Dreamy Hollow: A Long Island Romance

redited his achievements to luck. As a young man he came very near having imposed upon him the sobriquet "Lucky" Villard-but he frowned upon it until his intimates felt the unwisdom of tha

e huge concern Drury Villard had never allowed any one to s

on the rock of Gibraltar had nothing on us, except age and advertisement. The latter we supplied in a measure suitable to our need

m care and strife. One of Villard's beliefs was that God never intended everything to run smoothly-"all of the time." Reactions were

an example of further consequences. That was his thought. He wondered if others in the organization were susceptible to non-loyal utterances concerning himself and his paramount interests. The best way to get at the facts was to "look in on the boys every little while"-and that wa

never enter your life again. Dishonesty is fastened

ay quite still. Then, after

e been taken unaware. Your warning gave

y a kindred spirit, a woman upon whom you may lavish the l

love for you,

, that you would marry," int

e faltered, overwhelm

l meet h

waited in vain. The spirit of his dead love ha

y. He knew that every five years a normal brain and a normal body become attuned to the next five-year period, and upon this theory Villard, now emerging into his forty-seventh year, had planned his activities. By vi

him-from a mental and physical standpoint-his leadership never was questioned. Each new acquisition to his organization was picked by virtue of his seemingly unerring knowledge of men. As he brought in a new recru

ck to the fold. Driving directly to the apartment in Park Avenue, where Parkins maintained his living quarters, he was informed that the gentleman had gone away. The superintend

d he go?" dem

e left no address

know. When did he leave?

morning. His furnishings are all here-and he left

quired Villard, peering wistfully

ied the age

dition was he when he arri

pset on going away. I thought he might

ak to you o

heck for rent to the exchange girl-to be handed

illard, a very close friend of Mr. Parkins, and I have business matters requiring his presence at my offi

sly pacing the floor. With his hands behind him h

, and quickening his stride, he rushed out

rticular, then returned to his office. Shortly afterward his car

l Exchange, he asked for Updyke personally and was ushered in.

ins-one of my special par

I do-wh

't fin

ave you

e from there, leaving a check for

he

ord-but paid the month's rent

n to be anxio

you the w

wound up by declaring that he was "bent on saving Parkins from any untowa

o take down," replied

hy

culating upward on a downward market? Do you know that he is a drunkard, that he

alked to and fro, across the ro

st be

yke, whose forcefulness caused Villard to eye him critically. Evidently

oned Villard in an even tone of voice striving t

ut a certain page from a loose-leaf book of records. As he placed it in

h he was accused of short changing a fifty dollar bill that he was asked to break. There was a resort to b

tears ran down his cheeks and fell upon the page containing the

manded Villard in tremulous vo

t man in shoe leather, and would forgive anybody, anything, any time. But there is a breaking point that will not stand repair, and Parkins had gone through the crevice. Don't try to save that man, Mr. Villard. He is not worth the tarnish that he will s

, as Villard, having read th

ost efficient partner. Surely the report cannot be wrong? I've never had one from you that was the

cash for all you owe him, and a receipt for him to sign, made out in full legal wording to the effect that it is a final settlement-and that his services are no longer needed

deeply as he ag

en warned before, from a sacred source, to h

mean by 'sa

into that!" repli

er the River Jordan' stuff.

you hinting a

ice trembled

show you your sheet. Wait, I'll get a leaf out of a different book-here it is and you may read it yourself. Skip the biographical-that shows you to be first class

at Updyke, Villard be

us in his treatment of his special partners. He allowed them to buy stock at a very low price, and later on, is to let them have more, if they succeed with the business. Villard still owns a three-fourths holding but all partners were treated alike and are well satisfied with the deal. William Parkins is also Vice-President, but the office o

uld have written all of th

e, sharply, with a wave of his hand. "There isn't a chance in the world that this record will be obs

purpose?" dem

s. We ask no favors. This business is mine. I made it what it is, and it's worth a

el use could be made of those leaves from your records! What

nd-you have the page containing the facts about you. It is the only copy on earth. The notes from which it was m

stonished at

e way or the other,

you're thinking of the dead. You d

. It's good of you, Updyke. Downright generous

gan to pac

mp of hesitancy. "I once had a sweetheart, Mr. Villard, and she went away, too-somewhere up in the skies, j

s was now discarded by Drury Villard, as hi

e both loved, and both of us have been loved. Now we will burn

yes spoke f

lf, Drury. I shall call you b

t metropolis, its streets agog with people and traffic. When he heard the click of the latch on the

found and delivered to Villard. Updyke pressed a button and im

man brought to me as soon as possible-by

've looked him up befo

traighten him out and see that he reported for business next morning. I did it-and did it more than once since then. But this will probably be the last time we'll need hunt for him. His boss ha

vening papers and at six thirty o'clock ordered ham and eggs, and coffee. These had been set before him when the night telephone gong g

seen going east at high speed. Lost trace until just a few minutes ago. Find that he has a fishin

are y

chog

o you a

went over on the ocean side I might have sand trouble. He has four wheels and a

e, cut across and run in by way of the sound. I think I'll put two other men out on this, you

s certain he will come back this way

to my office, otherwise trail him to the

hogue who runs a stand. I wonder how it would do

rkins lead as sure as you live,

loses up for the day. She's a humdinger to l

ers and don't be led into any girl trap. Get me at my hotel after seven,