New-York tribune., 1921-05-08
q YEW YORK was toe small for Pug
I\l Fairchild.
{ Pug was young, and he needed


Boston with an engineers degree in his pocket
and the whole wide world before him.
New York's all right" he told his dad,
but there's nothing much to dov'
ssWhatever there is TO do his father said
do it. Then come back to me and we'll talk
over the business Of life"
They shock hands solennly, and Pug
pranced out into the big city looking FOR
action. He got it. You see, he had an mex
haustibie thirst for life--not life as most men
think it is, but life as Pug wanted to live it,
sYour son has st. vitus's dance some one
told Pug's dad.
sNot at all,'' the old man answered with
smile; she has the punch. just now his style
is cramped. When he has exhausted New
York / shall open the door into the wide
world and show him out--there isn't room for
him here
''tThen you will lose him"
Pug's father shook his head and looked
across the top of his mahogany desk, through
the plate glass windows of his expensive
downtown Office, beyond the crowding towers
and pinnacles of the city to the open harbor
There was shadow of wstful longing in his
eyes. sI'd rather lose him. he said, ethan
put him in chains
Pug had smile that kindled smiles wher-
ever he went. He left a trail Of good humor
behind him as an in1petuous young comet snaps
a whip of sparks across dark sky,
"There are lots of things to learn" he told
his dad one morning at breakfast. New York
has more up its sleeve than imagined"
But Pug's dad scarcely glanced up from his
newspaper. He shrugged his shoulder slight
ly, gave the paper an embarrassed shake and
said: 'Iet me know when you've had enough
Pug laughed. "It takes an awful lot" he
answered, "to tire me out"
Yes, Pug was doing his best to jump through
all the hoops. He tired New York out long
before he lost his own breath. He had gam
bled; he had flashed in and out of dozen
studies where he had heard good, bad and in
different talk; he had listened to serious music
and had liked it; he had absorbed American
ragtime through the soles Of his feet, and he
liked that, too He never stopped for breath,
except when he took a Turkish bath or went
actually to bed.
"Well,' his dad said, when he caught sight
Of him again one morning at breakfast, "there
seems nothing left in the way of speed, except
racing car and an aeroplane. I'll give you
both
Pug laughed. How about the business of
hfe?'
'sIired out?"
mo, sir. Only'4--
"Only what?"
sI've used up New York. I think I've played
on all the instruments, except the big bass
drum. | don't want a racing car or an aero
plane. ] want job'
Then Pug's father leaned back in his chair
and laughed until the tears rolled down his
,1ohxr &~r1
were not. He wiped them away with big
fresh linen handkerchief and leaned across
the table to put his hand on Pug's shoulder
Pug felt his heart beating; he was as ardent
as . knight at the altar of conservation.
II mean it," he said in broken voice ~
know this pleasure game. I've turned it in
side out-and the lining's yellow. want to
work. I think it's time
Mr.. Farchild got up very abruptly and
went to the window. He had tossed Just
such youth Pug's into the battle with New
York. What had he won? This house,
bank account-disciplne. He had wanted TO
nance and had turned his back ON it. He had
dreamed of adventure and had worn groove
in the city asphalt between Bowling Green
and East Thirty-fifth Street. In voice he
scarcely recognized as his own he asked Pug:
How would you like to go to Magella?"
Pug shouted. "Magella! Oh, greatW
"They're putting new railway from the
Santa Christina to the Marias Bianchi is
having trouble with the Magellans They don't
want it-not an American railway, at any
sfate. could send you down. Only there
mustn't be failure"
Pugs voice was solemn. "Failureg Oh
dad, why in heavens name didn't you send
me before? There's trouble down there and
I've been playing tiddledy-winks on Broad
wayP He put his head in his hands and
groaned. "Magellal Why, I've wanted to 20
there ever since was kid"
Yes" his dad said gravely, $50 have !.
You can go. That is, If you're ready for
scrap"
Pug jumped up. 'I'm ready" he shouted
There's steamer on Saturday that will
take you as far as Panama From there
you'll have to wait your luck on board a
eoastlng steamer, unless you happen to catch
one OF the company's boats. Come into the
library and I'll explain
Pug knew the big map that hung behind his
dad's desk In the library; he knew every ir
regularity in the Magellan coast line, eyery
river, every mountain peak, every town. The
City OF Magela itself was, i'm Pup's mind. a