Newspapers / The Charlotte Observer (Charlotte, … / Feb. 12, 1912, edition 1 / Page 6
Part of The Charlotte Observer (Charlotte, N.C.) / About this page
This page has errors
The date, title, or page description is wrong
This page has harmful content
This page contains sensitive or offensive material
THE CHAilStOTTETffiWP , FEBRUARY 12, 192 6 zz- - 1 ATT H H H FORTUNE ffUNTE Novelized by Louis Joseph Vance From the Play of the Same Name by WINCHELL SttlTH e :opyriht. I5IO. by Winchell Smith and Lciris Joseph Vtnce ; -V n one o Rudyard Kipling's writings he tells of "the ship that found herself," and in "The Fortune Hunter" xve have the fascinating narrative of a youth who found himself." The youth is like the ship he had to have his course laid straight be fore his career began to make substantial headway. The story of Nat Duncan is one that in dramatic form, as written by Winchell Smith, has attracted the attention of thousands of playgoers throughout the coun try. As a novel, written by Louis Joseph Vance, it becomes a nar rative of profound appeal to the yigzng and old and especially to thbse of us who in our youth dwelt in a rural district far enough removed from the metro politan centers to be practically CLjworld in itself and to itself. Usually it is the country lad who ventures into the great cities to seek fortune and fame's favor. But here we find a down to date zity youth, who, a failure at ev erything he had undertaken, in vades the rural districts to make 2 millionaire of himself. That vhich befalls him prompted a great New York newspaper editor !Gsay, "Every American should .rhd this great story," for "The Fhrtune Hunter," in. spite of its iaj'oyable humor, subtilely point ed by its talented authors, teaches the vital lesson of the need of charity and tolerance for the less fortunate of human beinss. CHAPTER L EECETYER at" ear, Spaulding, of Messrs. Atwater & Spauld ing, importers of motoring garments and accessories, lis tened to the switchboard operator's announcement with grave attention, acknowledging it with a toneless "All right; , send him in." Then, hooking cp the desk telephone,- he swung round in his chair to face the door of his private oSee and in a brief- ensuing Interval painstakingly ironed out of his face and attitude every indication of the frame of mind in which he await ed his caller. It was, as a matter of feet, anything but a pleasant one. He had a distasteful duty to perform, but that was the last thif s he designed to become evident. Like most good busi ness men. he nursed a pet superstition r'two, and of the number of these the first was that he must In all his dealings present an Inscrutable front, tike a poker player's. Captains of in dustry were uniformly like that, Bpaulding understood. If they "enter tained emotions it was strictly in private. .' .... . Occasionally this attitude deceived ethers. Notably now It bewildered Duncan as he entered on the echo of feaulding'a Corner He had appre hended the visage of a thunders tot ui TYith a rattle of brusque complaints. US encountered Spaulding as he had ilways seemed a little, urbane figure wilh a blank face, the blanker for g? asses whose lenses 1 seemed always to"catch the light and, glaring, mask the eyes behind them; a prosperous man of affairs, well groomed both as to body and as to mind; a machine for the transaction : of 'business with all-a machine's vivacity and tempera mental responsiveness, It was - Just that Quality in him that Duncan en vied, who was vaguely impressed that If he himself could Imitate. . however y -: "-jay. itt- ?H fix minutely, the phlegm. of a machine he might learn to ape something of Its efficiency and so ultimately, prove him self of some worth to the world and Incidentally to Nathaniel Duncan. "Good afternoon, Mr. Spaulding." he said, replying to a nod as he dropped Into the chair that nod had indicated faint smile lightened his expression and made It quite engaging. "Q'd afternoon." Spaulding surrey, ed him swiftly, then laced his fat little fingers and contemplated them , with detached intentness. Must get in, Duncan? "On the S50 from Chicago. I got your wlra," he resumed. "I mean It got me orertook me at Minneapolis." "Ton haven't wasted time." I fancied the matter might be urgent, 6lr. I gathered from the fact that you wired me to