Grand Forks herald. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1916-1955, 1922-08-12

These chairs here. <nne lot of Dutch
cherry, worth about three hundred eacn:
probably more. since the set is complete.
My word, this house is like Ali Baba's cave:
: the farther you 60. the more wonderful it
becomes. . Romance Cont and antique
Dutch" N.
And both, are over my head" Bancroft
confessed. Yet l. have always admired
these ~chairs-without knowing why"
The adventurer rose and shifted the chair
about in his hands with loving tenderness.
1t occurred to Bancroft that a lover might
|. thus smooth a wonan's hand. He glanced
at the electromagnetic but could not see
what there was to fondle. 4,
by the way" said the adventurer, setting
down the chair. II believe I saw a volume
back there on antiques"
The one book never took much interest
in" %.-.l +"
"1ll get it." He was gone but a minute.
1t struck Bancroft as odd, the ease with
which the man found the book. "See? said
the guest as he laid the open volume at the
side Of Bancroft's plate. Hang me, but
here's a photograph of the identical chairs."
docs it SAY who owned them?" asked
Bancroft with an eagerness all out of pro.
portion with his actual interest in the chairs.
He had alwa VI been curious about the books,
y the vases. and the chairs. They did not be-
long in a house Of this ordinary quality.
1t says here that the chairs are owned by
the author The adventurer turned back to
the title page. well that doesn't get US
anywhere. &C. j. X OF course. the publish.
ers would know who &C. j. X is. or was"
The adventurer turned to his chair. AN.
tioues are not valuable merely because they
are old. but for two reasons the artistry Of
the maker and the shadowy associations
which cling to the objects. Take that chair
herewith the arms. Three hundred years
old. You have imagination. Think of-con.
jure up--all the women who have sat in that
chair. their bright faces, their lace caps
and some Of them with a child III their arms"
To Barcrofts wonder, the smile for which
he had been waiting broke. 1t was directed
at the chair-a smile that was tender and
wistful. lending a strange beauty to the harsh
face. Bancroft decided that his opinion of
the man must undergo considerable recon.
struction. No rogue could smile like that.
Still. when the face came around again there
was mockery in the eyes.
II suppose there must be a casket about
filed with pearls and rubies and diamonds
II doubt it" said Bancroft.
How did YOU two get on?"
ooh, tolerably. He was I1ot what you
would call companionable but the aloofness
was serene. He left early in the morning and
returned late in the day. In the summer he
would sit for a while on the porch; in the
winter, before the fire there. He always went
to bed at half past eight. Then I'd steal in
aud begin my reading. I was always a little
afraid of him, though 1 don't know why~I
should have BEEN
Did he ever give you any reason for living
in this ho!ec"
He never conhded in me in the least.
He never laughed. hummed tunes. or seemed
10 take any interest in the actions going ON
about him.. Though he often smiled, his
attitude was always that of a man deeply
absorbed in thought
Did he ever answer the bell?'
mo. Either I or Mrs. Horne answered the
bell. He had s;gnifcd that he wanted nothing
to do with the Villagers. who called. him miser.
which doubtless he was; for he had the
miser's Instincts of frugality. l never hated
him; and now l feel sorry for him. Not a
friend in the world, SO far us l know"
The adven.urer stared into his wine. \
Take the Merchant Of Venice. !" went on
Bancroft. defensively. why does the world
hate him so? They took his money, and they
took his daughter. What did he get out Of
that deal, that all should detest him?"
The adventurer enptied his glass of Bur
Sundy and retilled it. He looked inquiriRgIy;
at Bancroft. who pushed his goblet toward
hle bottle. o..
How about the time they stoned you?"
80 you HedfQ ABOUT th1t. IL L nate any
thing. it will be this town ana its inhabitants.
Though, / wish no harm to either
And you never felt the desire to clear out
and see what the world was like?"
"A thousand times. But caution always
held p,e in. Surprising l failed, and had to
coma Sinking back? 1t was the fear that
] might fail miserably that kept me here.
That sounds like t%inaidity. Perhaps it is.
I aim no judge. But it will be- seen that I
1nst ,,otbiTc h. bo 1,;,p n,+;oy,o -. -,~-
The law Of averages gives me plenty of time
to go a-venturing. But how about you?
You must have seen something of this
world"
The adventurer welcomed this opening
with secret satisfaction. To thrill this Young
mind, t%antalize it, bewildcr it. Sc he spoke
of Europe. Asia. Africa, the South .Seas;
books. the great picture galleries. cathearals,
and temples. Through it all Bancroft
slipped his wine and tried to visualize these
verbal entertainments. Here were the places
he had dreamed Of when a boy-the great
and glowing world outside. A temple in the
Burma dust. a smiling lagoon in the sum-
Nmer seas
II am going to give you a little advice"
concluded the narrator. Go away for a
few months" r
"Why?T d.
Because, as soon as the world learns
1890 80 GIL " dIlS
will be milling In your hallway. Crooks in
foreign cars. charity committees. relief or.
CARNATIONS, oil promoters, book agents, fe.
male vampires, ordinary. thugs in hopes Of
= your being fool enough to keep large sums
of money about. Your mail will mount
waist high, for you will be on every sucker
list in the country. There will be ten thou.
sand ingenious plans to separate you from
your money, and nine thousand of them
F.. within the law YOI1 +ca1l the (sraof Az, -
see some Of the Nother prospects! And fyouN
will fall for some of them. Why? Because
you can afford to risk a few thousands out
of curiosity. 20 away, and inside of six
months you viii aave been forgotten; some
other milhonairea son will be the target.
Go to New Iork-the New Bagdad!-and
take anothes name; learn something about
human beings. Contact. All the learning
there ever was is worthless without contact.
What's in your head now? Lumber. Con-
E tnot will tax,.n a SrtO ,,o1i,hAI r;+oo~, ~ 1000