Evening star., 1925-08-16

INTO the 1amllS, tnat Is, we elecleu the
colonel director"
! Anderton mumbled a laudatory
phrase which meant nothing. What
difference did it make? And what was
! the sense in being jealous? His prin-
| cipIeS hadn't changed. and in 10 min
| utes he and Elsa were going to part
forever. Why, the only reason he had
come at all was to pay social homage
to his president. He had now done it
and he was through.
Accordingly he parted forever. But
within the week he had another cool
note from her. Her father had heard
much about him and would be pleased
to have him dine with them on Thurs
day, or if Anderton had a prior en-
gagement for Thursday. would he
kindly indicate what other evening
would be convenient?
Anderton mopped his forehead. \
fortnight ago her father had been
merely nabob, but now he was a
member of the board of directors.
Could Anderton reply to a member of
the board that on no evening would
it be convenient to dine with him?
Nevertheless. he tossed Il nickel to
decide whether he should accept or
decline. The first time the nickel
caromed off a chair leg. which obvi-
ously wasn't fair. The second time it
bounced, which was manifestly illegal.
But the third test was conclusive, and
Anderton yielded to Sthe verdict. He
accepted for Thursday. bought himself
new pleated shirt, and arrived at the
Paines' in such excellent season that
he patrolled the sidewalk for fully 10
minutes before he ventured to ring the
bell.
He consoled himself on the way
home by the reflection that it had been
good business to come to dinner. too,
for he got along famously with old Col.
Paine, and the colonel had informed
him when they would play golf to-
gether. The colonel didn't invite him;
he informed him. And it wouldn't
have been altogether diplomatic to an
tagonize a member of the board, would
it?-even If the members daughter
planned in advance to drive out to Pip
ing Rock with them and fellow them
around and dine with them afterward.
No. Business is business.
X x < ::
RUT at Piping Rock, while they were
having coffee on the loggia, the
colonel said TO Elsa in an amiable
growl:
II kind of like this boy Plays golf
with his clubs instead OF his mouth.
like most of 'em do. What night have
we got free next week-Tuesday?"
Well, hang it. Col. Paine was
member of the board. Anderton
gulped and said that he would be de-
lighted. But he firmly resolved that
on Tuesday he and Elsa would part
forever. They must. He owed 1t to
his principles and his self-respect.
On Tuesday the pompous old colonel
opened with precision-fire. In short.
gruff questions he went TO the bottom
of Anderton's education, motives, am
bitions and prejudices.
Boy" said the colonel, witheringly,
your angles are all wrong! You're too
anxious to get ahead Think you're in
a rut, hey? Well, when l was your
age l was a clerk in a cut-rate drug
store on Third Avenue. Wasn't. that
rut, hey? Well, how did ! get out
of it? Same way you can: l worked,
sir, and l learned what was in my own
back yard before / went shining over
into the other fellows. Saw how
soaps and perfumes kept moving;
studied 'em: then studied chemistry.
Earned every step I took, sir, by plain,
common, hard work and ordinary in
telligencet"
II know. colonel, but banking is
different. tt
Different? OF course it's different.
Sos everything else! But I tell you.
boy. you work overtime and study
what's right in front Of your nose
whether it's soap or silver or salera-
tus = and you won't go far wrong.
Look at Walter Blanchard" He
yawned eXpansively. We'll, I'm go
ing to bed. But you stay and gable
with Elsa. Oh, Elsa! Come here a
minute
AS soon as they were alone Ander-
ton nerved himself for the final part
ing. At any rate, it was made easier
by the colonels fat indictment of him.
We'll" he said tentatively, "I guess
I'm in Dutch with your father, all
right
Elsa stared at him. why, do you
know what he just told me? He said:
Don't let that boy get discouraged;
there's real stuff in him. Have him
around often.'" She put out her hand.
so we're going to be friends, after
all-aren't we?"
Yes, darling" he said uncon-