The Seattle star. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1899-1947, 1923-08-07
THE STARS
Daily Short Story
DoUBLE-ACTIoN LETTER"
BY Gerton Carruth
ANOTHER COMPLETE SHORT STORY TOMORROW

To the young man on the curb
gazing across the street az the i'm
posing pile OF the Davenport Pub
lshlng comnanya building that
structure OF steel and stone looked
like mountain 49, not ono OF the
sunny green clad New England
mountains, but cold. gray Rocky
mountain. Hut perhaps waldrons
impression was eolored n little BY the
fact that he was about TO cross tho
street. ascend 60 tho glacial top OF
the mountain and strike old Arch
bald r. Davenport, still worse. he
knew him by report 20 be n good
deal OF a curmudgcon.
Naturally a diffidont youth OF the
scholarly type. Wnldron dld not 20
about this adventure with assurance.
Indeed. Il was until his little stock
OF money had dwindled TO ono five
dollar bin that he had brought him
self to tho point OF knocking as pri'
waite secretary 90 Ambrose Hare.
head OF tho Hare Button Manufae'
turing company providing he could
produce a satisfactory reference. had
led him 20 approach tho man who
had known his father years before.
when finally. In a burst OF rcsolu.
ton. waldrpn struck across the
street. bravcd an impudont office boy
and was presently admitted 10 tho
sanctum Of tho great Archibald +.
Davenport himself. no found that
crusty old potentato In an unusually
bilious humor, He had had bad
nlsht and, besides. his fayorlIe stem
ographer was not on hand that morn.
ing. He glanced from waldron'a
card 20 tho youth himself and there
was no cordially In his eye. There
was suli less In his voice whom he
spoke.
We'll. young man. he said eurtly,
what do you want7"
"why--ah--you see. Mr.. Davon
port" stammcred waldron. getting
away TO n bad start. Il have como "a
you AZ an old friend OF my fathers
Horace waldrun. l."
Il knew Horace wRidron--sllghily
80 years ago" interrupted pavon
port, but don't know you. I auH
poet you were not born then. And
II you arc looking for job-as
also aispcet--there Is nothing car
do for you
I'm not looking for job-here.
answered tho young man. gettlnF
rcd. II have n Job open 10 mo u
can offer n satisfactory reference
But am u stranger In New York
for my father. az perhaps you 70
member. moved West about tho tin'
/ was born. SO have como 20 you
thinking that as my fathers oil
friend you might bo kind enough Il
give mo recommendation. A iettci
from you. / know. would have grcn
influence.
Archibald p. pavonport'a purpl'
visaEe became somewhat despei
purple. II the young man had bu
known II. no had touched tho emil
nent publisher on a Horo spot, lie,
tsrs Of recommendation were his ides
OF nothing TO writo for others. or q
require OF men hs employed. Thei
never mean, anything. no said. NJ
ono ever told the truth In wriiini
one.
go you want n letter Of recon
menda,lon. do your he inquired
after a moment In a voice almost ;o'
smooth. well 49, all right "
pressed button and stonogrnphe
came IN. 'You sit down outside fo
minute. young man. and I'll sent
II out 10 you. Good day"
Surprised, waldron suffered
few words Of thanks and retired g
the outer office. In a moment tn
tmpudont office boy went In and 70
turned with tho letter In scale
envelope. Ho glanced curlousiy a
waldron and no seemed 20 have
private Joke. But he did no. shar,
IL with tho visitor and waldron
ongsr 10 get away. noticed nothing
strange in tho boy's demeanor.
II was with feeling Of consider
able confidence that. half an hou
later. waldron presented himself ant