The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1894-08-16

for he could laugh readily and heartily, al
though he was as briefess as the average
barrster of 25, aud eked out the magnlfl-
cent private income of nothing year by
contributing to the magazines.
He had come across this picture adornlng
the cottage apartments whittier an econom-
ical holiday ON wheels had led him.
The woman's face in it bore resemblance
to the face of Miss Kitty Merdaunt, at
whose comely but mature feet he had laid
his hand, heart and entire fortune Ia nearly
new foot ball and 90 cents per week pocket
money! in the days when he was head boy
at Cobden's school. So he had laughed, and
bought it for the sake Of old times
Mr.. Robinson had scarcely been gone five
minutes when man of about his own age
mounted the stone stairs and spoke TO the
young gentleman who meditated between
the outer world and the occupants of the
third floor.
"Mr. Robinson IMP"
"No, sir. Gone to lunch"
"I'll wait" said the visitor, laconically.
And he strolled into Valentines legal apart
ment and looked at the mantlesheif
Hum, one brief, dusty and hyblown.
Was here last time l came, if Pm not mis-
taken. Not making his fortune yet, any
how !"
He and Valentine were cousins, and the
curious will of great uncle afforded him
very sufficient reason for not wishing the
barrister to prosper Whichever of the
young men could prove the possession of
50, 500 per annum within six years OF the
testator's death was to inherit his property.
If both attained to it, the richer was to be
the heir; if neither, hospital benefited.
OF the allotted period only about IS
months now remained but the $4,000 year
seemed as unattainable by the struggling
artist and the briefess barrister as the
wealth Of Golconda.
Tired of looking out Of The window at
legal gentlemen in wigs and gowns and legal
gentlemen without wigs and gowns, Mr..
Morley pushed open the connecting door,
entered his cousins bedroom and saw the
picture.
The result of an examination seemed to ex-
cite the artist nightly, for his hands were
trembling and his face was flushed as ne re-
turned the painting to its nail, and intruded
once more upon the youthful clerk.
a know where Mr. Robinson lunches. I
think I'll go and lind him." he remarked
casually.
But a faithful Providence had ordained
that he should miss his cousin again. Val
naughty word and retraced his steps to
Middle Temple Lane. En route an acquaint-
ance buttonholed him and detained him
fuming for 90 minutes.
Therefore he was quite half an hour be-
hind his cousin when he arrived to find
that young gentleman scribbling at his
desk.
Hello; glad to see you, old man! Boy
told me you called, but didn' expect you
backn
"Pm taking a holiday" Maurice ex-
planned, "and 1 wanted to speak to you
about that picture you've got in there.
Rather decent thing. Where did you pick
it up?"
At the edge of the world for So. Glad
to hear my judgment is so good"
"I'll give you $25 for it if you like" said
Maurice, carelessly "You can get nice
engraving for that, which1l suit your
room much better"
I" / should be delighted, dear boy, but
you're too late. Shafier, my little tailor,
was here bothering me for money just now,
and / persuaded him to take it in part set
tlement. He carried i, away with him.
GOOD heavensl" shouted Maurice, as
white as sheet "D'ye mean to say you've
been ass enough to part with that picture
Tor SlU or SO 2!
For $25-the sum you offered me-" said
Valentine, with a rather queer look at his
cousin.
Left alone, Valentine looked thoughtful.
He knew that it was not in Maurice to offer
S25 for anything that was not worth great
deal more, and the picture must be worth
very great deal more before its loss would
have excited him so strongly.
Two minutes later he was closeted with
brother barrister in the same building; five
minutes later he was driving TO the tailor's
with banknote in his pocket.
He explained his errand automatically,
and the little German expressed much re-
gret, but could not oblige him. 1t seemed
that when he-Mr. Schaffer-had returned
with the picture instead of the cash his
frau had called him " big fool" whereupon
he had perforce turned it into current coin
at secondhand furniture dealers around
the corner, and lost money thereby, on re
word of Sehaffer."
Valentine found the second hand shop
without difficulty-a dingy little place,