Mr. Crewe's Career, Book I.

not have made quite so many ripples in the pond with which this story is concerned. Austen did what he thought was right. In the opinion of many of his father's friends w

Company, who suggested with all kindness that, howeve

of view to Mr. Greene, who repeated it to Professor Brewer, urging that gentleman to take

pectfully. The cashiers of some of these gentlemen, who were younger men, ventured to say-when out of hearing -that they admired the championship of Mr. Mender, but it would

e and congratulated him in a rough but hearty fashion. Even though Austen had won a suit against the Gaylord Lumber Company, young Tom would

lawyer, ain't you?

eeting from Mr. Gaylord, replied tha

day I may have use for you,"

itude of his father, "it isn't principle. He's had a row with the Northeas

ee. The way the worldly-wise professor discovered the secret was this: he had gone to Bradford to hear the case, for he had been a dear friend of Sarah Austen. Two days later Hilary Vane saw the professor on his little porch, and lingered. Mr. Brewer suspected why, led carefu

Honourable Brush Bascom, when he came on mysterious business to call on the chief counsel, no longer sat on Austen's table; this was true of other feudal lords and retainers: of Mr. Nat Bi

ten, except when he fled to the hills, was usually the last to leave the office, Mr. Tooting often the first. Bu

here, Aust

put her

thinker some the last f

ting himself

id of nervous pr

exed laugh, "why are you always jollyi

don't begin to have your

e this compliment. "I came in here to have a serious talk. I've

t know, I don't know ho

em. "I know the difference between a gold brick and a government bond, anyhow. I believe bucking the railroad's going to pay in a year or so. I got on

," answered A

know I didn't take an

get the old bird to

good of

aid Mr. Tooting, giving Austen

g," said Austen, as he rose to put on his

he declared; "some day you

was, to be sure, an influx into Austen's office of people who had been run over in the past, and it was Austen's unhappy duty to point out to these that they had signed (at the request of various Mr. Tootings) little slips of paper

a client of yours against the United Northeastern Railroads,

rs t

HREY

ions. However, it is not for the struggling lawyer to scorn any honourable brief, especially from a gentleman of stocks and bonds and varied interests like Mr. Crewe, with whom contentions of magnitude are inevitably as

once been a farmhouse, but gradually the tail had begun to wag the dog, and the farmhouse became, like the original stone out of which the Irishman made the soup, difficult to find. Once the

porch, his hands in his po

spitable, but which had a peremptory ring, "don't st

of pleasure, but sober and formidable books were scattered through the cases: "Turner's Evolution of the Railroad," "Graham's Practical Forestry," "Eldridge's Finance"; while whole shelves of modern husbandry proclaimed that Mr. Humphrey Crewe was no amateur farmer. There was likewise a shelf devoted to road building, sever

formidable array of things might make

ence in Chicago with a board of trustees of which I am a member on the third. Looking at my array of pamphlets, eh? I've been years in

now that,"

ind I'd get to the bottom of the railroad problem, and I did. It's no use doing a thing at all unless you do it well." Mr. Crewe, his hands still in his pockets, face

nted to see what you were like," he continued, with refreshing frankness. "Of course, I'd

said Austen, who was begi

men are fools at all points of the co

case you had against the No

nswered Austen, an

n't what we do, it's how we do it. Take pains over the small

wondering how soon this larger

the chief attorney in this State for the Northeas

ent of obtaining a

im. He had expected to find a certain amount of eagerness and subserviency-th

ed, "I have a grievance

made up my mind that y

to regret your choi

hen I see one, and you inspire me with confidence. This matter will h

rse

ll show 'em to you. One of 'em's all right now; this confounded railroad injured the other gettin' him up here. I've put in a claim. They say they didn't, my man says they did. He tells me th

interest him. He rose and walked to the window and looked out for a fe

pay more than the horse is worth, and it's busines

, "that I might not charge

uying horses all my life, was fooled. The veterinary swears the animal is ruptured. I'm a citizen of Avalon County, though many people call me a summer resident; I've done business here and helped improve the neighbourhood for years. It will be my policy to

at he was expected to say something. "Avalon County apprecia

up my mind to go to the Legislature this year. I know it would be a sacrifi

ature needs

State, and no lawmaker with sense and foresight enough to propose them, it makes me sick. Now, for insta

you, Mr. Crewe," said he, "bu

ost demanded, with a retur

t it?" ask

going to

wyers don't re

that's sensible. But what

ou will allow me to add, which in dignity is second to none. In accordance with the practice of the best men in that profession, I will charge you what I believe is fair-

able, for it is to be doubted whether he ever got so. But he felt dimly t

let it go at that. Hello! What the d

n a stone bench set in a recess of pines, and looking off into the Yale of the Blue. With no great eagerness, but without apology to Austen, Mr. Crewe stepped out of the window and approached them; and as this was as good a way as

