Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-06-13

only the pictures in question. but also
worse -luck-the portrait of the girl
1.-THE COMPOUNDED rascal!' exclaimed Dob
bins in a rage, ito take that girls head:
And-and," he added. as an idea occurred
to him. the thief never paid for any OF
them, either"
But he had. for there was a sealed blue
envelope resting under Dobbins' pillow. and
within were three crisp five hundred dollar
bills.
He sang aloud in his delight. Then. sud-
den thought striking him, he grasped the
bills and rushed out to see II they were
good. They were. Then he came back
with many good things to eat and drink,
and feasted like a prince.
Suddenly he thought of the girls head.
"Confound the fellow!" he exclaimed, I'll
get after him. I'd rather have that head
than all these bills" But this may have
been mere airy persifiage upon the part OF
Dobbins.
Time went on. Dobbins gave up his SUBJ
way job and moved into a better room. He
painted more Jimmy Murphys and Abram-
ovitches and Valentis and other character
istic subway sketches. One day he started
on tour through Staten Island-he was
looking for the house Of the man who had
robbed him of the head of the girl. But he
never found it. He kept watching for the
girl upon the cars But he never found
her.
8 One day he glanced down the art column
graph met his eye:
Loan Exhibition on West Side.-Henry
Z. Waite and other well-known patrons or
the arts residing on the Drive have organ
lied a private loan art exhibition upon the
ground floor of the new Lyceum building.
Among the contributions are and
few very clever things by F. V. Dobbins.
new man, whose star, from the admiration
provoked by his Subway pictures, seems to
be in the ascendant. One of the contribu-
tors seems to have a corner in this new
artists work. etc.
The following week F. Vreeland Dobbins,
having provided himself with very ele-
CANT frock coat and all the accessories.
FASTENED up to the Lyceum. A few stylish
equipages were scattered around the street.
as Dobbins ran lightly up the steps. The
major domo at the door stopped him.
I'm a member of the press. whispered
Dobbins to him with unblushing effrontery,
handing him card and pushing his way in
He was dazed 1t was so long since he
had come into close contact with people or
the class that filled the place that he was
uncertain how to act. However. he saun-
tered around in careless sort of way, and
nodded here and there to people whom he
never saw before. Finally he strolled over
to little room where crowd was gath
cred. He stepped up and looked over their
shoulders And then he gasped for breath.
Around his four subway pictures was gath
cred a nucleus of genuine admirers. Jimmy
Murphy. with his can of beer. received the
major portion of the plaudits Dobbins
would have stayed there all day but for the
fact that he saw something at the other end
of the large room. That something was a
large. bluff, portly man, who had just en-
tered.
Dobbins rushed up to him. MY head"
he exclaimed to the other, you took my
head The other man looked at him in
establishment You certainly seem to have
lost it," he returned grimly.
Dobbins held him fast. my picture
that one of my sister that you took!' he
exclaimed, II want it back
The man started. "Why-why," he OK
claimed, ARE you the-the artist of the-the
dingy. dirty little room? Impossible" But
he soon realized that it was very possible
after ALL
MY dear fellow" he observed, that pic
ture of your sister was so very charming
that 1 couldn't help taking 1t along. Your
sister must be very charming girl, in
deed"
Dobbins would have replied but for an
A girl rushed in the room and
up to the bluff, portly man. Dobbins must
have uttered some kind of an exclama alton,
for the girl looked at him.
'Why-why," she. exclaimed with
heightened color. "why-you-you're the
subway man. L"
She stopped. Dobbins recovered his
equanfmity. MY sister Is a charming
girl" he assented to the other mans prop
osition. ''in fact, this-this is-my sister"
The elder man broke into a roar of laugh
ter. Mr.. F. Vreeland Dobbins,' he re-
marked, you are one of the finest artists
and one of the coolest propositions that
went on, did you ever get my little pay
ment on account that left at your-your
elegant apartment?'' 81
Payment on account" said Dobbins in
surprise. what do you mean?"
Just what I say returned the other.
why man alive, do you think that fifteen
hundred can pay you for the six pictures
ran of with. Your Jimmy Murphy is worth
that alone"
But want that girls head back" in
sisted Dobbins.
The man grinned "Dobbins," he said,
have happened If my little girl here hadn't
been so dead set at one time on stunning
In the east side. I owe you a considera-
BILE amount of gratitude for protecting her
as you did one night, and I'm glad to say
that from that night she has left the east
at that part of town-thanks to your card
and struck a few of your pictures. And
let me tell you that they'll be all the rage
And I'm glad you came, and I'm glad to
see you, and that's what there is about
it.
Later F. vreeland Dobbins addressed
himself to the girl. Where are your
working clothes?" he asked with a smile
She smiled in turn. Il don't see yours.
she answered. Thank heavens" said
Dobbins beneath his breath.
But II must have that picture" he
around and get it?" she suggested.
He went-tme and time again. He never
got the picture of the girl. The old man
to give 1t up. But he compromised
with Dobbins by relinquishing unto him
the girl herself instead