The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1925-12-11
CHAPTER. III

About the shabbiest trick that fate
can play on us Is to bring us into the
world with a 'silver spoon in the
mouth, and then, when we grow accus-
toned to it, change it into cheap pew
ter metal. 1t leaves an unpleasant
taste for years after, and some never
quite get rid of that tin-coppery-b rassy
flavor.
Dick Van Ness was an amiable
young man, without more than his
share of faults and possibly with as
many virtues in a potential state as
the average man carries around In his
system, when fate subjected him to
this acid test
How he met it Is not necessarily
nearly so interesting and spectacular
as many fiction writer's would invent
for their heroes. He was bit put
out by it, considerably chagrined and
disappointed, but being young and In
fine health he thought the world was
his oyster, and he could open 1t.
A chip of the old block, why couldn't
he make fortune as easily as his
father? There was no reason, except
that apparently he didn't inherit the
peculiar quality of mind that had made
the elder Van Ness a power in the
financial world
Dick didn't know it at the time, but
it was revealed to him in the course of
years. Combined with the utter lack
of all experience and training, the
handicap was fatal. He drifted and
fioundered, driven from pillar to post,
making fool mistakes that an office
boy could have put him straight on,
and in the end he returned in disgust.
Dick had vein of romance in his
system, inherited from his mother per-
haps, and love for adventure; but
neither Of these had found Judgment
in the elder Van Ness, which may have
accounted for his remarkable success
in finance. They are not necessarily
incompatible with achievement, but
they have to be held in subsection
when business calls.
Self-acknowledged, and by common
consent admitted by the world, to be
a failure, Dick had no scruples in CIV
ing full vent to his imaginings. For
getting his fishing, he dreamily pic
tured scenes quite different from the
reality until suddenly aroused by the
footsteps of the Waterman.
He effected his escape from the pri-
vate dock with much greater celebrity
and safety than the previous owner of
his fishing tackle. Once on solid land
again, he gave last wistful look at
the Pelican.
I'D sell my right hand for a long
cruise in her again." he sighed. I'D
even be willing to go as deck hand"
He stopped, and looked startled at
his own suggestion. Why not? Then
he answered himself with sad shake
of the head. Because he had no expe-
rience or references, they would not
employ him even as q deck hand.
Deck hands had to know something
sand don't know anything worth
knowing!" he blurted out In disgust.
Nevertheless all that afternoon and
evening the fancy chung to him that
his future was in some way mex
tricably mixed up with his fathers old
yacht and the girl who had rewarded
him with the gift of her visiting card.
She had promised to redeem 1t in any
way he asked, at any time, and If he
went to her and begged berth on her
uncle's yacht she would undoubtedly
grant his request; but such course
was repugnant to him, and not to be
considered. ~
Late in the evening Dick, still, linger-
ing In the vicinity of the waterfront,
as If fascinated by the smell of the
ships and the salt brine across the
harbor, rubbed elbows with couple
bound in the opposite direction. The
night was dark, and the waterfront
poorly lighted; but for all that Dick
recognized one Of the men. He
stopped abruptly in his tracks, and
watched the recedlng figures.