, but I told Alice as we drove by I could not resist stopping for one more look at your Canter

ccompanied by a brief in

ers, that's what they're for. Cost something to put 'em in. I got that little fel

very well, Humphrey

m what I wanted and drew a rough sketc

ot Mr. Ridley. I rather

ch clear and practica

phr

tingly, "after you've seen a few hundred gard

clever," Al

ders. A certain definite colour massed here,

From her (Austen thought) seemed to emanate a silent but mirthful criticism, although she continued to gaze persistently down the valley, apparently unaware of

so interested in gardens I'm going to hav

ced his steps and made his way rapidly by another path towards Victoria, who turned her head at his approach, and rose. He acknowledged an inward a

he gave him her hand, "how long i

chance," said

serve one?

the renewed scrutiny of Mrs. Pomfret, and then Mr. Crewe, whom no social manacles could shackle, had broken p

d, "you don't know anythi

do either," was Victo

ughed at thi

ing to prove it

e done with Freddie Ridl

tor

we was

retorted. "He had no conceptio

toria, but he needed the mon

shortly, "I've been tal

knowing. Mrs. Pomfret, I want to introdu

f this duel, inclined her head the fraction of an inch

ou arrive?"

, I haven't arrive

ce, with a puzzled glance i

uggested, turning to him. "He might be induced to

to him," said M

, your fortune is m

ial voice, "we ought to be going instantly, or w

or car," said Mr. Crewe, with his

ine by the gallon?

local manager, and get a sp

coming to dinner to-night. Four people gave out at the last minute,

rewe, "I'll have the mo

is remark was, needle

tor

ammonds are on the road to Ripton, and I am going to ask Mr. V

ienced surprise. Mrs. Pomfret, in addition to an anger which she controlled only as th

come with us," she said. "We shal

sten had recove

he said, and made brief but pol

said Alic

evelops," said Mr. Crewe, wi

, waiting for him by the driveway. The Pomfrets had j

ranted, Mr. Vane," she said as he took his seat beside her, "b

d smilingly, "that Peppe

n than ever to be

interest in this man, which renewed itself at every meeting. In the garden she had been struck by the superiority of a nature which set at naught what had been, to some smaller spirits, a diff

for you to take up the inj

n flu

You seem to know all

one within twenty miles

e was doctored wh

u may be calle

s, why you accepted su

tor

into her upturned face,

hould have asked myself,

elicious understandi

rive and asking you such a question when I scarcely know you. But I just couldn't go on with Mrs.

and secretly

ffered, if I had

as your failing. I don't bel

occurred to me, and te

ng upon him suddenly. "

aintance, which I had no means of knowing you wished

resumption multiplies tenfo

onfers," s

ife had been cast. It was an American point of view-this choosing to believe that the woman conferred. After offering herself as his passenger Victor

last summer," she said. "I hear incidentally

," Austen laughed. "As for my laurel

er what her attitude would be. He had antagonized her father, and the fa

you did i

r anybody-much as I like

anced

ageous of yo

that light," he answered. "May

, but faced

ther, at first, and I

ount," she a

was s

like boasting of an 'accidental acquaintanc

drew Pepper down to a

an an accidental acquaintance l

idea that aggression w

tly. "And seeing that

over a year, I can only

ercise it in

in a crue

e" exclaimed Victoria; "just because you have won a suit against his railroad. You don't know my father, Mr. Vane. He isn't the kind of

Austen dema

diced,-that's our trouble. It seemed to me that Zeb was old, and unfortunate, and ought to be com

Mr. Flint was not a mere matter of taking a small damage suit against his railroad, but a fundamental one

best side to the world. His life has been spent in fighting, and I am afraid he is apt to meet the world on that footing. He is a man of such devotion to his duty that he rarely has a day to himself, and I have known him to sit up until the small hours of the morning to settle some little matter of j

ce," Austen replied, with mingled feelings. Victoria's confi

"ever since-ever since I first laid eyes u

f?" he

ur coming into her face again; "one feels that way about some people without being able to put the

imself, for he was a Vane. He had thought of her many times during the past year, but gradually the intensity of the impression had faded until it had been so unexpectedly and vividly renewed to-d

answered gravely,-the statement being so literall

m so, Mr. Van

th a seriousness

s a favour not to

" she

n. "In periods of public controversy, such as we are passing through at present, sometimes men's views differ so sharply as to make intercourse im

a wire fence overgrown with Virginia creeper,

e Hammonds', and-t

of an automobile, followed now by the scream of the gears, broke the stillness o

the bulldog nose of a motor forged ahead

houted, "you people oug

wly missed a watering

cribed, and sho

s she jumped out of the buggy,

to go into politics?"

ot be won by dynamics. 'Get out of the way' is his motto. Mrs. Pomfret will tell you how he means to cover the State with good roads next year

with a last picture of her in his mind as she paused for an