New-York tribune., 1901-10-13
OLD BALE.


OF Time. please, gents!" became urgent Old
Bale Who had sat rejecting moodiIy in a cor
ner' tossed off his drink and went out into the
sueels' where drizZlinE rain was falling. He
had sone only few yards, when he came to
another public house where they did not seem
to have been so prompt in their obedience to
the law. He tried TO enter and snatch last
drink, but man barred the entrance.
law right, guv' nor he said. we don't open
until o in the morning. You're bit early"
Old Bale turned away, hating the mans coarse
familiarity, and proceeded toward his lodgings
in Pimlico.
He a little unsteady, but rot noticeably;
there were few people about to disturb his prog
ress, save for a lettering woman here and there,
beggar at the cutters edge. He hardly
Needed the rain, and very soon the potboy's
gibe faded from his memory; he began TO be
contented again.
He had had rather a good day. There were
certain scraps Of information Of which he
seemed TO have the sole use, and the short
memory Of the public made il possible for him
TO sell them again and again as the seasons
came round He had read paragraph in one
Of the morning papers that suggested such an
opportunity. and had spent the morning in writ
ing over again story he had already told more
times than could be counted.
He would be paid at the end OF the week, and
gering the coins in his trousers pocket, and me-
chancauy counting them. he gave himself UP,
at the same time. to calculations as to the
amount that would be due TO him for his day
work. Even his estimate Of the sum was small,
and he had to make deductions, for his expecta-
tions always excessive in those days He
flung out his hands with a little theatrical
laugh! 1t was amazing that such one as he
should be expected to take paltry wage as
the payment of days labor.
His thoughts went back 10 the time when he
was a sub-editor. He had never liked the work
it interfered with his books and stories, the
things he did for their own sake. and without
regard for the prejudice of editors. But IL mad
been time OF great comfort, for he had had
sufficient for all his needs. He remembered, too,
how easily he had increased his salary; little
thing from bus he went home or
some chance remark that fell from him or
friend in the course of conversation, would serve
as the excuse for a fippant column in even
ing paper, or even in literary weekly. And in
those days. when the money was so little needed,
when il came as a superauity that might legiti-
rnateIy be wasted, ne had been wont to get de-
cent rates.
But a man can never tell when he is acting
wisely He had looked upon his position as sub
editor as something that would always be his:
and when he had lost II he found that il was
[
called friends had turned out badly, and be-
haved in a way that could not but discourage
a man Of a sensitive spirit. To this day some
OF them owed him money: little sums OF no i'm
portance at the time. which they had forgotten,
and he had been too proud TO speak Of Some Of
them had since had the neanness TO refuse him
loans so paItry in amount that he had blushed
for very shame even while he asked for them.
They had probably fancied that he was played
out and need no longer be counted with. Most
men if one studied them closely. would be found
to conduct their friendships a purely bust
ressIike footing. Then he reflected, and could
not but admit that in some ways these doubters
had been justified. He had not quite come off
Well there was still plenty of time. He had
done a good deal and had certain reputation.
He had rather neglected il, perhaps, but there
were plenty of things that might yet be done.
He had still his notebooks and in them there
were the materials for more novels than one;
and each would be fine one. 1t was only
February now and he quick worker when
he once began He would get 'Fato Profugus"
done al once so that il might appear in the au-
tunn Many publishers had asked him for books
eror, time TO time and ne would have diff
entity in getting the thing accepted, once ii had
been written.
He began to think Of the story and OF It's char-
ar,ers The heroine was 70 have been so beau
tt,ut He thought Of the sweetheart who he'd de-
han n <rf z1FS