he acquired an excellent, practical knowledge of machine shop work, and was a good draughtsman at twenty. I then obtained for him a place in the draughting room of the saw mill department of the Edward P. Allis Company, where he had my help and direction for more than two years. He was married about this time as previously told. His progress was so rapid that he soon began to relieve me of much responsibility; and when my leg was broken he had complete charge of the room, and when I returned I allowed him to retain it, and I received orders from him. It was characteristic of him that when he got near to his best in any line of work, he began to be dissatisfied with it and looked for something higher. So when he came to feel easy in the management of the draughting room, he determined to prepare for the work of a commercial traveler, designing and making mill plans and specifications, negotiating large contracts, sometimes with millionaires. This big work appealed to him, not alone for its public, masterful character, but also for its big pay, which with the E. P. Allis people and many others is the main basis of respect. He was getting ready for the chance, and if it did not come he would make one, but the chance soon came. The best traveler in the department, Ed. Fitzgerald, resigned; Walter applied, and stepped into his place. When up at Minneapolis, to take his first contract, a resident business employee of the company was requested to "keep an eye on the boy, as he was only a beginner." After Walter had the contract in hand, the man wrote back, "The boy needs no supervision, he can take care of himself." Walter continued in this line of work about six years, taking the largest and best line of saw mill contracts ever received by the company.

The next promotion Walter aspired to was the superintendency of the saw mill department. Mr. Hinkley used this expectation to keep him patient when he would be making his kicks for higher salary, telling him he was the only one to take his place when he would retire, which must be soon. For a time Walter waited, though keeping on in his field of work, which was principally in the South; and in order to have his wife and family more convenient to him, he made

his residence in Shreveport, Louisiana. As Mr. Hinkley seemed to have no inclination either to resign or die, he determined in the course of his travels to keep an open eye for business chances. The South being known as the land of opportunity, he soon found what seemed likely to suit him. The small Town of Lufkin, a railroad center of some importance in the timber belt of east Texas, had in it a small foundry and machine shop, owned and financed by the saw mill proprietors of the neighborhood, for the main purpose of getting repairs on their mills promptly done. The management of this was unsatisfactory to the owners, and they gave Walter the offer of a good salary, with a good block of the stock, and chance of buying more, if he would take the management of the business. He saw the probable growth of this undertaking into a fairly prosperous business and accepted it; and while he has not realized his dreams and ambitions, he has not been disappointed. His standing among the business men and manufacturers is indicated by his having been for a number of years the president of the Manufacturers' Association of east Texas; and most all the mill men, if they contemplate new building projects, or additions or changes in their plants, will always call him into their consultation, pay him well for the plans he furnishes, and frequently give him the work without calling in opposing bids, being assured of a square deal. He has persistently refused public offices in the town, except that he saw the need of a new and aggressive school board, which was elected, and he became its president for five years. During this time Lufkin shook off its old southern conservatism, and is now a good progressive town with superior educational facilities, and other accompanying gains in civic improvement.

In one important respect Walter made no progress, rather he fell behind. The old home conditions, of church relationship and attendance on things divine, were not maintained. The commercial traveller's role was extremely unfavorable, if not positively in conflict. The business habits of the mill men were against it. Sunday was the time for special jobs. Repair work then received attention. The shop was sure to be