Birmingham age-herald., 1894-11-25

like you, know lOtY but uonL know where to get things. I do-and so make bit Pipes?-this anything in your line?" and he pulled out a flashy meerschaum in red case. said: No" and he continued: "I s'pose not; noth- ing under Murias for you, eh? Don't smoke myself-too expensive. I sell these things though-one hundred per cent, and not bad value after all. All . I make that way put away-do some- thing with it some day. At present live on my screw-or less, if possible. Look here?"
 "Well?'' said.
 ''Sce my front and cuffs? Look very well, don't they? Grand idea-cart- ridge paper! Gentlemanly appearance at precious little cost. Good wrinkle but no good to you, of course. Ave a drink?"
 said: No and held out my hand. "Oh, come and have drink" he urged, and yielded. The habit of going with out lunch is hard one to acquire, and felt faint. Besides, could pay him back some day. We went into a pri- vate bar, in Chanccry Lane, and had some ale. He said of course l usually drank better tack than that, but he couldn't spring it. man came in as we talked; florid with drink and affa- ble. "Excuse me a minute" said Bon tor. Directly afterwards Iasaw him speaking to the stranger; the pipe was held up for inspection, refused, re-of- fered, haggled over, and finally changed hands Bontor came back glcefully, chinlling half-crown and florin. 'IIave anothcr?" said he; but my pride had by this time returned. l declined, perhaps little too haughtily, and we parted.
 was going to say that things went from bad to worse with me, but that would not be exact. They stayed as they were, and I almost forgot to be discontcntcd. I still lived on the flag ends of literature. I took up scrap of the Daily Telegraph" one day in a Lockharts cocoa rooms-it must have been some years after l met Bontor. 1t was only the advertisement sheet, but read it, as men in my case do. l read the prospectus of new company; valuable proprietary article was to be sold, it seemed. The vendor was to
  for his rights, half in cash and half in fully paid up shares Further down I saw that Mir. Philip Gloster Bontor was to join the board after allotment. l laid down the scrap of paper and walked out Within a hundred yards l met Bontor. 1 had no desire to slop; it might have seemed invidious under the circumstances, but almost involun- tarily stopped. l thought a shade of annoyance crossed his face, but he stopped and held out his hand. He was portly now, with dark mustache and hard eyes. He had lived hard, but looked well. He had not the manner of gentleman, however, as I fatter myself 1 always had, even with my misfortunes. He was pompous and somewhat condesccnding as he said: Why, Grant! what are you doing in the city? Thought you would be some where about Bedford Park or Ken sington. Don't hear of you much late ly. How goes it?"
 Imuttered something about "abstruse researches" when he looked at me keenly and said coarsely: Not doing well, eh? Don't look it!''
 
 continued hurriedly: "Know man named Schnitzel-goingt to start a new society paper. Want job?" ( was tempted to say "Yes," but to such cad as Bontor I could not hum- ble myself said, proudly: "No"
 "As you please" he replied Well, times money! Goodby'
 walked away without answering. had expected kinder treatment from an old schoolfellow.
 I saw Bontor's name occasionally in newspapers after that. He seemed to be getting on. I found he was married and lived at Princes Gate. He had yacht and moors which the prince of Wales shot over. All this took place during the five years succeeding my second meeting with him. Things were poor ly with me then, through no fault of my own, am sure. Men did not like me to work for them; there was con spiracy against me-one iInpudent fel- low even told me I was lazy-a lie! I did not drink, either-at least not much. l could not help contrasting bitterly the different fates of myself and Bontor, man with not quarter of my abilities. I felt the unevenness of fortupe, and cursed the gods. One day I looked at the London directory in bar in Fleet street, and found Bon- tors city address. got there late in the afternoon, and waited outside for some time. l thought perhaps he might help me. At last he came out with another man. l drew myself up and hummed, to see if he would recog- nize me and speak. He stared at me coldly, and barely nodded. was mor- tified, but went back next day. As he came out forced myself to raise my hat.
 He barely stopped and said: Well, what do you want?"
 I reminded him of our school days, and asked him to assist me. He looked at me coldly and said:
 ''I offered you work and you declined it. You are lazy-your hands show it; YOU are a slOven-your dress shows it: