HAROLD KING was walking in the clouds. He had received a letter from J.C. Welty asking him to come to the capital at once. He stated that he was going to build a large hotel, work to begin as soon as the plans were drawn, and that King had been recommended to him as an architect. Harold decided that in order to make the right kind of impression he must have some new clothes, consequently he waived his objections to going in debt for clothes and that evening visited Jackson's clothing store where he was fitted out.
He had made the drawings and drawn up most of the specifications for a big hotel when he was an employee in an architect's office, and these he now got together. It was fortunate he had saved them. This done he called Ruth over the 'phone and secured her permission to call in the evening.
About three o'clock in the afternoon Golter entered Ruth's office. "Miss Ruth," he said, "don't you want to take a ride?" Ruth had declined many invitations to ride with Golter and refused many requests to call.
"I would prefer riding to pounding this typewriter this time in the afternoon, but the chances are I will have to continue to pound it until four o'clock."
"I am going to Zala and thought you might enjoy going along for the ride."
"I would like to go to Zala. I haven't been there for so long. When are you going to start?"
"Right away."
"I wouldn't want to ask to quit work early."
"I'll ask Uncle Jim for you, if you will go."
"I don't want to go if Mr. Stover needs me."
Golter stepped into the president's office and soon returned with the information that Uncle Jim said that she could go as soon as she finished the letter she was writing.
"How long will you be gone?" she asked.
"Oh, we should be back by six or six-thirty. You know it is only twenty-four miles from here to Zala, and it will only take a few minutes to attend to the business."
Ruth called her aunt and told her that she was going with Mr. Golter to Zala.
On the way going he asked, "What do you think of the Ku Klux Klan by this time?"
She replied, "It seems to be doing some good."
"Perhaps a little good but much more harm."
"How do you know that it's doing harm?"
"I know by what I read. Besides you can't expect anything but trouble from the class of people that belong."
"What do you know about the class of people who belong?" she asked.
"They are mostly crooks and ne'er-do-wells like that fellow King, who goes around with his coat frayed at the cuff."
"Mr. King has more to him than a whole lot of fellows who are better dressed; but how do you know who belongs?"
"You see that that class of people have little principle and many of them give away their membership."
"I don't believe it," she said with spirit. "I think that there are unprincipled people who work some of their bunch into the Klan for the purpose of giving it away."
"It certainly ruins one's standing in society when it is found out that he belongs to the hooded bunch. I wouldn't want to associate with anyone who was connected with these midnight marauders."
"I believe in the principles of the Klan; I believe that a good class of men belong; that they are doing many charitable acts, and in many places have created more respect for law and order. If I were a man I would join this order of real red-blooded Americans."
Golter decided that he was not getting anywhere in the direction which he desired to go; he tried a new tack.
"I was reading a new book the other day, the title of which is, 'The Quest for Happiness'."
"Is it good?"
"Yes. It is so much more practical than many books along that line. I suppose you would call the author a materialist, but then you know that everything in this world that has any value has a material basis."
"I am not so sure of that."
"Well, if you will read this book you will see that his philosophy is good common sense. He shows that no matter what enjoyment one seeks one must possess material wealth to secure the means of gratification. If one desires music, he needs money to attend the concerts or provide the instruments for himself. If he loves art he is all the worse if he hasn't money with which to buy pictures or visit art galleries. Man may develop an appetite for orange sundaes but he is miserable because of this fondness if he lacks the price. He knocked the doctrine of 'love in a cottage' into a cocked hat. He says, how absurd to think a couple could be happy in this day and age in a little stuffy cottage without any of the modern conveniences, unable to entertain, no automobile, no money to take a trip, etc. Isn't he right?"
"No, he isn't. Of course money has its place, and it might be very difficult to be happy in penury; but love is not dependent on rugs, furs, pianos and automobiles, which are all well enough in their place. Honesty and all of the Christian virtues are not dependent on material things. It is true that the one with the artistic taste may desire fine pictures, but if he is a true artist he will not be more miserable with the love of the beautiful within him and no money with which to purchase pictures than he would be without the aesthetic talent. Quite the opposite. He can behold the beauties of the heavens at night, the wild flowers and the birds; he can appreciate the pink hue of the dawn and the golden glow of the sunset, and enjoy the forests and ferns that jack frost paints on the window panes. To be sure, nobody wants to starve, but I am of the opinion that love will flourish no better on roast turkey and maple syrup than it will on bacon and sorghum molasses."
Ruth visited with a few of her friends in Zala while Golter attended to his business. They remained in Zala a little longer than Ruth had thought they would.
When they started home Ruth remarked, "It is later than I had thought we would be here."
Golter looked at his watch. "It's only six o'clock. If we have no bad luck we will be home by seven. We could drive it in much less than an hour if it weren't for that five miles of bad road."
"I hope we can get home by seven," said Ruth.
"Anything of importance?"
"Yes, there is. I had a date with Mr. King tonight." Ruth was not only anxious to keep the engagement with her friend but was also anxious to show Golter that his slurs and innuendos had made no other impression on her than to create a stronger desire to be more loyal to her friend. She was filled with a feeling of disgust for Golter.
This information was evidently not very pleasing to Golter. He became less talkative and the conversational atmosphere became rather chilly.
They had driven but a few miles when Golter stopped the car.
"What is the trouble?" Ruth asked.
"Something wrong with the engine." He got out and worked for fifteen minutes. Ruth felt relieved when he closed down the hood. He got into the car and they started. They had not gone far when he stopped the engine again and remarked, "There is something wrong yet with the engine."
"Oh, I wish I were an automobile mechanic for a little while so that I could know whether there is really anything wrong with that engine," thought Ruth.
Harold King's heart was singing a joyful melody as he went to the home of his friend, Ruth Babcock. He was happy because he had a chance at a big job. He felt more efficient because he was wearing a neat suit of clothes. There is a psychological value in clothes. A man who is poorly and shabbily clad may be ever so brilliant and honorable a man, but the shabby clothes detract from his confidence and power.
When Harold reached the Babcock home he was met at the door by Aunt Clara who informed him that Miss Ruth had gone to Zala with Mr. Gol............