Connecticut western news., 1903-05-07

fuence we naturally command among the press, should be of material serv- ice to you. Sketches such as yours"-
 Belong to me. You engaged me by wire, you paid me the lowest rates you dared. You can't mean to keep them! Why, man, they're all I've got in the worldr'
 Torpenhow watched Dicks face and whistled. Dick walked up and down. thinking He saw the whole of his \ little stock in trade. the first weapon of his equipment, annexed at the out set of his campaign by an elderly gen tleman whose name Dick had not caught alright. who said that he rep resented a syndicate. which was thing for which Dick had net the least reverence. The injustice of the pro- ceedings did not much move him. He had seen the strong hand prevail too often in other places to be squeamish over the moral aspects of right and wrong. But he ardently desired the blood of the gentleman in the frock coat, and when he spoke again 1t was with a strained sweetness that Torpen- how knew we'll for the beginning of strife.
 Forgive me, sir, but you have no no younger man who can arrange this business with meT'
 "I speak for the syndicate. I see no reason for a third party to-
 "You will In a minute. Be good enough to give back my sketches"
 hi Ix- of fcly then at Torpenhow, who was leaning against the wall. He was not used to ex-employees who ordered him to be good enough to do things.
 Yes, it is rather a cold blooded steal" said Torpenhow critically, but I'm afraid, I am very much afraid, you've struck the wrong man. Be care ful, Dick. Remember, this isn't the Sudan"
 Considering what services the syn dicate has done you in putting your name before the world''-
 This was not a fortunate remark. It reminded Dick of certain vagrant years lived out in loneliness and strife and unsatisfied desires. The memory did not contrast we'll with the prosperous gentleman who proposed to enjoy the fruit of those years.
 ''I don't know quite what to do with you" began Dick meditatively. ''Of course you're a thief, and you ought to be half killed, but in your case you'G proba bly die. I don't want you dead on this f1oor, and, besides, it's unlucky just as ones moving in. Don't hit, sir. You'll only excite yourself" He put one hand on the mans forearm and the other down the plump body be- heath the coat. My goodness" said he to Torpenhow, and this gray oaf dares to be a thief I have seen an Esneh camel driver have the black hide taken off his body in strips for stealing half pound of wet dates, and he was as tough as whipcord. This things soft all over-like a woman"
 There are few things more poignant. ly humiliating than being handled by a man who does not intend to strike. The head of the syndicate began to breathe heavily. Dick walked around him, paving him as a cat paws a soft hearth rug. Then he traced with his forefinger the leaden pouches under heath the eyes and shook his head. You were going to steal my things mine, mine, mine!-you, who don't know when you may die! Write a note to your office-you say you're the head of it-and order them to give Torpen- how my sketches-every one of them. Wait a minute-your hands shaking. Now" He thrust pocketbook before him. The note was written. Torpenhow took 1t and departed without a word, while Dick walked round and round the spellbound cap tive, giving him such advice as he con ceived best for the welfare of his soul. When Torpenhow returned with a gl gantic portfolio, he heard Dick say, al most soothingly: Now, hope this will be lesson to you. and if you worry me when have settled down to work with any nonsense about actions for assault, believe me, I'll catch you and manhan- dIe you, and you'll die. You haven't very long to live anyhow. Go get outr'
 The man departed, staggering and dazed. Dick drew a long breath. "Phew! What a lawless lot these peo- pie are! The first thing a poor orphan meets is gang robbery, organized bur glary! Think of the hideous blackness of that mans mind! Are my sketches all right, TorpT'
 Yes; 147 of them. Well, must say, Dick, you've begun we'll"
 He was interfering with me. It only meant a few pounds to him, but it was everything to me. I don't think he'll bring an action. 1 gave him some medical advice gratis about the state of his body. It was cheap at the little furry it cost him. Now, let's look"
 Two minutes later Dick had thrown himself down on the floor and was deep in the portfolio, chuckling loving ly as he turned the drawings over and thought of the price at which they had been bought.
 The afternoon was we'll advanced when Torpenhow came to the door and saw Dick dancing a wild saraband un- der the skylight.
 "I builded better than knew, Torp,' he said without stopping the dance. They're good! They're very good. They'll go like flame. I shall have. an exhibition of them on my own brazen hook. And that man would have cheat ed me out of it! Do you know that I'm sorry now that I didn't actually hit him?''
 Go out" said Torpenhow, "go out and pray to be delivered from the sin of arrogance, which you never will be Bring your things up from whatever place you're staying in and we'll try to make this barn a little more ship shape"
 And then-oh, then" said Dick, still capering, we will spoil the Egyp- tianG"
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