come home that you wanted my advice." A second time Spaulding gestured with his eyebrows, for once fairly sur prised out of his pose. "Your advice?' "Yes," said Duncan evenly, ls to whether you ought to give ui your customers on my route or send them a man who could sell goods." "Well?" Spaulding admitted. "Oh. don't think I'm boasting of rey acuteness. ,Anybody coilld have guess ed as much from the great number of heary orders 1 have not Jieen sending you." "You've hnd bad luck." "You menu you have. Mr. Spr.uUlins It was good luck for me to be draw- izH Ml- 'tp B2TTT GBAHAM. ing down my weekly checks, bad luck to you not to have a roan who could earn them." His desperate honesty' touched Spaulding a trifle. At the risk of not seeming a business man to himself he inclined dubiously to relent, to give Duncan another chance. "Duncan," he said, "what s the trou ble r "I thought you knew that; I thought that was why you called me In with my route half covered." "You mean" "I mean I can't sell your line." "Why?" "God only knows. I want to badly enough. It's Just general incompe tence. I presume." "What makes you think that?" ' Duncan smiled bitterly. "Experi ence." he said j "You've tried what else T' ' "A little of everything, all the Jobs open to a man with a knowledge of Latin and Greek and the higher mathe maticsshipping clerk, timekeeper, cashier, all of 'cm." "And yet Kellogg believes in you." Duncan nodded dolefully. "Harry's a good friend We roomed together at college. That's why he stands for me." "He says you only need the right opening" Ai nobody knows where that Is. except. my fortunate employers. It's the back door going out for mine every time. Oh, Harry's been a prince to me. He's found me four or five Jobs with friends of his, like yourself. .But I don't seem to last You see. I was brought up to be ornamental and ir regular rather than useful, to' blow about in motorcars and keep a valet busy sixteen hours a day, and all that sort of. thing. My father's failure you know about that?" - Spaulding nodded. .Duncan went ec gloomily, talking a great : deal" more freely than he would have talked at any other time uffering. In fact, from that species of auto-hypnosis Induced by the sound of his own voice recount ing his misfortunes which seems espe cially to affect a man down on. his luck. "That smash cam when I was five years out of college I'd never thought . . ) , , "Ton may, but you lose a second time. . I've Just made up my 'mind Fm not going to hang -around-here any longer, that's alL" " , "But," Bobbins ventured, hovering about with exasperating solicitude "but Mr. Kellogg 'd never permit yon to leave in this way, sir." - ' "Wrong again, Robbins said Dun can shortly, annoyed; "Yes, sir. Tery good, sir." With the Instinct of the well trained servant Robbins started to leave, but hesitated He was really very much disturbed by Duncan's manner; which showed a phase of his character new In Robbins experience of him. Ordinarily reverses - . . '. ." you?" ..Duncan made as if to rle, sud denly remembering himself. '' "You're not. Go on." "I didnt mean to. Mostly. I pre sume. I've been blundering round an explanation of Kellogg's kindness to xne. In my usual ineffectual way, but I felt an explanation was due you. as the latest to suffer through his mls pced interest in me." r-Terhaps," said Spaulding. "I am be ginning to understand. Go on, I'm Interested. About the fish market?" "Oh, I Just happened to think of it as a sample experience, sA the last of that particular brand. I got 3 a week and earned every cent of tt Inhaling the atmosphere. My board cost me $8 aad the other S3 afforded me a chance to demonstrate myself a cap tain of finance, paying laundry bills and clothing myself, besides buying lunches and such like' small . matters. I did the whole thing, you know, one schooner of beer a day and made my own cigarettes. Never could make up my mind which was the worst. The hours were easy, too: didn't have to get to work uutil 5 in the morning. I lasted five weeifs at that job before I was taken sick. Shows what a great constitution I've got" "And then "Oh" Duncan roused "Why. then I fell in with Kellogs again: he j found me tryii-.i: ttie open air cure on I a bench in Washiri'un square .Sinre ! then he's been timiinp n!. one -'berth. after another. He's