Newark leader. ([Newark, Ohio]) 1917-1946, 1926-04-09
CHAPTER ii

About the shabbiest trick that fate
can play on Us is to bring us into the
world with 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-brass
flavor.
Dick Van Ness was an amiable
young man, without more than his
share of faults and possibly with as
many virtues in 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 a 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 it.
A chip of the old block, why couldn't
he make a fortune as easily as his
father? There was no reason, except
that apparently he didn't inherit ihe
peculiar quality of mind that had made
the elder Van Ness "a power in the
financial world.
Dick didn't know 1t 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
floundered. 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 a love for adventure; bat
neither of these had found lodgmeni
in the elder Van Ness, which may have
accounted for his remarkable success
| in finance They are not necessarily
| incompatible with achievement, bu
| they have to be held in subjectiOl
when business calls.
Self-acknOwledged, and by common
consent admitted by the world, to b'
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 TIT
reality until suddenly aroused by th'
footsteps of the watchman.
He effected his escape from the pri
yate dock with much greater celerit,
and safety than the previous owner o
his fishing tackle. Once on solid lane
again, he gave a last Wistful look a
the Pelican.
I'D sell my right hand for a lon
cruise in her again" he sighed. ~
even be willing to go as deck hand.
He stopped, and looked startled a
his own suggestion. Why not? The
he answered himself with sad shak
of the head Because he had no eXpe
rience or references, they would no
employ him even as deck hant
Deck hands had to know something.
And l don't know anything wort
knowing" he blurted out III disgust.
Nevertheless all that afternoon an
evening the fancy chung TO hlm tina
his future was in some way ineA
tricably mixed up with his fathers Ol
Yacht and the girl who had reWarde
him with the gift of her visiting care
She had promised to redeem ii in an
way he asked, at any time, and if h
went to her and begged a berth on he
uncles yacht she would undOubtedl
grant his request; but such "a cOurs
was repugnant to him, and not to b
considered.
Late in the evening Dick, still linge
ing in the vicinity Of the waterfron
as if fascinated by the smell of I'll
ships and the salt brine across ii
harbor, rubbed elbows with a coup
bound in the opposite direction. I'll
night was dark, and the Waterfrol
poorly lighted but for all that Die
recognized one Of the men, II
stopped abruptly in his tracks, an
watched the receding figures.
"Mr. Blake" he mused placir
ironic emphasis on the name. 'Wol
der If he's going aboard the Pelican
He meditated in silence few IN
ments, and then followed. 1t was eas
to keep the couple within sight withol
exposing himself to view They wei
going In the direction Of the priya
dock, and Dick had no doubts abol