Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-03-19
CHAPTER XIV-Continued.


| Don't you remember me. Cow?
The other looked up vaguely and went
through the conventional stage formula
for recognizing lost friends and relations
then. having paid his own pride with suf.
ficient respect. he grasped Anthony's out
stretched hand and shook 1t warmly. He
knew that he was a seedy. disreputable-
! looking object. and he was touched by
the young mans unpatronizing frienRi
| ness.
i why. it's young Brooke. isn't it"
Yes don't you remember. we were or
tour together with The Girl from No
where'-and very jolly little tour il
/ was
/ All laddie anybody can see that you re
getting on-although you always were {
swell. Have you got shop
Anthony WINGED. The jargon of the
second-rate theatrical struck him as
sordid.
NO. I've not got an engagement a,
present"
Come into money. laddie?
| no. I'm working for my living.
Never" answered the other, recollect-
| Ing that he was comedian and therefore
expected to he humorous.
| YES I've been driven to that at last. y
| ~ on seem TO be making d good thlns
| of it,
We'll you see Cow. just as the jIve-
nile man has to be we'll dressed. so pri-
vate secretary depends upon his appear
ance. HOW are you getting on?'
Not much to boast of. Three weeks in
| the spring and couple of special fort
nights
II suppose you're having a bad time of
it?"
The detected low comedian hesitated
for moment. and then said. intensely:
| Rotten. laddie. rotten. This is my sit
| ting ROOM" he added. waving his hand
round the park. And very pleasant
sitting room. too. when it's fine and
warm: and when it isn't. there are free
| librar
Il always preferred the picture gal
leres." said Anthony. simply.
II dare say dare say said Cow in
voice that had the slackness of an in
strument which wanted stringing UP.
Some people like art, others like litera-
| ture.'
"It wasn't exactly that" said An
thony. but the free libraries were always
SO stuffy.''
They are a Bit" agreed Cow. I'm cold
weather that's rather comfortable than
| otherwise.
Anthony knew perfectly well that the
poor fellow was sadly in need of money.
and from what he could remember OF
| him. he was not a Sponger 1t was
| therefore OllDcult KNOW no" 10 OI1ef II.
| but Anthony was anxious to get back, SO
! he came to the point at once.
You're hard-up. old chap, aren't you?
| Cow Redeemed.
We'll. yes laddie / am-although the
word 'hard-up' sounds a little pretentious
| when you haven't got d SiXpence in the
| world
| Can l be of any usc?.'
Cow reflected. and then. taking into
consideration Anthonys splendid appear
| ance. said:
"Well. if you can go to half a quid--''
Anthony took out his cigarette case. a
| slender elegant thing in green leather.
| bearing his monogram in gold. He never
went out without a considerable sum OF
money packed in behind his cigarettes.
| 1t was quite possible that at any time on
| returning to Grosvenor Square he might
| find the doors closed against him, in
which case 1t would be advisable to be
we'll provided for True. he had now a
| banking account, but even that did not
| give such a feeling of security as the
| notes in his cigarette case. He took out
| two ten-pound notes and handed them to
| Cow. The latter thought that Anthony
| was playing a joke and for moment
suspected the genuineness of the notes.
| Anthony laughed.
! It's all right. I've had rather a
| stroke of luck lately-been winning money
at bridge. you know-and L have a sort OF
superstition that if do something of this
/
II don't know your reason for doing It,
| ladde. but you've lifted me straight Up
to heaven. This will keep me for weeks.
and | promise faithfully-
NO. you don't. Don't return tiff you
| did it would bring me bad ,uck Good
| bye--I must go"
"Good-bye. laddie, and God bless you"
| Anthony left the low comedian gazing
| ecstatically up through the branches
above his head, and sensuously taking
| mn tn hat ~
| refreshment he should first visit. and
which of his favorte dishes he should
order indeed. he had begun to feel as if
! the pangs OF hunger were lessened by
! the knowledge that he could assuage
them al any moment he pleased
| When Anthony reached Grosvenor
! Square he was informed that Master
! Bruton had been waiting for him for
| some time.
| lie found folly in his private room
stretched at full length on the most
! comfortable divan, with cigarette be-
| tween his teeth. reading French move
whicn he had found on Anthonys table.
Anthony gently took the book from him
! and laid il on table.
| II don't quite see what they're driving
| at said folly. imperturbab bly,.
| Il should hope not. said Anthony.
| Tolly rose and shook hands politely. for
| he was gentleman. and the very fact
| that Anthony was good to him and al
| lowed him a wide latitude was A reason
for his not emitting the least degree OF
| Difference.
You don't mind my smoking. Mr.
| Brooke. do you?"
| NO. not one cigarette. 1t has always
| struck being particularly absurd
| and hypocritical to object to boys smok-
| ing when a small amount Of example
would be the most effectual cure in the
world
folly looked at him without under
| standing and. with the instincts of his
| class. politely began to talk of some
thing else.
Il say, there's been an awful row at
| home.
| 'Indeed-what about"
| FOLLY had firmly made up his mind that
nothing on earth should induce him to re-
peat to Anthony what he had heard said
about him. 1t would have seemed wiser,
| therefore, to keep out of the way, but the
! suggested mystery had invested Anthony
| with added fascination and he rather
| enjoyed lowering, as it were. over the
danger of committing treason against his
| family.
| folly looked vague.
Il don't think l ought to tell you he
| said. AT least. l am quite sure that
they wouldn't care about your know
| ing.
WHO wouldn't care about my know
ing?"
why mother and father and Aunt
| Editha."
WAS Lady Editha there too?''
| "Oh, rather-she started the whole
thing. She telephoned my mother early
| this morning. and came over to have it
| having