Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-04-11

out. Corbyn's too conscientious to stick
the old gentleman for the price of ex-
perience, and all the return he's got for
his scruples SO far is the key of the
street"
He'll come out right side up in the
end, all the same said ODare. I've
known Corbyn ever since we were at col
lege together. He'll stay the course or
drop dead--but he won't give up. And
Here he comes"
Corbyn looked depressed AS he entered
and threw himself down on the rickety
couch He had stopped to open his letter
box in the hallway both going and COM
ing, but found it empty. Poor Fiji" he
said. presently. It's not six months yet
since she came over to nurse her brother,
and now"
"Will she go back to Europe?' asked
Allardyce. What does she think Of do
ing?"
The artist shook his head she hasn't
a living soul to go to-" he replied. Ste
phan was all the world to her.
mo. she's made up her mind to stay
right here and seek work till she finds it.
She's just as plucky as her brother was,
long, I'm sure, and with the money you
two have put up for her she ought to
manage. ! had hard work to make her
take 1t. but she's a dollar or two short
since the funeral, and l succeeded in the
end.
"she's been to see about a berth al
ready. and"
He was about to express her gratitude
and his for the most timely helping hand
when O'Dare. foreseeing that. broke in:
Its up to us three then, to do deal
In futures he suggested. I'm on the
kerb myself-the idle of Broadway. you
know-and have been for so long that
I've almost made up my mind to move. y
Then why the devil did you turn in
that ten?" Corbyn interposed. II thought
40 not ho<, f0vry avid
still wallowing in wealth. Or
Now don't butt in O'Dare COM
mented, in mild reproof Put that in
your mouth and smoke it while I occupy
the pulpit" He produced three black
cigars and passed them round.
II may as well admit" he resumed,
having lit his own, that I've been back
from Bullion City-falsely so called. 1 as
sure you-for full month. L reached
the Grand Central station without "a cent.
That's why / haven't been here before.
you'll Understandable there's no use
kicking about it now, Corbyn.
''Since then I've worn a rut in the
Rialto. with the usual result My talents
haven't been able to get grub wages to
go the road again. I've even tried
vaudeville. with the same result. Moth
ing doing
I'm down and out" he ended, abruptly
Me too" said Corbyn, with a wry
grimace. Il chucked the illustrating
game for Art with big A before 1 ought
to- and forthwith ceased to earn liv-
ing
They looked at Allardyce, and he took
up the tale. My expenses i'm Manhat-
tan" he said. precisely. seem to exceed
my earning capacity by some $50 per
cent. l haven't sold manuscript for
months. so last night burned the lot. 1t
bores me to think about things. I'm go
ing on the wallaby again. That's my
short story.
Then we're all three in the same
street-which is Queer street." O'Dare
summed up. judicially. who knows of
any way out?
I'm going on the wallaby again." re-
peated Allardyce, 'and that's as good a
way any.
The actor looked intently at him. But
is Ii wide enough for three" he asked,
with evident anxiety. Don't joke about
it. Allardyce. I'm all in earnest"
For twenty the other assured him,
and Corbyn also looked relieved. Here
it is. Light the gas and see for your
| selves"
He drew forth an apparently empty