The Washington times., 1903-08-30

81 mean the watch" 1 said.
well, it's mine. too" said Slxirving.
mot altogether" l observed blandly.
TT happens to contain lady's picture
a photograph-and the lady has request
ed me to get it back at the earliest pos
sible moment"
Skirving looked up at me perfectly
stUpefied. Then the blood began slowly
to color his face-a deep beet-red. that
reached the ears. His two friends
broke into a loud litter, and the little
dark man clapped him on the back.
The lady wants it back. Skirving. old
fellow" he cried. Pony up. old man"
II guess it was the little thing in blue
he was telling us about" giggled the
man with the eyeglass; "the girl that
was so dead gone on him.
The two friends broke into a roar of
laughter at their own wit; while Skirving
himself, furious and ashamed. the veins
swelling out like whipcord on his GRIM
soning forehead. rose with a threaten
ing movement TO HIS feet.
please be calm 1 said. You must
not make a scene here"
"Sit down." cried his friends; and be-
tween them they forced him back into
his chair.
You will kindly give me the lady's
picture" said.
"And suppose 1 won'ti" he CALCULATED,
looking me very grimIy in the face.
81 will suppose nothing of the Sort"
said.
you won't supposed" he cried out.
You. Who the deuce are your" Only
he didn't say deuce but something a
good deal stronger
II don't count in the matter at all"
said. You viii please regard me as
simply the lady's messenger"
81 viii tell you what I please to re-
gard you as" he exclaimed. and did so
with a wealth of epithet I've rarely
heard excelled. That's what you are,
he said
When you have quite finished" re-
marked. Il shall be glad to have that
picture
You shaR't have it," he cried.
"Oh. pardon me-. l said; but hap
pened TO be here to get it,
you can't very we'll compel mel" he
exclaimed.
"oh, yes, l can I said.
''How?" he demanded with a bull
doggish glare.
Because presume you are gentle
man" said sweetly. q didn't think
he was one-but stinD Because it's a
Iadys undoubted right to change her
mind as often as she pIeases. and to
recall any little favor she may have
given any-gentlemanl"
q never even asked her for it," he
cried with a sound that was almost like
a sob. "She stuck it in my watch her
self Cad. she kissed the
''Oh, shut up!" cried the little dark
man in alarm.
IN never speak to her againl" roar
ed Skirving. III never"
They're all alike" interrupted the
nabby man. II never spent penny on
them myself"
PITY you hadn't spoken earlierl' ex-
claimed skirving with CHASTITY grin
when you are ready" l said.
IF II wasn't such deuced bad form I'd
kick you down the front steps," said
Skirving.
"Oh. come" I said; you know you
can't help yourself"
You're up against It's" said the little
dark man to Skirving.
But to think" began Skirving.
81 think myself" said the little dark
man. that you'd better go way back
and sit down!'"
And not bother any more about little
things in blue" added the fabby man
with the eyeglasses.
who's got a knife?" said Skirving.
had. but I thought it wasn't for me 10
volunteer IT,
Here's mine" said the fabby man.
Skirving took 1t with trembling hands.
and. drawing out his watch-a magnifi-
cent hunter with his monogram in brill
liants-he began 10 pick out the little
photograph inside the case. I looked