Wauwatosa news. [volume] (Wauwatosa, Wis.) 1900-1948, 1922-11-23
DurdnI Meets Ills
Master
BY MORRIS SCHULTZ
1865
10. 1929. western Newspaper uniOn-)

Within call OF his push buttons he had
his secretary, his confidential secre-
tary, his manager, his stenograIher.
The desk was absolutely clean, which
generally signifies that its possessor
has too much responsibility for a lit
ter IF papers. John Durant's minG.
however, was litter of perplexities.
For twelve years no one had seri-
ously challenged Durant in his special
branch of the financial field. AS an
expert on copper propositions he was
rnrivaled. Now, overnight, some one
had arisen who was beating him at
his own game.
He was underseiling and outbidding
him, he had his finger on the erratic
pulse of the copper market, in short,
Durant had met his master. What
had seemed a presumptuous challenge
three months before had become an
ominous, threatening tragedy. Durant
saw bankruptcy ahead of him.
Who was the fellow7 All his most
skilled investigators were at fault.
Somewhere a man was sitting in an
Office, playing him move for move,
checking, pursuing him. Checkmate
was near.
And he thought bitterly: eff PHI
had stuck to me Phil had the sort
of head need now that I'm growing
old"
Phil was his son. He had shown
signs Of genius. The father had been
so prond of him. But the boy had
been cratic He had been mixed up
in scrapes. John Durant had sent
him to his copper properties. The boy
had wasted his time. He had ended
by marrying the daughter of one of
his submanagers. John Durant had
cut him out Of his life, closed his
Eeart against him.
The bitterness lay in the fact that
Phil had genius. None knew that so
well as the father. If only Phil had
stuck to him Good Lord, the boy
had thrown away opportunities that
any man might have envied.
The stenographer entered bearing a
card. John Durant glanced at 1t. It
was his sons.
Tell him can't see himr' he an
swered determinedly.
"Mr. Duranf, he insists on seeing
you" said the girl. He says he won't
leave unless you give him an inter-
view
John Durant's face hardened. "Show
him inl" he commanded.
He tried to appear impassive, but
his heart was humping as the figure
entered the room Phil, whom he had
not seen for years. Furtively he
scrutlnized him. The boy had not
changed at all. He was still the irre-
sponsibie boy he had always been.
Good God If he could have used that
head of his Johns heart grew bit
ter as gall
Il told you four years ago that I
had finished with you,n he cried,
pounding the desk with his fist. II
have given you every opportunity of
making good. You chose to idle away
your time. You married common
woman"
Enough of thatl' The ringing
tones of Phils voice surprised old
John.
well, wen, ! shouldn't have said
that" he admitted
CAS- good a woman as my mother.
You have never seen her.
"What do you want9 I have no
money for you. You win have to
make your own showing in the world.
have given YOU"
II want no charity. want to tell
you that you have yourself TO thank
for your present situation. When l
was I'm Poconah / was not SO idle as
you supposed. ! took ii upon myself
TO learn the traclngs of the ores. /
know a good deal more than you give
me credit for, Then you sent me to
the Great Altlor. Same thing there"
A great light came TO John Durant.
''You-you mean to tell me that my
own son Is traitor?" he demanded.
''That youyou have sold me, fur
nlshed information TO that man--that
man p"
Every secret of yours that he pos
lsesses came from me- responded Phil
coldly. 1T only remains for me to
furnish him with the secret estimate
of reserve ores compiled by"
"Blackmail, Ell? Name your price =
"Three hundred thousand"
Durant smiled and got up. He laid
his hand upon the Others shoulder
with grip that made him vince.
"Son" he said, "the man who can
blackmail old John Durant hasn't
been born. Run back; tell him /
don't do that kind of business"
sTrefherr'
Something in the tone made old
Jonn look at him keenly.
"This man whom you don't know
do you want his manner II is my
self All that have done was to
convince yea that l was worthy of
your confidence. All my opposition
was to make you trust and believe in
me again. Father, viii you take me
into the firm now, and-into your life