a sure cuouu op-, timist." Spauldiag shifted uneasily in his chair. stirrtKl by an impulse whose unwisdom l;e could not doubt. Dun can bad assuredly done his case no jjood by pinr:ug Jus shortcomings in colors so rivid: yet somehow, strange ly, Spauldla;: iiUtO Li:;i the better for his open neurits confession. "Well" Spaiii'din stumbled awk wardly. "Yes: of course." said Duncan promptly. ri?in. "Sorry if I tired you." ' "What do you mean by 'Yes. of course? " "That you called me in to fire me and so that's over with. Only I'd be' sorry to havevou sore on Kellogg for saddling me on you.. You see. he be lieved I'd make good, and so I did in a way; at least I hoped to." "Oh. that's all right," said Spaulding uncomfortably. "The trouble is, you see. we've nothing else open just now. but if you'd really like another chance on the road I I'll be glad to speak to Mr. Atwater about It." "Don't you do it!" Duncan counsel ed him sharply, ashast. "He might say yes. And I simply couldn't ac cept; it wouldn't be fair to you. Kel logg or myself. It'd be charity, for I've proved I can't earn my wages, and I haven't come to that yet. No!" he concluded with determination and picked up his hat. "Just a minute." Spaulding held him with a gesture. "You're forgetting something at least I am. There's a month's pay coming to you. The cash ier will hand you the check as you go out" .. ' - . . "A month's pay?' Duncan said blankly. "How's that? I've drawn up to the end of this week already, if you didn't know It." "Of course I knew it. But we never let our men go -without a month's no tice or Its equivalent, and" "No," Duncan interrupted firmly "no; but. thank you Just the same. I couldn't I really couldn't. . If s good of you. but Now," he broke off abruptly, "I've left my accounts, what there is of them, with the bookkeep ing department, and the checks' for my sample trunks. There'll be a few dollars coming to me on my expense account, and I'll send you my address as soon as t get one." "But, look here" Spaulding got to his feet, frowning. "No," reiterated Duncan positively, "there's no use. I'm grateful to you for your toleration of me and all that, but we can't do anything, better now than call it all off. Goodby, Mr. fipaulding." Spaulding" nodded, accepting defeat with the better grace because of an innate conviction that It was Just as well after all. And. furthermore, he admired Duncan's stand, so he offered his hand an unusual condescension. "You'll make good somewhere yet," he asserted. "I wish I could believe it." Duncan's grasp was firm since he felt more as sured of some humanity latent in his late employer. . "However, goodby." "Good luck to you.", rang in bis ears as the door put a period , to the inter view. He stopped and took up the battered suit case and rusty overcoat which he had left outside the junior partner's office, then went on. shaking his head. "Much obliged," he said- huskily . to himself, "but what's the good of - that. There's no room any where for a professional failure, and that's what I am Just a ne'er-do-well. I never realized what that meant feaiiy before, and it's certainly taken me a damn' long time to find out. But I know now, all right." Despondently he went down to the Idewalk and merged himself with the crowd, moving with It, though a thou sand miles apart from it, and. presently diverging, struck across town toward the Worth street subway station. "And the worst of It is he's too sharp not to find It out if he hasn't by this time and too decent by far to let me know if he has. It can't go on this way with us. I can't let him. Got to break writ? Lm. somehow now today. I won't let him think mo what I've been all along to him. ,less his foolish heart!" There was no deprecation of Kel logg's goodness In his mood, simply de termination no longer to be a charge upon it. To contemplate the sum to tal of the benefits he -had received al Kellogg's hands since the day when the latter had. found him ill and half starved friendless as a stray pup, on the bench in Washington square stag (red his imagination. He could never repay , It, hx told Wmself, save lnadequatetr, little by little mostly by . gratitude and sucli consideration as. he purposed now to exhibit by removing himself and his distresses from the other's ken. Here was an end to comfort for