Omaha daily bee., 1897-02-28

cites between the sea and Charing Cross,
and. as he smoked, he made stern, heroic
resolutions regarding his career. He would
now take it seriously in hand. He would
bus~iness-manage himself. He saw in the
clear light of a great disappointment that
he had hitherto paid too much attention 10
the production of masterpieces and TOO III
tie to the advertising of them 1t was eV-
| idently hopeless to expect the appreciation
of a stupid and uncritical public to come to
his work, and the great critic whom ne
| had confidently looked for had not yet put
in an appearance. If, then, the critic would
| not come to Mahomet. Mahomet would go
to the critic. He would purchase the most
| expensive art critic there was in the mar
| ket; then the tardy public would learn that
a genius had lived among them unrecog-
nized.
AS his comprehensive plans took final
| shape the train ran into the glass-roofed
| tunnel of Charing Cross. Barney sprang
into a hanson and drove directly 10 tne
works. 'Beastly hole he said to himself
| as he gazed around at the ruin the fre had
wrought. The ground was covered with
| cluttering heaps of burnt and twisted iron,
and piles of new building material were
| scattered everywhere. The apparent con-
fusion and ugliness of it all onehueu MS
| artistic sense, and he thanked his stars II
was not necessary for him to spend ms
DAYS there. He accosted Sartwell, who had
| been discussing some question with the
| architect, and shook the managers hanu
| with energy and cordially.
"Mr. Sartwell," he cried. II came the mo-
ment I heard Of the fire."
"Ah," said the manager dryly. 'HaVe you
| been in America?
NO" laughed Barney, mot quite SO 1ar
away as that, but, don't you know, never
| read the papers and so heard of the connagra-
ton purely by accident. NOW, / am mere Gu
| tirely at your disposal and am ready to DO
....bi,o, and a,,arvthinp VOL want uOne. i
| would rather not carry bricks, II there rs
ANYTHING else l can do, but / am ready TO
help in any way | can. | don't nina tei.ins
you. Mr.. Sartwell, that, in placing myseii at
the disposal OF the firm, l 90 so at consiuei.
able sacrifice, for art is long and time Is
deeting. and | have work to do in my studio
that YOU. perhaps, might not think worth
doing; but / hope posterlty VIII not agree
with you, don't you know. Stlll' am mere
Command me-"
Indeed, you do me wrong SAID sartweli,
with a grim smile. 81 consider you or much
greater value in the studio than mere l
have no doubt posterity and ! will quite agree
in our estimate of your labor. Artists are
few and laborers many. IL woulu De d Ieai
disaster II our present crises were 10 inter
fere with your artistic work. Therefore, al
though | am fattered by your generous oner
of help, | could not think of availing myself
of IL. No; the studio is your place, MI
Hope"
'It's uncommonly kind of you, Mr.. sart-
we'll, to say so many nice things ABOUT my
efforts. and ] assure you | appreciate them'
for / don't have too many encouragementsL
don't, | assure you. This is such a Deastly
materialistic world, don't you know Has
my father got home YETI"
eyes, he returned last night.
"Ah. l didn't know that. Terribly upset. l
IA triHe worried"
NATURALLY he would be. Well, there's
nothing / can do for you, thenY
"Nothing, unless you undertake the decor
alton of the new factory. and thus SEND II
down 10 p~osterity with the Vatican frescos'
still, that question won't arise Tor a moh'h
"ouite so. I'll think about 1t. Well, II
you need me, you know my address, A ware
will bring me at any time
'It's generous of you to stand reaoy TO
leap into the chasm in this way, but take
| nv advise and stick to the studio. Never
theless, I'll remember, and let you know II a
crisis arises with which l am unable TO deal
single handed"
do" cried Barney, again shaking hands
with good -natured effusion. well, soodby' =
He picked his way TO the gates and stepped
into his waiting hanson, a well merlted teel-
ing of having answered the stern call OF duty
cheering his heart as he drove away.
1t was a long drive to Haldiman's studio,
and Barney, telling the cabman be might
have to wait an hour or two, dashed up the
steps and rang the bell, Being admitted, he
asked IL Haldlman was at home; then sprang
up the stairs. struck one startling knock ON
the studio door with the head OF his stick
and entered.
Haldimap stood at his easel, a
black pipe in his mouth. an old Jacket on
his back, and a general air about him OF not
having brushed his hair for a week. A half
finished drawing In black and white decora-
ted a great sheet of cardboard placed ON the
easel.
Hello, Barney he cried. 81 thought
that was your delicate way Of announcing
| yourself. You look as trim and we'll
| grcomed as a shop walker. Haven't given