The San Francisco call., 1907-02-17
0F7lDCG0 AND
TUNNELS

this: He's the sort of fellow who d
fail IN his examination IN English and
rhetoric for instance and then surprise
his professor by writing the best liter
ature OF any in the class; might fail III
descriptive geometry and then pick up
the intricacies of perspective all by HIM
self just because he needed perspective.
Wen. he's TOO sleepy for me. I'd
never give him a job
MAY be so.'' answered the journalist.
And unless ne is q sort OF genius, or
just happens TO hit his right line, he'll
never amount 10 very much, and yet
The train, with q creakiBg of brakes
and whistle Of air, had drawn UP TO the
little suburban station. stopped mo-
nfent and, then with a whistle and slain
ming of gates, was off again. as pc
cuIiar- looking old gentleman OF unmis-
taxable English origin came IN at tie
forward door, nodded toward the journal
ist with Hello, Stoddard." and seated
himself two or three seats in front.
The young man had meanwhile turned
Lis attention 10 tie interior of the coach
and new with quick, half nervous man
ner. reached down. took his rather dilapl-
dated cloth suit case from under ttfe seat
and extracting a sketching pad there
from. replaced the suit case carefully
This done, he started 10 sketch. whil@~tae
men across the aisle watched him closely
FOR further reading OF his character
Though they could note see tho sketch as
il progressed, yet the bold aud easy way
in which this youngster handled his PEN
ell interested them.
lie knows how" said the journalist,
who had been addressed as Stoddard, and
watched intently till the first sheet was
torn of and a new sketch commenced,
while the finished drawing was left on
the seat in full view of the now much
interested men; neat and clear-cut
sketch of bridge like the one just pass
ed. Two more sheets were filled and laid
on the other siue of the artist out OF
range OF the watchers, and then the fun
commenced. With a half humorous
glance at the man in front the artist be-
gan to sketch again, with shorter and
quicker strokes. smiling and holding tho
sketch pad now this way, nov that. TO
get better view of what he was doing,
and anon scrutinizing the man before him
with half-ciosed eyes.
As he finished, a c.luclxie escaped him and,
holding the paper at full arms length in
front Of him. he turned his head quickly
with an amused smile. taking it for
granted seemingly that they would be
looking on, and throwing all embarrass-
ment aRd forInality to the winds with so
good humored a smile. That Stoddard
spoke as a matter Of course as he reacl-
ed for the finished drawing. 1t was a
cleverly executed caricature Of the Eng
lishman, side whiskers and all, and the
two men roared with laughter.
Say said the elder, that's great
work" and the journalist. who as a mat
ter of business. knew a good drawing
when he saw it, nodded appreciatively.
AS the old gentleman, attracted by the
noise. turned around. stoddard arose,
sketch in hand, and unnoticed by tie
artist, walked UP and sat down with him,
while his erstwhile companion, arranging
his coat on the back OF his seat and
apologizing for his familiarity, sat down
next the young artist, who moved along
good-naturedly.
For a while they talked Of his sketching