometimes, hopeless Of attaining
them. his own solid success was
a. dust and ashes in his mouth.
And Mrs. William DarraCh Nc
Mahan wore look Of dlsC0ntont
upon her plump hut pretty face,
and the very rustic Of her silks
seemed sigh.
There was "A brave and C0rsNiC-
uous assemblaEe in the dining sa-
loon Of a hosiery where Fashion
loves to display her charms. At
one table sat Billy NcNahan and
l. NTnEH7z- GF'4vF FkENT
but the accessories they enjoyed
little needed the Endorsement Of
speech. Mrs McMahan's diamonds
were outshone by few in the room.
Tho waiter bore the Costliest
brands Of wine to their table In
evening dress. with an expression
of gloom upon his smooth and
massive CountenanCe. You would
look in vain for more striking
figure than Billy's.
Four tables away sat alone a
tall. slender man. about thirty,
with thoughtful. melancholy eyes
a Van Dyke beard and peculiarly
white. thin hands. He was dining
on hlet mignon. dry toast and
apollinaris. That man was Cort-
landt Van DuyCkink. "a man worth
eighty millions. who inherited and
held a sacred seat in the exclusive
inner circle OF society.
Billy MCMahan spoke to no one
around him, because he knew no
one. Van Duyckink kept his eyes
on his plate because he knew that
every one present was hungry to
catch his. He could bestow knight
hood and prestige by a nod. and
he was Chary of creating a too eN-
tensive nobility.
And then Billy MCMsEan con-
ceived and accomplished the most
startling and audaCioUs act of his
life. He rose deliberately and
walked over to Cortlsndt Van
DuyCkink's table and held out his
hand.
Say. Mr.. Van Duyckink." he
said, I've heard you was think
ing about starting some reforms
among the poor people down in
my district. I'm McMahsn. you
know. Say, now. IL that's straight
I'll do all can to help you. And
what l say goes in that neck Of
the woods, don't it? Oh, say.
rather guess ii does"
Van Duyckink's rather sombre
eyes lighted up. He rose to his
lank height and grasped Billy Nc
Mahan's hand.
Thank you, Mr.. McMahan," said
he, in his deep. serious tones. 4
have been thinking Of doing some
work OF that sort. l shall be glad
of your assistance. II pleases me to
have become acquainted with you"
Billy walked back to his seat
His shoulder was tingling from
the accolade bestowed by royalty.
A hundred eyes were now turned
upon him in envy and new admi-