The true northerner., 1901-02-01
By Harold MACGrath -

"Bless my soul. Jack. this cable was
the first intlmation that you were with
in 5000 miles of London. But ii does
my heart good to see your' pumping
my hand again. Come out TO dinner
with me. Now don't begin TO talk till
we've had something to eat. I'm al
most famished. | know all the ques-
tions you want 10 ask. but not now
There's a Bohemian joint n block
above that'll do your heart good TO see.
Wen have chops and ale. just like we
did in the old days, the green and
salad days. | would they were back
! again" soberly. "Oh. I've a long story
to tell you, my son. Time enough
when we get 10 my rooms. But not
word Of ii now-not a word. 1t will
all De forgotten in ten minutes with
you. Wen rake up the old days and
live 'em over for an hour or so. I'm
glad that | suggested you in my letter
What did the old man say about my
nervous prostration" with half a
laugh.
"IIe put quotation marks around It,"
! answered Il wanted to see you par
ticularly. They told me that you were
rolling down hill so fast that If some
one did not put fulcrum under you
you'd be at the bottom in no time at
all. I'm going to be the lever by which
you are TO be rolled up hill again"
lie smiled grimly. "If any one could
do that-well, here we are" And we
entered the chophouse and took ta'
BILE in one of the side rooms. Woods"
he said to the waiter, "chOps for two,
Clipped potatoes, and fill up those
stems of mine with ale. That will be
ALL brought those stems from across,
Jack. You'll go crazy over them, for
they are beauties
A college bred bachelor nine times
out of ten has n mania for collecting
pipes or stems or both. Dan and l
had been affected this way. During
the year | had studied at Heidelberg
l had gathered together some fifty odd
pipes and stems. have them yet, and
many a pleasant memory they beget
me- AS for the stems of Dan, they
were beyond compare.
I'll tell you n story about them" ="
said Dan after he had taken a deep
swallow OF the amber ale. Few men
can boast of stems like these. Not
many months ago there was a party of
men and women, belonging to the capi-
tai of n certain kingdom, who attended
a dinner. 1t was one of those times
when exalted personages divest them
selves of the dignity and pomp Of
court and become free and Informal.
There were 20 Of these stems made
especially for the occasion. by n cir
cumstance over which | had no con-
troll | was the only alien at this din
ner The stems were souvenirs. How
| came by two was due to the lady
whom | took down to dinner and who
presented hers 10 me after having
after having-well kissed the rim. Do
you see the crest?" pointing to the ex.
quiste inlaid work.
why" | said eagerly, "it is the
crest Of
"Yes. n noted king" Dan completed,
land these were made by his express
command. But never mind" he broke
off, Its merely a part Of yhe story
/ | am going to tell you when we get to
my rooms. am always thinking of
/ it. night and day. day and night. Talk
to me or I'll be drinking again. This
! is the first time I've been sober in a
month. It's drink or morphine or
something like. Do you ever see any
thing of the old glee boysY
"Once i'm awhile. You know" said
|. lighting cigarette, call the fellows
but you and | had money. Most of
them are carrying on the business OF
their paters and ornamenting dinner
parties and s-otillons."
81 thought that you had rich un.
cle," said Dan.
81 did have. but he is no more" And
told him all about the bequest.
He laughed so long and heartily over
ii that ! was glad for his sake that /,
had happened Already l was begin
ming to look wholly upon the humorous
side of the affair.
at is almost too good MOTTO be print
ed" he said. But his son may square
matters when he dies"
| uO nOA NdHl
growled 81 can earn q living for q
few years to come. | shan't worry"
"By the way. is that Miss Landors
whom you used TO rave about in your
letters married YETI"
No" Miss Landors was Phyllis
only TO her intimate friends. | called
the waiter and ordered him to replen
ish my stein. Dan watching me curl
ously the while. mo, Miss Landors IL
not married yet"
IL have often wondered what she
looked like" he mused.
when do you go on your vacation 2
I asked irrelevantly.
'In q week or ten days-maybe to
morrow. It's according to how long
stay sober"
l was sorry that he had recalled Il
me the name of Phyllis. 1t dampenet
my sociability. was not yet prepared
to take him into my confidence. Th,
ale, however, loosened our tongues
and, though we did not talk about oul
present affairs, we had n pleasant time