Butler citizen. [volume] (Butler, Pa.) 1877-1922, 1902-01-23
! ADVENTURES
/ "a "a OF CUPE
The Story of Poor Young Mans
Visit to the Country seat
of a Rich friend.
BY T. w. ARNOLD, Jr.
BY F. w. ARNOLD, Jr.

SGo-5<se5;J--S-@-S-JsS-'
The lace curtain was limp with rain,
the windows of the house opposite re-
fected the clouds, and Little Cupe's
own window sill was blistered with lit
tie backs of rain on which foated to-
I bacco atoms. Little Cupe felt much as
| the day looked. Go anyway" en-
couraged the medical students.
I The day before Little Cupe had seen
| Eb (all the medical students knew Eb,
/ for he had been one of the more dis
{ tinruished men in colleGe), and Cupe
had told his medical mates that Eb
/ had invited him to spend Sunday at
his home in the country. The medical
I student knew that Eb had cOlored car
riages and when at colle-e had dined
4 with the most exclusive families.
/ They said he was "a darned bright
man" and always talked earnestly and
bra rely when they met him.
! Ed was nova lawyer in his first
| years practice land doing darned
| well" they had wisely agreed.
| Little Cupe had begun the recital of
his invitation as if ''it was nothin',"
but had grinned with delight before he
| had ended it. and had dilated that a
lot of girls from the neighboring
houses would be there with a young
I chaperon.
The fact that E5 had once given q
theater party was the basis of Cupe's
belief that he always entertained.
But now Little Cupe wasn't sure if
| he had been invited Possibly Eb had
| said Drop in some time and Wen go
out for Sunday" or. Let me know
how you're doing. Drop in some Sat
urday. and Wen 20 out Sunday"
"Go on. Cupew the medical students
yelled again. They were doubtless sim
cere.
Suddenly puff Of determination car
| ried him to the closet. He had decided
nothing consciously. From its drawers
he pulled two white shirts. seven single
| cuffs. six collars and two changes of
| other clothes (only 3 per cent, diluted
of these things bore Little Cupe's own
| red stamped mark and was shaking
the creases out of a dress suit
Drop it, yelled one medical stu
dent. "Tve got to wear it this even
ing" All the rest had to wear theirs
too Lord. we're sorry" Cupe's own
was torn and hadn't been mended. 81
can't CO." said he. depressed and look
| Ing frightened.
"Sure on can. Eb and the girls will
understand
Eb sat in his own "box,'' his desk
| topped by two rows of fresh leather
books and a black tin box, Re Moul-
ton" The senior offices opened through
the sunny doorways back Of him. With
business precision he was deciding that
he would not stay In town that night,
but would 30 to his home for n nine
hours sleep and in the morning drive
to n friends for the day. With bust
ness chirography that had made Little
Cupe when he had seen it predict for
him trust presidency he started to
write TO lis friend to said effect (see
above. But he noticed the door
"Come H." said Eb.
For thirty seconds a shadow had
been lowering over its gray glass. Lit
tie Cupe was outside trying to muster
courage 10 knock At Eb's voice he
couldn't 90 down the elevator so he
pretendC he had not heard him and
made IL. glass shiver
"Come inr' again called Eb.
With frightened little grin Cupe en-
tered. His hands felt cold. He shut the
door so that it would not disturb any
body. He held behind him his birthday
dress suit case.
''How are you, Cupe" Eb was al
ways glad to see his friends. "Sit
down. I'll be with you in minute"
And he handed him Il fragrant box of
cigars. Have one"
Cupe took one and held his dress suit
case in his lap. but he didn't smoke. for
he had no matches. Those cigars had
always impressed him, and he had
often told his medical students that
he occasionally dropped into EDS Of
flee and smoked his cigars.
Eb continued writing to his friend
that he would be there tomorrow and,
handing the note to n messenger who
came from the main ofiice-Cupe was
greatly impressed-sa Special de-
livery" and then. leaning back, added:
'Well. Cupe, what can I do for you?"
as if surveying a client.
The stone faces through the window
grinned fiendishly.
"Nothin," answered Cupe 81 was
bringin' this empty dress suit case
from store"-he pointed indefinitely
out toward the street-"and lust stop
ped In. I'm goin' right along; got to
go now" He arose meekly and held
out his hand. which felt as If its veins
pulsed with mist. When he said "emp-
ty" dress suit case, the two white
shirts, seven separate cuffs. six col
lars and two changes of other clothes
weighed heavy with guilt
Cant you come out to dinnerY Eb
thought Cupe would enjoy that more
than his boarding house.
Haven't any dress suit" Eb assur-
ed him it made no difference, not the
least He believed all Little Cupe had
said Cupe, after deliberatng prop
er while whether he could get away,
said he guessed he could go; he'd be
glad to.
EDS house hid in n park and was
dwelt in by two maldservants one
manservant and n chatty housekeep-
er. There was but little entertaining.
though Eb occasionally brought home
some friend for the night.
The room In which Little Cupe now
stood was pink with 6owered wall
paper, lowered chairs and a fowered
quilt on the bed. He had baen shown
into this bower by man with side
whiskers and n strange dress suit and
who had been very polite. When the
man had bent TO lift Cupes dress suit
case Cupe had said, "No, no, no,
thanks" and told him and Eb and the
chatty housekeeper, who were also in
the hail. that he would carry it up
stairs himself, for he needed the exer-
else.
His unfolded dress suit case surged
with his two white shirts, seven sepa-
rate cuffs, six collars and the two
changes Of other clothes. Then he
heard grlish voices In the ball; they
must be the dinner guests chapcroncd
by some young wife from across the
hedges. They were really the two
maidssryants.
"Knucllle, knuckle," deferentially on
tle door