The Princeton union., 1900-12-27


cigar, around which was wrapped the
check, He Winked; then he laughed,
and Joined him, though my laughter
Eresembled mirth less than II did the
cackle of a hen which was disturbed
over the future Of her brood. I left
him and Went down into the Wineroonl
and ordered stiff brandy and soda.
When that disap I ordered an
other. ratified the Ice in the glass.
'Ha. ha, sha p roared as the events Of
the past "a hours required to me-.
There must have been a suicidal accent
to my laughter, for the bartender look
ed at me with some concern. called
for another brandy and shot the soda
into it myself. I watched the foam
eyaporate. "Ha, ha, hal as
Hard luck?' the bartender asked
sympa athetically. .4 $ .sss ss. .
Yes, said |. seemed to be speak
ing to several Fbartenders who looked at
me with several varieties Of compass
sion. sz= q, 5Ss
Have another on me- said the bar
tender. t3 ,s.z s.zzs
had another and went out into tie
street. | walked down Broadway,
chuckling to myself. What a glorious
farce it oil was! Ny fortune! Phyllis
my wife! What If she had accepted
met laughed aloud. and people turn
ed and stared at me. Oh, yes! was
to travel and write novels and have
my pictures in book reviews and all
that! When arrived at the office.
was on the verge of total insanity. 4
was obliged to ask the paragrapher to
write my next days leader. It was
night before l became rational, and
once that, the whole world donned cap
and bells and began capering for my
express benefit. The more I thought
Of it the more l laughed. What a
Whimsical world it was! And was
there anything in it so grotesque as
my part? | took the check from my
pocket and cracked it between my fin
gers. "A cigar was in my mouth. Should
| light it with the check? It was for
$1,000. After all it was more than
had ever before held in my hand at
once. But what was a paltry thousand,
! aye, q paltry ten thousand, to mans
pride? / bit off the end of my cigar,
creased the check into a taper and
struck a match I watched it burn and
burn. struck another. held it
within an inch Of the check, but for
the life Of me could not light tt #
1.-THE devil take itv' / cried. l flung
the cigar out Of the window and laid
the check on my desk. Courage? Why,
1t needed the courage Of a millionaire
to light a cigar with a 1000 check!
The office boy, who came in then,
was salvation. The managing editor
wanted toasee mel sprang up with.
alacrity. Anything but the sight Of
that figure and the three demon eyes
Of that 81, 900 check !S ~ e
winthrop said the mana ging ed.
itor to. me as entered his office,
you've got,to go to London. Hillars
has gone UNDER ssszs
5"'Not dead!'5 I cried. Is. =zzz
mo, no! He has had to give up
work temporarily on account OF drink.
If it was any other mar, II d throw him
over in short order. But I feel sorry
! for Hillars, and | am going to give him
another chance. want you to go over
and take care of him if possible. The
London work is not t(new to you. You,
can handle that, and Hillars too. II
you can keep him in check"
- shuddered. The word Check jar.
red on my nerves. PC S. 5s..ss
.sWhat's the matter?" asked the edi-
.tor. s-~@zz s 80 ~ ~: sz
"a temporary chill, ]" said. aGo.on.,"'
sz Well it you can manage to keep
him in check for month or so,s he'll
be able to get on his feet again. And
it will be like a vacation to you.S If
anything happens to Hillars, you will
be expected to remain permanently
abroad. Hillars suggested you in his
letter. Will you be ready to go next
Monday % # ,Ss .@: sSSz. s5 ss..
Tomorrow, if you like answered
readily enough.
II was much pleased with the turn Of
events. If / could get away from New
York, I might forget Phyl1is-no, not.
forget her; l loved her too well ever to
forget her, but the prolonged absence
would cure me of my malady {:
= Before going to bed that night. I lit
"a cigar, but not with the check. On
Sober second thought / calculated that
the sum would pay up all my debts
and leave me a conf Portable margin. "A
man can we'll pocket his pride when
he pockets a thousand dollars with it.
And why. not? was about to start
life anew and might as well begin on
philosophical basis. Who knew but
my uncle had foreseen the result Of
his bequest; my rage, my PRIDE and
finally lighting cigar with his check?
It really might make his spirit Writhe
ITO better effect ifI became benefited.
Sober second thought is more or less
a profitable investme
On the morrow everything was ar
ranged for my departure was to .
leave Saturday morning.
4 It was beautiful day, crisp and
clear, with q bare ground which rang
ITO the heel. In the afternoon l wan
dered over to the park and sat down on
bench and watched the skaters as
kheV plidpd 10 and fro ~ 5na11cf+$ m -