The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1920-10-15
By SEWELL FORD

sink" .
What's the chief trouble?" asks
Upper.
'That's the puzzlin' part about Bill"
says l. HE don't seem to be much
of a star at any of the vices; you
know, booze, dope, gamblin' or such
things. Might hit 'em all a little, but
not enough to count. Courst, he does
fall easy for eh ladies'; that is, he
would if he had chance, which amt
often. Just can't seem to stick to
anything or get anywhere. Maybe
you've seen lone log floatin' down a
stream, bumpin, into a rock here,
hittin' teh bank there, gettin' stuck on
a mud bank for a while, and finally
floatin' on. That's Bill. A drifter.
And just now he seems to be stuck in
the mud"
Upper let's out to be mildly inter-
ested. mo family, I suppose" he
suggests.
Sure he has," says I. "That kind
generally does. Only it doesn't bother
him much. Yes, believe Bill has a
wife and several kids somewhere. Up
in Lawrence, Mass, 1 think. She
works in mill. AS for Bill, he's sup
posed to be out scoutn' for job. I've
found two for him. That's all the
good it's done. He lasted two weeks
in one place, which is about his rec
ord And yet 1 kind of hate to see
him go hungry-he amt just the type
hat should be panhandlin' around"
What do you mean by that,
Shorty? asks Upper.
why" says l, II don't know as l
can say exactly. Only he seems cut
out for something big-a senator or a
bank president
Upper smiles and shakes his head
doubtful.
Here, take look at him" says 1,
steppin' up and swingin' open the gym
door. There he is, restin' easy"
And even sIouched down in an office
chair with his feet on the window sill
he does look sort of imposin'. Just
he bulk of him, to say nothing of the
way his big head is poised on the
strong neck, or the odd streak of gray
hair that shows on top. Upper takes
a good look.
You're right, Shorty" says he. "If
that man was shaved and cleaned up
and well dressed eh would pass any
where for a-oh, / say!" And the
next thing 1 know Upper has pushed
he door shut and is grabbin' me ex-
cited by the elbow. "Why not him."
he whispers husky.
"Eh?" says I.
GAS my understudy," he goes on.
l expect I stares at him. "You-
you wouldn't really try to pull that,
would you?" 1 asks.
Certainly" says Ell, "if it could be
arranged"
"But how" l asks.
1T ought to be simple" says Tup-
per. Il could coach him as to what
he had to say, fix him up, put him at
my desk, and introduce him as Muir
dock Tupper. I might appear as his
private secretary. Yes, perhaps that
would be best. He could consult me
when in doubt. Really there wouldn't
be much for him to say. Simply yes
or no. Everything is practically de.
cided now. Only they want to see me.
And if they could see this Hilton per-
son-say, Shorty, let's see if he'll try
it."
Sounds kind of batty to me, Tup-
per-" says l, "but you're the doctor.
Come on.
And minute later I'm putin the
proposition up to Bill. How'd you
like to sub in as head of stock
brokerage firm and swing million
dollar deal l asks,
What's the joke, Shortly" says Bill.
in that detp, rumbly voice of his.
'The joke will be on bunch of De-
roit plutes," says l. "That is, pro-
ided you can give a half-hour imita-
ion of big business man."
"Me?" says Bill, steadyin' down
them shifty eyes and starin' at me.
"Uh-huh," says l. Course, you'll
be costumed for the part, and the
scene will be set proper Then all you
got to do is imagine you're Mr.. Tup
per bert, and that you're about to be
persuaded to handle this big stock
ssue that he'll tell you about. Get the
DEAF"
1t was hard to say whether he did
not. He just gazes at me, stupid
ut dignifed.
Perfectly bully!" says Upper. eff
GU can only look like that you'll have
oYt1 INN T,ino honn TtlI