him, an end to living in Kellogg's rooms, eating his food, busyingj his servants, spend ing his money, not so much borrowed as pressed upon him. There crawled in his mind a clammy memory of the sort of housing he had known in past days, and he shuddered inwardly, smelling again the effluvia of dank oilcloth and musty carpets, of fish balls and fried ham, of old' style plumbing and of $9 a week humanity in the unwashen raw, the odor of mis ery that permeated the lodgings to which his lack of means had intro duced him. He could see again, and with a painful vividness of mental vi sion, the degenerate "brownstone fronts" .that mask those haunts of wretchedness, with their nights of crumbling brownstone steps leading up to oaken portals haggard with flak ing paint, flanked by squares of soiled note paper upon which inexpert hands had traced the warning,' not "Abandon hope all ye who enter here," but "Fur nished rooms to let with board." And to this he must return, to that treadmill round of blighted days and joyless nights must set his f ace. Alighting at the Grand Central sta tion, he packed the double weight of his luggage and his cares a few blocks northward on Madison avenue ere turning ; west toward', the .bachelor rooms which , Kellogs had established in the roaring Forties, just the other side of the avenue Fifth avenue. The elevator boy. knowing him of old. neglected to announce his arrival, and Duncan had his own key to' the door of Kellogg's apartment. He let himself in with futile stealth. As was quite right and proper, Kellogg's man Kobbins was in attendance, a stupe fied Robbins. thunderstruck by the un expected return of his master's friend and guest. "Good Lord!" he cried at sight of Duncan. "Beg your pardon, sir, but but it can't be you!" "Your mistake. Robbins. Unfortu nately it is." Duncan surrendered his luggage. Mr. Kellogg in?". "No. sir.- But I'm expecting him any minute.- He'll be surprised to see you back." "Think so?' said Duncan dully.- "He doesn't know me if he is." "You see, sir, , we thought you was out west." "So you did." Duncan moved to ward the door of his own bedroom, Robbins following. "It was only yesterday I posted a letter to you for Mr. Kellogg, sir. and the address was Omaha." "1 didn't get that far. Fetch, along that suit case, will you please? I want to put some clean things in it," "Then you're not staying In town overnight, Mr. Duncan?" "1 don't know. I'm not staying hers anyway." Duncan switched on the lights in his room. "Put if oh the bed. Robbins. I'll pack as quickly as I can I'm In a hurry." - "Yes, sir; but I hope there's nothing wrong." "Then you lose." returned Duncan grimly. "Everything's wrong.". He 4 i "BEG PAEDOK, SIB, BUT IT CAJT'T BE TOTT V jerked viciously at an obstinate bureau drawer and, when it yielded unexpect edly with the .well known impishness of the inanimate,, dumped upon the floor a tangled miscellany of shirts. socks, gloves, collars and ties. "Didn't you like the business, sir?' "No, I. didn't like the business, and it didn't like me, Ifs the same old story. Robbins.' I!ve lost my job again. thafs all.", "I'm very sorry, sir." -"Thank you. but that's all right Vva used to it." "And you're going to leave, sir?' "I am. Robbins." "1 may I take the liberty of hoping ifs to take another position? iZ turning my hand to anything In an that time. I'd always had more coin than 1 could spend never had to con lider the worth of money or how bard It. is to-earn. , My father saw to all that He seemed not to. want me to work; not that I hold that against him. He'd an idea I'd turn out a genius of some sort or other, I believe. Well, he failed and died all In i a week, and, I found myself left with an ex tensive wardrobe, expensive tastes, an Impractical education and ' not' so much of that that you'd notice it and sot a cent I-was too proud to look to my friends for help In those days and perhaps that was as well; I. sought Jobs on my own. " Did you ever keep books In a fish market?" "No." Spauldlngs eyes twinkled be hind his large, shiny glasses. INDIAN KILLED' ON TRACK. ' Near Rochelle, 111., an? Indian went to sleep , on a . railroad - track and was killed by the fast, express. He paid for his carelessness with .his life. Oft en it's that: way when people neglect coughs and colds. Don't risk your life when prompt use of Dr. King's New Discovery will cure them and so pre vent a dangerous throat or lung -trouble, "it completely cured me, in a short time, of a terrible cough, that followed a severe attack of Grip," writes J. R. Watts, Floydada, Tex., and I regained 15 pounds in weight that I had lost" Quick, safe, reliable and guaranteed. 