, 1886-02-12

Inc ubCtpr put ms cue UNeT MS anDulutf
and waited. Well" said the patient.
that's what | thought. But we're both
dead wrong. I'm a blazing, blooming
ass. Tn u mental wreck. I'm a howl
ing maniac. | want"
-McdicinejT asked the doctor.
NO said Crimson, @manacles. strait
jacket, keepers, solitary confinement.
in love- remarked the doctor. ~Swal.
lowed up" rejoined Crimson.
Normal thing, said the doctor. -Yon
all do it. What is it? Beautiful, know,
but obtainable, / guess not"
Crimson rested his head on his hand a
moment, then he went on: Il saw a
figure. II haunted me. I let my mind
down il. 1t got possession Of me. II
had brown hair, blue eyes and black
lashes; such lashes, doctor. | can't think
Of any else. 1t breaks up my sleep. 1t
interferes with my business. I've be
come n mass OF jelly"
Yes, quite normal" said the doctor:
why don't you abduct her, buy her or
marry her. l want to finish my game"
Because. said Crimson, shes a lay
figure"
Most OF EN- are" remarked the doctor,
as he moved away.
wait n moment; she's painted" -Of
course she is, said the doctor.
Hang it, man. she's lifeless." ~Then
she's just in the fashion, - said the doctor.
But, doctor, l can't marry a lay
figure" why can't you? It's done
every day
-She's on exhibition"
Il dare say; most of 'em are. Let me
finish this game"
~But | don't own her"
Certainly not: that's what's the matter
with you. Why don't you? Look here,
my boy. this is not a case of purgatives,
it's n case Of pluck. There's only one
cure for your case; it's possession"
Crimson got to reading Byron and
Swinburne. He grew melancholy and
took to making rhymes. He found on
that Alice would rhyme with malice ant,
chalice. 1t was a fearful struggle st
times between his reason and his imagin-
alton. He knew he was a fool. But the
other half of him seemed to gloat over
it. He tore his hair and swore and made
resolutions, and then he went down to
Sackson & Pludgett's and hung round
the window. Alice threw her appealing
blue eyes upon him. Here | am yet"
she seemed to say. "Your eyes look
tenderness at me, but you leave me here
in a window. Your heart is false. I
wasn't made for this" And he felt the
pang go through him. Then he fell into
g., ~.,l-I..a arI Iraa-.x hnLft Io coz -
a corner of the club snd brooded. His
friends began TO notice it and Clawsoa
got hold of him.
Look here, old fel, said he, cant
we help you out any wayY"
NO" said Crimson, "I'm beyond
human reach. l think the best thing !
can do is to blow my brains OUT
Clawson was practical. Quite right,
old fel, he said. But let's go to work
and develop some first. so that you will
not waste your powder and shot on a
vacuum, don't you know? Who's the
girl"
MY boy said Clawson, quite solemnly.
1--we fallen in love with a lay figure in n
shop window"
by George" said Clawson, I'm aw-
fully glad. Do you know was afraid it
was a ballet girl or something"
Now don't talk that way pleaded
Crimson u don't Ike vo,r l;nnani
stvIe This ia n question of Iife and
dcath With mo know ia o,vf,,Ilv IN
human. but | can't HELM il. THERE'S no
use in telling me that it's madness, I
know it. I've got TO have her, that's all
there il about ii. WHY. I'D rather get
one glance from her blue eyes set in black
than have my pick of all the women on
earth. oh. Alice. Alicel l see YOU now.
the cynosure of vulgar ewes. Your
pensive. appealing glances are burned
into nv memory Nv darling. NV dar-
ling, / come to youi | come. / comel-
And then he rushed out and went
down TO Fourteenth street.
This is how that absurd story about
Crimson having s%oftening Of the brain
got around. Clawson rushed up to the
club and told il. But there never was a
infamous falsehood told. 1t isquite
true that Crimson got worse and worse.
But, az DIR. Pillsbury said, 1t was ON
normal lines. He was doing exactly
what every man docs with his imagina-
ton. The rest was a mere matter Of Sc
lection.
N ou..Lia -
III - ~ Iii ranarnhar ha ,.as
marriaJ IN n,,ohar II - io ,ba
-.
W -
~ 10y ISL.
He bought the figure and Crimson went
to housekeeping up there in Forty -iirst
street. quite swell. There was n good
deal Of "A fight ON the part of his frienda,
hut Crimson always came of victorious
in all the arguments. There WIS his
uncle, who came at him with a club. 80