New Britain herald., 1921-08-29
By Larry Evans.

lafter news had spread like fire to
 every corner of the city that David l Landis was dead.
 1 Nopody had suspected a streak of grim humor in Dave Landis. Every pody had believed that the publica- ton known as the Courier was mort saged to T. Elihu to the last dollar Of its value. until the Courier printed a copy of its owners most important bequest.
 David Landis had left the War chester Courier. title property and good will, to My friend and fellow ltoWnsman, James Gordon-rny logical successor in Manchester
 1 folloW1ng the death of her father, carol Landls went back on the road with the play called Wisdom" And when two months later, Carl Hardy watched her work from the front be- Tore the company closed, he returned lto New York with his mind made up | TWO nights later he sat and smiled la welcome to the author of "Seek ana Ye Shall Find" who stopped in the nVlng-room door to grin quizzical- ly Seek and Ye Shall Find" had re- malned season on Broadway. and hade fair to remain there the best part of another Well, I'm ready" lbegan Hardy. with a kind of re- pressed abruptness. I'm ready. What about you?"
 Plainly the question had to do with Ia subject which they had discussed |until 1t had become d familiar one.
 His Own Home Town?" the other asked, and his quizzical grin disap- Deared.
 Hardy nodded his head emphatical-
 Anybody in particular in mind for
 the lead?'
 Again the emphatic nod.
 Landis!'' snapped the producer. l Two days later, Jimmy Gordon, T. Ellhus' good-for- nephew
 turned up again in the haunts of his youth. And when he climbed the steps of the square brick hotel and found Pegleg waiting for him in the doorway, there was no surprise. but lmerely grave welcome, in Hanlon S ieyes.
 II was expectin' ye," Hanlon an
 swered his laughing question, and
 Iimmy's laughter hushed II was ex-
 pectin' yes. Though twill sound
 foolish when I tell ye why. Jimmy lad, I wonder if ye would be remem- perrin wan av the old burlesque
 crowd-but av course ye would" "Melody?" Quickly Jimmy antici-
 pated him.
 Hanlon nodded heavily, and led the way to the table near the window oi ! the larger room, which overlooked
 the river.
 She died last night" he explained
 shortly. She's been dying for three years.'
 And then he told how the girl, aft CT Jimmy's departure. had practiceG typewriting on the battered old type lwriter which Jimmy had left be- hind, given up her wayward life and
 tried to get a position in some office
 with the result that she was spurne6 Iby all Manchester and dropped anG ldied. Jimmy saw that the girl wal |decently buried and, the Rev. Dun
 can refusing to perform the funera ceremony, Jimmy and Hanlon pro cured a young clergyman. the Rev
 Mir. Blair, rector of small and un fashionable church, to officiate. Ant Carol Landis, learning of Gordon. , Ireturn and of what was taking place } insisted upon riding in the carriagt with Jimmy to the burial.
 The morning after the funeral O ! . lpoor Melody as Jimmy sat in thu lCourier office talking over his inheri , Itance with Tivotson, the city editor This uncle T. Elihu, came in, grand fly and pompously.
 Keep your seat, young man.. ht
 boomed, as Jimmy made to rise l'Keep your seat. busy man can . lspend half his time jumping up Whenever every Tom, Dick and Harr, . enters his office. So you've come bacl again, have you. young man" H' shot the words out. Back to War
 chester! Any objection to my asking = Iwhy?"
 At that point Jimmy grew con . lscious of the fact that T. Elihu ha' V not released his hand. and displaye'
 no symptom that he might do so il lthe next moment or two. And sud
 denly the thin face turned red. f You are a free agent" said Banks ~ you have under your direction a . instrument of publicity. the course o - (which you must dictate as you deer
 best. But there are many faction: # many questions of exceeding lmpor
 tance with which I believe it will b
 advisa ble for you to familiarize your z self before you act. Whenever yo , are free for dinner. young man, If want to talk politics with you. n After T. Elihu had gone, Jlmm. e who had returned to his deck wlthot
 word. sat long. his lean chin in h. S. hands. gazing blankly out of the wir
 dow.
 ., I'll want you to lunch with me