50c and ?1.00. Trial bottle free at W. L. Hand & Co. An OUnCA ft Till ef ie nr . Vi . of luck. - v - - i V 7: 7 F - - "I'VE LOST MT JOB'AGAIX." - such as this had seemed merely to serve to put Duncan on bis mettle.-to infuse him with a determination to try again and win out, whate-yer the odds, and at such times he vras accustomed to exhibit a mad irresponsibility of wit and a gaiety of spirit (whether it were a mask or' no) that only out rivaled his high gcod humor when things ostensibly were going well with him. ' Intermittently, between his spasms of employment he had. bern ; Kellogg's guest for several years, not infrequent ly for months at a time, and so Rob bins had corae to ffel a sort of proprie tary interest in the young man. second only to thV regard -which he had for his employer. "Beg pardon, sir.' he advanced, hesi tant, "but perhaps you're just feeling a bit blue. . Won't you let me bring you a drop. of something?" . "Of course I will," said Duncan em phatically over his shoulder. "And get it now, will you. while I'm pack ing? And. Robbins:" "Sir." ' "Only put a little in it "A little what, sir?" , "Seltzer, of course." CONTINUED TOMORROW. Great Interest In Y. M. C. A. Move Special to The News. Rock Hill, S. C, Feb. 12. Since the discussion of theneeds of a Y. M. C. A. was begun several days ago much in terest has-been taken in the move and an association will doubtless be or ganized within the . next .few weeks. This organization' before the erection of a building is made possible by the offer of Mayor Roddey.to donate rooms as soon as such an organization is placed on a working basis. Mayor Roddey this morning . stated that he would give to the association free of charge the' use of the entire second floor and roof garden of his building oh "Railroad street; a few yard& north of the new passenger sta tion, the use of the building to .be giv en over as soon as the association was organized , and - placed on a working basis as soon as the young men show that they mean business, to use Mayor Roddey's- expression. - The building offered is at a place easily accessible and when the new passenger station is in use and the street put in condition will be. an ideal location, the street cars running by the door. The hall is a large one and a secretary's office could be fitted up, leaving plenty of room,; for. a reading room ' and such amusements; as might be desired most. The- roof garden is fitted -with tables and' chairs and has a dumb waiter running up, making it convenient for congenial gatherings in the summer time. Taken all in all the quarters would, it is believed,Nfill the needs of a building until the associa tion could be properly organized and put on a working basis; then when the people of the city really awake to the good such an organization can ac complish in building up the city, botn morallv and physically, it will be much- easier to secure subscriptions for a suitable Y. M.'C. A. building than would be the "case, were, a" campaign to be launched now.. - : .. The offer of Mayor Roddey wil Idoubt less be the first thing considered by the committee appointed to consider the Boy Problem under the Men aud Religion ' Forward Movement, and there is little doubt but that the offer wil. be acepted and an association formed. - ' -; Swallowed the Whistle. Policemen on trial at headquarters are as apt at excuse as men in other lines, if not more so. , Former Inspector Williams used to tell of an officer who was charged with having lost his whis-tle. Ween asked to explain,.-he said: . , "You. see, I went home last night and put my whistle on the table. : I turned round, and,' bless me. 'one of my kids was choking and nearly black in the face.. You see, commissioner he'd swallowed , the " whistle.". . "Is he dead?" asked the sympathet ic commisioner. ; ; . C '. , "No, sir," was the reply?. He isn't dead, but he's got the -whooping cough, and now every -time- he coughs the whistle blows and ' the cop on post comes a-runnin'." -. .