Whereupon, having concluded his first wearying day's labor, Mr. Rawn
donned his well-cut overcoat and shining top hat, and with much dignity
passed out the private door of his office. The elevator was crowded
with common people, among them, several persons of the lower classes.
Mr. Rawn felt that the president of a great corporation like
International Power ought by all rights to have an elevator of his own.
This conviction of the injustice wrought upon presidents was so borne
in upon him that, when he stepped up to the long and shining car which
the chauffeur held at the curb, his face bore a severe frown and his
lower lip protruded somewhat. Feeling thus, he rebuked the chauffeur,
who touched his hat.
"You kept me waiting!" said John Rawn, glowering. "I wait for no one."
The chauffeur touched his hat again. "Very good, sir. If you please,
where shall I drive?"
"Take me to the National Union Club," growled Mr. Rawn. Already it may
easily be seen that one of Mr. Rawn's notions of impressing the world
with his importance was to be rude to his servants--a not infrequent
device among our American great folk.
The chauffeur touched his hat once more and sprang to his seat after
closing the door of the car. In a few minutes Mr. Rawn was deposited
at the wide stairway of one of the most estimable clubs of the city;
where his name had been proposed by members of such standing in the
railway and industrial world that the membership committee felt but one
course open to them.
A boy took his hat and coat, following him presently with a check into
a wide room, well furnished with great chairs and small tables. Rawn
stood somewhat hesitant. He knew almost nobody. Moreover, his club
frightened him, for it was his first, and it differed largely from
Kelly Row. A fat man in one group gathered about a small table
recognized him and came forward to shake his hand. "Join us, Mr.
Rawn?" he asked. Some introductions followed, then another question,
relative to the immediate business in hand.
"You may bring me a Rossington," said Mr. Rawn, with dignity, "but
please do not have too much orange peel in it." He spread his coat
tails with perhaps unnecessary wideness as he pushed back into the
great chair. You or I might not have had precisely his air in
precisely these surroundings, but John Rawn had methods of his own.
"I've never liked too much orange peel," said he gravely, putting the
tips of his fingers together. "The last time, I thought they had just
a trace too much. A suspicion is all I ever cared for."
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Elsewhere in the archive
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account