Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1907-09-07

to get" ratified on Beecot, deftly fry
ing the 'sausages after placing his visit
or on the sofa. ''The grub will soon
be ready I'm first class cook. bless
you, old chap. Housemaid too. Clean,
eh?" He waved his fork proudly
round the i'll furnished room. I'D dis
miss myself If it wasn't"
"But-but," stammered Hay, much
amazed and surveying things through
an eyeglass, "what are you doing
here?'
Trying to get my foot on the first
rung of fame's ladder"
But | don't quite see
Read Balzac's life and you will.
His people gave him an attic and
starvation allowance in the hope Of
disgusting him. Bar the allowance. my
pater has done the same. Here's the
attic, and here's my Starvation
Paul gayly popped the frizzling sau-
sages on Clipped hot plate-"and
here's your aspiring servant hoping to
be novelist. dramatist and what not
to say nothing of why not. Mustard?
There you are. Wait a bit. I'll brew
you tea or cocoa"
81 never take those things with
meals, Beecot."
Your kit assures me of that Cham
pagne's more in your line. | say, GreX
on. what are you doing now?'
what other west end men do"
said Grexon. attacking a sausage.
THAT means nothing. Well. you
never did work at Torrington, so how
can l expect the leopard to change his
saucy spots"
Hay laughed and during the meal
explained his position. "On leaving
school was adopted by a rich uncle"
he said. when he went the way of
all flesh he left me a thousand a year,
which is enough to live on with strict
economy. | have rooms in Alexander
street, Camden Hill, circle of friends,
and good appetite, as you will per-
ceive. With these l get through life
very comfortably"
"Ha." said Paul, darling keen
glance at his visitor, you have the
strong digestion necessary to happi-
ness. Have you the hard heart also
! If | remember at school,
"Oh. hang SCHOOL, said Grexon.
| flushing all over his cold face. II new
err think of school, l was glad when
/ got away from 1t. But we were
great friends at school, Paul"
Something after the style of Steer
forth and David Copperfield," was
1 nlyr hn InI hon Il;
| plate. You were my hero, and l was
| your slave. But the other boys He
| looked again.
''They mated me because they did not
| understand me, as you did"
| IF that is so, Grexon. why did you
let me slip out of your life? 1t is ten
| years since we parted. l was fifteen
| and you twenty"
| (Which now makes US twenty-five
and thirty respectively" said Hay dry.
ly. You left school before did"
Eyes. l had scarlet fever and was
taken home to be nursed. 1 never
| went back, and since then have never
met an old Torrington boy
| Have you not?" asked Hay eagerly
"No. My parents took me abroad
and sampled Il German university.
| returned TO idle about my fathers
| place till | grew sick of doing nothing
and having ambitions, l came to try
my luck in town" He looked around
and laughed. You see my luck"
| "Well," said Hay, lighting a dainty
cigarette produced from a gold case
my uncle, who died, sent me to Ok
ford, and then l Travelled. l am now
on my own. as l told you, and haven't
| a relative in the world
"Why don't you marry?" asked Paul
with flush.
Hay, wary man about town as h,
was, noted the flush and guessed 1t!