Evening star., 1920-03-21
The Mantle of Sandy the Great

poddy old party you got
parked on the bench out in the ante
room?"
Hes waiting to see Mr.. Ellins." says
Vincent. '"Thls Is his third try. Looks
to mo like some upstate stockholder
who wants to know wnen Corrugated
common will strike no."
''Well. that wouldn't be my guess ex-
actly." says I. whats the name?"
"Dowd," says Vincent, reachin' for q
card. Matthew X"
"Eh?" says I. "Mesaba Matt. Dowd?
Say. son. your guesser Is way out of
gear. You ought to get better posted
on the Order Of Who Who's"
'Tm sorry" says Vincent. plnlsin' up
in the ears. Isis he somebody in
Particular" =
'Only one of the biggest iron ore men
in the game" says ]. ''That is. he was
until he unloaded to that Pittsburgh
syndicate a few years ago. Also he must
be a special crony Of Old Hickory's.
him down south last month. And here
we let him warm a seat out in the book
agent pen! Social error. Vincent"
Stupid OF me-" admits Vincent. II
will"
Better let me soothe him down now."
says /. ''Then I'll get Old Hickory ON
the phone and tell him who's here"
! will say that did 1t in my best pri-
vate Sec style, too. urgin' him into the
private office while explains how the
boy on the gate couldn't have read the
ND lMs hi rat
word to Mr.. Ellins at once.
'He's only having q conference with
his attorneys" says I. II think he'll be
up very soon. Just q moment while
get him on the wire. Mr.. Dowd.''
''Thank you. young man." says Mat
thew K. T-I rather would like to sec
Ellins today. II could"
''Why. sure" says !, easin' him into
Old Hickory's swing chair.
But somehow when I'd slipped out 70
the phone booth and got In touch with
the boss he don't seem so anxious TO
rush up and meet his old side kick. No.
He's more or less calm about it.
"Eh7" says he. "Dowd? Oh. yes!
Well. you just tell him. Torchy. that
I'm tied up here and can't tell when
I'll be through. He'd better not walt"
':Excuss nae. Mr.. Ellins." says l. but
he's been here twice before. Seems to
have something on his mind that-well.
might be important, you know"
"Yes. 1t might be-" says Old Hick-
ory. and couldn't tell whether he
threw in q snort or q chuckle right
there. "And since you think it Is.
Torchy. perhaps you'd better get him
to sketch It out to you"
"All right" says I. '"That is, IL he'll
loosen up."
"Oh. I rather think he WILL" says
Old Hickory.
It was a good guess. For when
tells Dowd how sorry Mr.. Eilins IL
that he can't come Just then. and sug-
xests that I've got power Of attorney
to take care Of anything confidential
he might spill into my nigh ear, he
opens right up.
Course, what I'm lookin' for is some
big business stuff: maybe straight
tip on how this new shift In Europe
10 going to effect foreign exchange. Or
q hunch as to what the administration
means to put over In regards to the
railroad muddie. He's solemn faced.
owl-eyed old party this Meseba Matt.
Looks like he was thinkin' wise and
deep about weighty matters. You
know. One Of these slow-movin'
heavy -lidded, double -chinned old pelt-
cans who never mention any sum less
than seven figures. So I'm putting up
Z serious secretariai front myself
when he starts clearin' his throat.
"Young man." says he. II suppose
you know something about golf7"
"Ehr' says I. 't0olf7 Oh. yes That
10, I've seen II played some. I was on
1 trip with Mr.. Ellins down at Pine
hurst, Ave or six years back, when he
broke into the game. and read Grant
Rioe's dope on It moro or less reg'la
"But you haven't played golf your
self, have your" he goes on.
''.No." says I. i've never INDUCED
In the Scottish rite to any extent.
Just q few swipes with club"
'"Thsn I'm afraid" he begins. that
you will hardly"
'Oh. I'm q great little understand
err" says I, unless you mean to 90
into the fine points. or ask me to set
tie which is the best course. I've
heard some of them golf addicts talk
about Shawnee or Apawarnis or Ek-
wanok like-wsll. like Billy Sunday
would talk about heaven. But I've
stretched q willing ear for Mr.. Ellins