- Muggins "I never knew; a fellow so fond of borrowing trouble as . Dash away." ; Buggins "What has he done now?" - Muggins "Eloped with anoth er man s wife." ' .. , v . , Sillicus "Who was it . that said 'Do- liver, me from my. friends?"' - Cynicus I don t, Just remember, but I sunose it was some fellow who knew he could take care of nis enemies." ... Presidential speaking, thin to ha TRable. AU9 ma mm 'Auymmo aAvjuia ski wrm nsjk. m s SJB8A Auiqi J8AQ JO 8 COTTON STATES LIME UP FOB THE ROCK HILL PLAN Special to The News. Rock Hill, S. C, Feb. 12.-Mayor John T. Roddey has -been asked by President J. M; Cherry, of ,the Carolina Traction Company, to take entire charge of the celebration to be held on the occasion of the operation of the street cars along Main street for the first time. While the date has not been definitely fixed Mayor Roddey is busy outlining :the program - and arranging for the occasion. When asked regard ing the celebration this morning Mayor Roddey said: "We want to have hundreds of peo ple here from York, Chester and Lan caster counties" and through, the med ium' -of tfie resswV extetfd fcorolal invitations to the people of those coun ties to be with us- on this ocacsion. While, of course, - the : success of the event will depend largely upon the weather, we are hoping to make the j-. - -1 n v. i and every effort will be made to make the occasion oner that .will long be re membered.'' : Mayor Roddey stated that plans for a barbecue near.the car barn were un der consideration, but it would proba bly be several days before this . would be definitely decided upon.- However, if the weather is favorable it is quite likely that . a big dinner will be pre pared for all who come here. Regard ing the procession Mayor Roddey has arranged the following schedule : Boys bearing a large banner con taining the figures 1911. V ' " Old street car drawn by mules. Children of the graded schoot. Boys bearing large banner contain ing the figures, .1912. Carhartt Band. Marshals. . ' -'" ; ' Cariages, etc ; , . . Automobiles. ' '-, ;, '' " Winthrop students. . ' ; Ui-- New storage battery cars, ' carrying omciais of the company, and invited guests. '' ' x . : " " . . : The line of ; parade will form at Winthrop College : and prbceed along Oakland avenue; Railroad and Main streets. WELL KNOWN BAPTIST PREACHER FOUND DEAD Atlanta, Feb. 12. Dr. J. M. Brittain, pastor of the Temple Baptist church, and one of the best known ministers in Georgia, was found dead in bed at his home here yesterday morning. Death was due to ' heart failure. He was 69 years old and was aConfeder ate veteran. . .V . -. ? n u ta i mm: TI ? " a Mi n. kl. a m tie emm -m i mw i.i an i-J"l!!!?SIvfS&vm mm mm Mm rmawjsiioisiBAiBstaioM mpjEia'ipanos jnos uou ma jwhi s uie4uuj say pun ssau fmaulSgS30moj ?3i Wipsgpuepooia) u?iBians 1 nil, mini l mm mm 1 brick store oh Granan St. Ex tension. , 1 seven-room house on South A St. 1 six-room house on East Liberty St. 1 six-room house on East Ston wall St. 1 five.-room house on West 12th St with all modern conven iences. C Mc Nelis H9 S3 ast 4th St"" 'Phone No. 04-J, A,-, isaaHaasHSi THE SELWYN HOTEL EUROPEAN t ; Only fire-proof hotel ua Char lotte; supplied entirely with ter from its own deep welL CAFE OPEN A.K NIGHT. Water analyzed Jily 6, 1911. by Director State Laboratory of Hygiene anc pronounced pun. Pure Water tom our Artesian Well, 303 1-2 feet deep, for sale. 5c gallon at Hotel 10c gallon in 5-gallou 'ots. lelivered In Charlotte or at K. B. Station. DGAR B. MOORE, Proprietor. A Delighted Purchaser of one of our tells us ' "I . am heating seven rooms, f with the amount of coal I would or dinarily consume in one grate" (Sev en times ; the space heated on tee same coal: consumption.) . , . He Is Just one or the many pleasea users of this wonderful stove, that are doing likewise. THE FIVE RADIATING FRONT FLUES is what docs the work. No oth er stove has them. Let us show yos- J. N. McCausland any -THE STOVE MEN" 221 South Tryon Street I 1 E . I "' :, i I t - ' i; m cm,. I For Rent Monitor Radiator Comp -t-
The Charlotte Observer (Charlotte, N.C.)
Standardized title groups preceding, succeeding, and alternate titles together.
Feb. 12, 1912, edition 1
6
Click "Submit" to request a review of this page. NCDHC staff will check .
0 / 75