Evening star., 1921-05-15

had reached that altitude by
means of his own ladder. which he
purposed to drag up after him. silent
ly. II he chose he would up-erd the
ladder and balance thereon like the
sailor equilbrist at the circus. there
by attaining a plane one better than
the apex. But if he did so it would be
without summoning the press. What.
if ANYTHING, he had to confide to the
public about his vast affairs reached
the newspapers in the form of mea-
ger typewriter statement distributed
through his private secretary by mes
senger. From his luxurious office re-
porters, one and ALL were barred for
all time. Mr.. Randers called them
'vipers of the press" and he meant it.
Yet IT was a rare day when the
name flanders did not appear in print.
His power was so potent. his influence
SO great, his fortune so swollen that
without it few chronicles of events in
the financial world were complete.
Moreover. there was the socially i'm
portant Mrs. Randers and a particu-
lar lovely daughter, Helen. Concern
ing them much appeared in the social
columns. To Mrs. Randers this had at
first been gratifying, but now she
lamented with her husband the in
creasing tendency of the press to
hound the wealthy. And when he said.
as he often did, that he wished there
was some way of enjoining the whole
Kit and Doodle from ever printing the
name Randers again she breathed a
fervent amen. Upon these outbursts
Helen Randers usually smiled, bit
fndulgently for girl of twenty-one.
Richard Bibley Van Kleeck had
never done anything in particular. He
didn't have TO. Having that name and
a decent income, he had tried nearly
all OF the quasi professional occupa-
tions so popular with young New
Workers of his type; and his popu-
larity had increased as his business
ventures dwindled. IN he opinion of
his many friends he had seen so much
OF life in his twenty-five years that
If death had yawned at him he would
have yawned back.
Not that the was yawning just now.
He was standing by the desk of Bur
ton, the city editor, in the local room
OF the New York Star, waiting like
the cubbiest Of cubs for his first as
signment. They had known each
other-he and Burton-for years.
We'll. Van." the city editor queried
dryly. how in the name Of Peter
Stuyvesant did you ever get the news
paper bug?"
NXIOU are more or less wrong" an
swered Richard Bibley Van
kleeck; Il haven't got the news
paper bug. I've simply got a hanker-
ing to put one over without trading
on what my folks were during the
Van Buren, administration.
Il get you" said Burton. You
sound like Frank Ward O'Malley or
Irwin Cobb. or some other illustrious
expatriate of Park Row"
- never plagiarize," said Richard.
What am l to do?"
Your first duty" said the city
editor with serious frivoIity. will be
TO skip down to the southwest cor
ner OF Wall and Nassau streets, take
the elevator to the seventeenth floor
and obtain there an interview with
James Josiah Randers"
Don't kid me-" said Richard. Il
know the old gentleman. In fact
] know his daughter"
or course you do retorted Bur
ION Ton That's why I'm giving you
A frown touched Richard Van
kleeck's clean-cut face. That's the
sort of stun I wanted to get away
from; he said after awhile. You
Don't be foolish" broke in the
city editor. You'd sell him a bond !
wouldn't you? Transact any decent |
sort of business with him. wouldn't |
you' Why balk at an interview just !
because you happen to know him So |
cially-and his daughter? This
GREAT profession of ours must not |
Richard held up his stick as il to |
ward of blow. You're coming |
said. grimacing. But I'll go. What |
shall I talk to him abouto"
About Consolidated Suburban |
Traction" Burton handed him a |
clipping. Read this on your way |
down: it's interesting"
Richard saluted with his stick, and |
was gone.
Now. it was one thing to have inti- |
mate pieasurable knowlege of the |
changing blue of Helen Randers' !
eyes and quite another thing to
know the idiosyncrasies of her ia
theirs business life. OF the rebuffs
veteran reporters had met at the
hands Of James Josiah Randers in
the past Richard knew nothing. His
chief concern. as he swung south
Helen. with her keen sense OF humor.
would interpret to his credit or dis
credit this latest tack in his career.
Arrived at that great pile OF white
stone hundred yards east Of Trim
i,y Church. racing-car Of an eleva-
, tor shot him skyward. and before he
had framed his questions he had
passed the outer corral of mahogany
and entered the great mans office.
Mr.. Randers." he began after
they had shaken hands cordially.
whether your secretary told you or
not, I came here to interview you for
. the New York Star
The great mahogany chair built
especially for James Josiah Randers
creaked as he leaned forward. Rich
ard" he said impressively, ito my
knowledge nobody ever gained any
thing by practical jokes. Now what
is it?'
Richard drew from his waistcoat
pocket the clipping Burton had given
him. and spread it between his fin
gers What I should like to get"
he explained. rs a chatty little inter
view with you on the Consolidated
Suburban Traction situation. My city
editor would appreciate good talk"
Mr.. Rarders had always liked Rich
ard, and for probably quarter
of minute he regarded him calmly
and hopefully, waiting for the smile
that would brand it all joke. But
Richard did not smile He merely
fingers. waiting for Mr.. Randers to
reply.
The great mahogany chair creaked
again. James Josiah had risen to
his feet. His face was the color Of
a Harvard pennant His right arm
was raised menacingly.
Young man." he roared. "are you
crazy?"
Not that j know Of" replied the
young man.
Then why this unheard imper-
tinence?''
This is business" protested Rich
ard. Il came here to interview you
This g-r-e-a-t profession of ours
Rats" snorted Mr.. Randers. III
you've really become reporter Tor