Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-02-23

in soaked with sweat and rain and broke
Up generally. The wood looked like 1t
lad been chewed. l caPlate they don't
DO much chopping in the street.
He Slated himself into a chair. wet
clothes and all Then he comm .nced to
cuss the island and everything that grew
Or moved on 1t.
What we ever came to this lonesome
Tag enc Ct creation c for anyway" says
''What7"sI lollers. II don't understand
you. You can't msan-what place are you
talking about?'
ut heap of desolation. Ozone Horse
lot Bar Island. or whatever you call Il"
'Well!' says I. Are you crazy? Mr..
an Brunt, I've heard you yourself say
at this island was all that's lovely"
oh shut up!'' he snaps.
"Jolliest old ark you ever saw" l went
on, quoting from memory. Air to
breathe, veranda to set on. ozone by the
key. Man alive. it's paradise!
He ripped out an order for me to go
somewheres as far away from paradise
as Teller could think Of.
Supper was ready by seven. All We
had to eat was hunk Of dry cornbread
and two eggs. Oh. yes! and the tea.
Hartley billed some tea that was kind
Of herb mush. Strong and thick enough
for a stick to stand UP straight in And
there want clean dishes to go around,
so some of 'em had to be washed.
l was having fairly good time. Wood
must be chopped again and they matched
cents. Blessed If Van didn't get the short
end as usual. His talk was pretty nigh
pitiful. 1t would have brought tears to
mules eyes; l know it did TO mine. The
sight Of Martins upsetting the t2akettle
and getting next door to scalded was the
only thing that comforted him.
He got a letter out Of his pocket and
went to reading it. The envelope drop
ped on the floor 1t had printing on one
corner and Hartley happened to glance
at It, Then he tiptoed up behind his
Ed Van Brunt!' he sings out. Whats
that you've got there?''
T'other Twin jumped and looked scared.
he stuffed the letter back into his pocket.
Nothing but an old letter."
IT'S brokers' letter." says Hartley.
You villain. you've been speculating.''
First OF. Van Brunt was for denying
everything. But twas no use. His chum
had read the letter.
you've been trading in stocks" he
says. solemn. You. that have sworn
over and over again never to touch the
market! YOU"
I'm mighty sorry, Martin" begs Van
don't know what you must think Of me,
old man. But. you see. 1t got so deadly
dull here. and when saw the Post that
day. 1t said that Tea Lead was a good
purchase. ! wrote Smythe and he"
Tea Lead?" breaks in Hartley Have
you been buying Tea Lead?"
Yes :! have. I'm carrying a pretty
good load of 1t. too, worse luck Scudder
has been bringing my letters and tele-
grams. and now that he doesn't come,
Wait minute! Has scudder been
looking out for your wires and orders?"
Yes. he had. oh. I've played you
mean and low enough. Martin. Might as
Sl,on oil ola h~aa
will probably smash our friendship rye
paid Scudder three dollars day to at
tend to things and say nothing to you.
Hartley didn't seem to hear nothing
but the last sentence. Now he inter
"Three dollars-' he says, low. "Three
dollars! Why. the confoundsd grafter's
been charging me five!''
And there it was. The cat out of the
bag and both Heavenly Twins tarred
with the same brush. That's what Mates
secrets and the talks behind the barn,
and all. had meant. Van Brunt had been
bucking the Tea Lead deal ever since III
begun after his row with Agnes. And
both of 'em bribing Nate Scudder to
keep his mouth shut.
First they was provoked and mad at |
themselves and each other. Then they
got to laughing.
"Whew!" says Van. wiping his fore
head; "you and came here to rest and !
break of from business worry. And I've |
worried more in the last month than |
have before since my big DEAL It's hard |
to teach old dogs new tricks. isn't it, |
MARTINI"
You're dead right. old chap" says
Hartley.
They was going to turn III soon after
this, but when they went upstairs they |
found the rain had leaked in through the |
ell roof and their feather beds was sop
ping wet. Down they come again, mad
clean through and calling Marcellus' heir
loom everything but a nice place.
You'd better set down and rest your
selves a SPELL" says I. It'll do you good.
I'm sorry l amt been able to help you
more to-day. but there's one thing I can
do; l can help you do what you cali .im-