The Elk Mountain pilot., 1924-07-03
"Fatheri"

"Oh! All right. It's just as well
you stopped me. I'm not ready to
talk. However. that's enough on that
score. Now listen to me- AS you
know, 1 am going to start for Argen-
tina in two weeks or less-as soon MS
the Ell Rio is ready. I'm not going to
ask any promises of you, but / want
you to remember that while I'm away
you've got your mother and sisters to
look after, and that you've got to he
decent for their sakes. UnderstnndY"
yes"
That's all. Now come to dinner
Giving the boy no chance for reply,
Archman strobe out of the library.
His mind was far from all social
matters. Gradually, however, the fact
was borne in upon him that his family
was discussing them vigorously, prob
ably as a means of getting over the
awkwardness that had arisen from
Harry's visit to the study. I've invit-
ed Lord George to visit u.s." was the
first thing he heard his wife say. HE
has accepted, and will come very soon
perhaps tomorrow"
Mr.. Archman walked up abruptly.
whats that?" he snorted.
Mrs. Archman explained. perhaps
Lord Georges visit may help us to
make some really worthwhile friends"
"Worth-while friends ~ Henry Arch
man laid down his knife and fork and
glared at his WIFE Look here" he
said. "I want to understand about
this thing. Do you mean to say that
20 ~ .ls,,
pected?"
Mrs. Archman shook her head re-
luctantly mot very many of them,"
she confessed.
Archman pursed up his lips. well,
after all, why should we?" he rasped.
"What have we got to offer them that
they want and haven't got already?
Why should they call? They'll never
let you in. You've got to break in"
Mrs. Archman looked shocked.
Don't speak as If we wanted to force
ourselves on people who don't want us,
Henry" she said We're as good as
any of them"
"As good AS goOd!'' The veins
came on Archman's temples. "We're a
blame sight better. We're the regen-
orators. We're the modern equivalent
| of the strong, virile races who were
called barbarians by the effeminates
they overthrew. We modern invaders
4 come with money and character in
stead of weapons, but we come all the
same. We come from the cattle pens
of Chicago and Kansas City. from the
steel mills of Pennsylvania, the coal
mines of West Virginia, and the oil
wells of Texas the sheep corrals of
Wyoming, and the lumber districts of
Wisconsin, and we force ourselves into
the marts, the churches and the draw
ing-rooms of the so-called aristOcrats.
We've got to do 1t. We're drawn as
irresistibly as the tides
Mrs. Archman tried to break in.
"Well. Henry" she began.
But Archman had the floor. "Of
course, the East doesn't welcome us"
he went on. 1--WE annoy them, and
they don't realize that our coming is
the only thing that keeps them from
petering out. They don't realize that
it is the new blood. fresh from the
soil. that renews their wornout
strength. They objected to us, just as
the older peoples objected to the bar
barians. We've got to break in just
as the barbarians had to. Only we'li
do 1t with dollars instead of with bat
tle-axes. I've got nine million dollars,
and nine million dollars can break
into New York society just as surely
and good deal more easily than nine
million barbarians broke into Rome VI
Mrs. Archman shook her head
Money won't buy everything, Henry
she declared patiently.
Archman snOrted. "It won't, chi
Well. show me something 1t won't
buy. If I wasn't going to start for
Argentina I'd break way for you
with 1t in double-quick time. I've got
good mind to do it anyway before
go. By George, I will do it!"
Mrs. Archman shook her head again
You can't break into society that
way, Henry" she insisted. people
here are exclusive. It's hard for any
newcomer to get in and'-she hest
tated little-"and you know. Henry
meat is not-er-er-"
Archman's face grew red. what,
the matter with meat?" he roared
Everybody eats 1t. don't they
There's money in 1t, lots of It. Ant
the money don't smell. does It? II
show you. There's old Van Kull! HI
owns the Ontario docks here, wher'
my ships have laid for ten years. He!
one of the Four Hundred. isn't hep"
"Yes; II his wife would call Bu
She"
But nothing He knows what Arch
man & Company stands for. I'll se
him tomorrow and you can expec
Mrs. Van Kull the next day. No! b.
George! I won't walt till tomorrow
He lives only a mile or two away. II
go and see him tonight. I'll go now.
Archman swung around in his chair