The Birmingham age-herald., 1922-08-20
What has happened before.

What has happened befores
 This is story dealing with Bir- mingham's future.
 At 14 years old, Robert Lnndon be- gins his awakening to young mnu- hood by joining the Boy Scouts. The son of n poor woman, he leads any thing but an envinbie existence, but citizenship and what it means has begun to stir in his soul. One day seeing Il corner stone being laid and hearing the attendant euiogy 10 n citizen, Bob nyows he will be n great man.
 X red-haired girl hears him, and much to BOb's embarrnssment, speaks up and encourages the idea. He loses her after boyish promise thnt he will mnl<e good just for her sake. An automobile drives up and whisks her away. He does not even learn her name.
 Bob decides to become mn archi- tect. He conceives m idea thnt he wishes to build n series of gigantic electrical figures above the city which will be magnificient to look upon from the top of Red mountain. TvinlkIing lights, he feels, are not enough. He hopes to see only castles, municipal buildings. homes of God, vast auditoriums. public and state buildings erected nIong Red noun tain's crcSt--all of them to be of marble. Their spires and turrets and artistic beauty. he feels. would for ever he m inspiration when Birming- ham citizens lifted their eyes to look upon them. He maps out figures typi- cal of the old south and builds his towns in colonial style.
 One day, coming down the street he secs the red-haired girl again but again she suddenly escapes him. In seeking her. he accidentally learns to know Annette Kingston, young society girl, who Is very much at- trncted to him, and who asks him 10 cnIl, which he decides he will not do. Mary witnesses the meeting, hut does not recognize Bob. She is being pressed to marry Herbert McAliister.
 In the meanwhile n finnncier be- comes interested in Bob's drawing of the ghost house.
 Bob sells 1t to him, but persundes him to come and make Birmingham his home. Bob finds a child model for his main electrical figure. and drops back to his office to find Charles Kingston, Annette's father. who takes him to his home for the purpose of planning m addition to his residence.
 He md Annette become great friends. md through Bob's seizure of n lost dog belonging to Mary Tre- vor. the rcd-haired girl announces n desire never to encounter him ngain.
 CHAPTER XI.
 The next few months to Bob Lam don went by---he considered long aft erwards-like a turbulent maddening trip at sea. He knew the harbor he would make, but whatever beacon light might have by chance even been placed at a window, had been snatched away. Mary Trevor never wanted to see him again. Very plainly she had inquired his name that she might make sure of that.
 Bob was positive he must do some thing about it; but he could not make up his mind just what.
 In the meantime. the upset of his mind was so great. he did nothing but work at such a furious pace that he quadrupled his fortune al- most mushrooms wise.
 Genius For Business.
 He was getting to be genius at the acquiring and disposing of prop erty. While he never seriously thought to make an impression on Birmingham people because of this. it was gradually forced to his at tention by numerous invitations to join the most exclusive clubs that the citizens were taking note. He was in easy. very easy circum- stances.
 Meanwhile. the Elbertons had ar rived In town-adding a furore to the social year. Why Bob could not explain but they seemed his own people. He found more real com F fort by their hearthstone than any where else.
 Mrs. Elberton insisted on calling him 'our son." and tho days were few that Elberton, who had opened a branch office in Birmingham. did not motor by and insist on taking him home. Bob nearly always went
 Finally one evening they had ar-