The Clarion

ughly, keenly, ebulliently alive he was. Thoroughly rich, also; and if the truth be told, rather ebulliently conscious of his wealth. You coul

person; but it was the vitality that impressed you first: impressed and warmed you; perhaps warned you, too, on shrewder observati

, eradicator of all known human ills, "famous across the map of the world," to use one of its advertising phrases, under the catchword of "Professor Certain's Certina, the Sure-Cure" (for he preserved the old name as a trade-mark), had made a vast deal of money for its proprietor. Worthington estimated his fortune at fifteen millions, growing at the ra

ine. He fidgeted like an eager boy when the whistle sounded, and before the cars had fairly come to a stop he was up the steps of the sleeper and insi

ad

y-e

er passengers, the two seiz

eorge" (to the porter), "get me a seat. Get us two seats together. Aren't any? Perhaps this gentleman,"

. People usually were "glad to oblige" Dr. Surtaine whether

ice which took the whole car into his friendly confidence; "and it s

feel better, sir. W

until I couldn't stand it, so I banged down my desk, told my secretary that I was going to California on the night boat and mightn't be back till evening, hung the scrap-basket on

h a swift movement, to touch his father

r you. You're a distinguished stranger; that's what you are. Welcome to our city and all that sort of thing. I'd like to have a brass band at the station to me

st any of your spirit, Dad

uotations.' I'm getting to be a regular book-worm, Hal. Shakespeare, R.L.S., Kipling, Arnold Bennett, Hall Caine-all the high-brows. And I get 'em, too. Soak 'em right in. I love it! Tel

nly smatterings." But the boy spoke with a subdued

'll think Worthington

all find it a very d

nd loyalty, quite as genuine as that

nd of the livest people on God's earth. A gen

it suits

ened up here. Didn't care much about my business, either. Now we're the biggest thing in town. Why Certina is the cross-mark that shows where Worthington is o

t it, sir? I think I've

our years abroad have been just so much capital. Educational capital, I mean. I've got plenty

suppose I've got to go

ecessa

live on you all my lif

to want you to," returned the other

with doing nothing. And if I can be

I did the 'spieling' and you took in the dollars. How quick your little hands were! Can you remember it? The smelly smoke of the torches,

. I used to get pretty sleepy, I

ut there was nobody to leave you with; and you were

or me, doesn't it? I'm rat

nt with an unlimited allowance,

f playing. And of

you can make Worthin

two weeks altogether in the place si

keep you away from here, and that our periods of com

es

ever spok

N

siness, alone. That came long ago. There have been obstacles, in other ways. They're all overcome. To-day we come

said the other, laughing. "It isn't the town,

s that?" asked th

can do

are whether it's th

nt me to go i

But-well, frank and flat, I don't know

aine repeated the distastef

it a fair mark. 'Certina,' they say. 'That's where he made his money.

end, it's good enough for me to earn," sa

a big success. But that doesn't mean that I want to combine the

of a leaning toward

h, you mea

es

edants and hypocrites. Not one in a thousand is m

he scientific and sociological side is what app

Not as a profession. Here we ar

dy River, commonly known as the "Mid-and-Mud," flung forward in an involuntary plunge the incautious who had arisen to look afte

ice. "You're the prodigal son of whom we'v

"Yes, that's my son, Harrington, you're hanging to. Hal, thi

led himself as a spare, middle-aged man who looked as if he had been hewn out of a block, square, and glued into a per

r's, Mr. Surtaine," said Pierce. "Wh

ward, was introduced to Hal, and inquired courteousl

. "You might help him decide. I'm sure William would be glad to have

n of hospitality, the newcomer hesitated, although Douglas promptly supported

pparently oblivious of the fact that he

ne of condescension. "Douglas represents me, however, not only

aine. "It's our leading social organization. You'll meet our be

been looking for you. It is some minor hitch about that Mission matter, I believe.

rtaine. Then, more loudly: "Well, the busine

ar. But Douglas, having the cue from his patron,

ur fair citizens," he said. "

lly at ease, smiling up into the interested faces of the two ladies, Dr. Surtaine, passing to his own car to await him, looked back and was warmed with pride and gratitude for this further honorarium to his capital stock of happiness, for he saw already in his son the assurance of social success, and, on the hour's reckoning, summed him up. And since we are to see much o

le mite of a snob, too, maybe. But the right, solid, clean