The Washington times., 1906-07-01

Blinker ALWAYS remem-
bered that he was a gentleman-a
thing that no gentleman should
do. So he merely looked bored
and sardonic while he rode in a
hanson to the center of disturb
ance. which was the Broadway Of
fee of Lawyer Oldport, who was
agent for the Blinker estate.
81 don't see," said Blinker. why
should be always signing con-
founded papers. l am packed. and
was to have left for the North Woods
until tomorrow morning. hate
night trains. My best razors are,
of course, at the bottom of some
unidentifable trunk. 1t is a plot
TO drive me TO bay rum and
monologuing, thumb-handed bar
Der. Give me a pen that doesn't
scratch. I hate pens that scratch" "
"Sit down." said double-chinned.
gray Lawyer Oldport. The worst
has not been told you. Oh. the
hardships of the rich, The papers
are no. yet ready TO sign. They
will he laid before you tomorrow
at Il. You will miss another day.
Twice shall the barber tweak the
helpless nose of a Blinker. Be
thankful that your sorrows do not
embrace a haircut"
"If." said Blinker. rising. "the
act did not involve more signing
of papers l would take my business
out of your hands at once. Give
me I. cigar, please"
III" said Lawyer Oldport, "I
had cared to see an old friends
son gulped down at one mouthful
by sharks 1 would have ordered you
to take 1t away long ago. Now.
let's quit fooling, Alexander Be
sides the grinding task OF signing
your name some thirty times to-
morrow, l must impose upon you
the consideration of a matter OF
business-of business, and I may
say humanity or right I spoke to
you about this five years ago. but
you would not listen-you were In
hurry for a coaching trip, I
think. The subject has come up
again. The property"
''Oh. property" interrupted Blink
er. Dear Mr. Oldport, l think you
mentioned tomorrow. Let's have it
all AZ one dose tomorrow-signatur
and property and snappy rubber
bands and that smelly sealing-wax
and all Have luncheon with me?
Well, III try 10 remember to drop
in at II tomorrow Morning"
The Blinker wealth was in lands,
tenements and hereditaments. as the
legal phrase goes. Lawyer Oldport
had once taken Alexander in his lit
tie pulmonary gasolene runabo1t &c
see the many buildings that he own
ed in the city. For Alexander was
sole heir They had amused Blink
er very much. The houses looked so
Incapable Of producing the big sums
of money that Lawyer Oldport kept
piling up in banks for him to spend.
In the evening Blinker went 10
one of his clubs, intending TO dine
Nobody was there except some old
fogies playing whist who spoke to
him with savage contempt Every
body was out OF town. But here
he was kept in like a schoOlbOy to
write his name over and over on
pieces of paper. His wounds were
deep.
Blinker turned his back on the TO
gies. and said to the club steward
who had come forward with some
nonsense about cold fresh salmon
roe:
'Symons. I'm going to Coney ISL
and" He said it as one N ght say:
"All's of; I'm going 20 jump into
the river"
The joke pleased Synons. 70
laughed within sixteenth Of a note
OF the audibility permitted by the
bylaws governing emploTes
Certainly. sir" he Uttered. "Of
course, sir. l think can see you
at Coney, Mr.. Blinker."
Blinker got a paper and looked up
the movements of Suncay steam
boats. Then he found a cab at the
first corner and drove to a North
RIVER pier. He stood in line. as dem
ocratic as you or I, and bought a
ticket. and was trampied upon and
showed forward until. at last. he
-ound himself on the upper deck OF
Ie boat staring brazenly at a girl
who sat alone upon a camp stool.
But Blinker did not intend to be
brazen; the girl was so wonderfully
good looking that he forgot for one
minute that he was the prince incos,
and behaved just as he did N So
ciety.
She was looking at him. too. and
not severely. a puff of wind
threatened RG0ker'S strau- ba+ Il