The Oroville weekly gazette. [volume] (Oroville, Wash.) 1905-19??, 1909-01-08

forty times a week. How 90 you GO
it, Harry? There isn't an old lady in
town who thinks her parlor carpet half
good enough for you to walk on. You're
only month older than am, yet you
can wind the whole vestry and the
bishop to boot around your finger"
81 wasn't aware of the dolatry.'
Harry laughed little-a distant laugh
You are observant, Hugh"
ooh, anybody can see 1t. I'd like to
know how you do it. 1t was always
SO with you. even at college You
could do pretty much as you liked and
yet be popular too. Why. there was
never jamboree complete without you
and your violin at the head of the ia
bic"
THAT is long time ago" said
Harry.
More than four years Four years
and a month tomorrow, since that last
evening Of college. Yet | imagine it
win be longer before we forget it."
Harry did not speak. An odd con
fusion blurred his vision. Perhaps to
cover this. he crossed the room to a
small private safe which stood open in
+ the corner, in which he kept his tithes
and his charities. When Hugh. shrug
ging his shoulders as if to dismiss the
unwelcome picture he had painted.
turned again. Harry was putting into
it some papers from his pocket Hugh
saw the action. His eyes fastened on
the safe avidly
Il say" he said after moments
pause as Harry made to shut its door,
"can you loan me another fifty? I'm
fat on my uppers again, and the old
man has been tight as nails with me
since ! came back. I'm sure to be
able to return it with the rest in
week or two"
Harry stretched his hand again to-
ward the safe then drew it back. with
compressed lips. He had met Hugh
with persistent courtesy. and the other
had found him sufficiently obliging
with loans. Hugh's lowered gaze saw
the arrested movement. and his cheek
flushed.
"Oh, if it's inconvenient l won't trou
bic you for the accommodation" he
said. Il dare say | can raise it,
The attempt at nonchalance cost him
a palpable effort Comparatively small
as the amount was, he needed II. He
was in sore straits
1T isn't that it Is inconvenient,
Hugh" said Harry. ITS that l can't
approve your manner of living lately.
and-I don't know where the fifty is
going"
The mark on Hugh's brow redeemed
Il wasn't aware that | was expected
to render you an accounting" he said
sukily, "if do borrow dollar or two
now and then What If play cards
ana drinE a little when I'm dry Eve
Sot to have a bit of amusement once in
awhile between prayers You liked il
yourself well enough before you dis
covered "A sudden talent for preach
ing"
Some men hide their talents under Il
napkin" said Harry You drown
yours-in a bottle. You have been
steadily going downhill You are de
ceiving your fathpr--and others With
deep. You have made them believe YOU
are living straight when you are ca
rouSing; that you keep respectable
company when You have taken up with
a hesotted and discredited gambler"
Il suppose you mean Or Moreau,"
returned Hugh "There are plenty OF
people in town who are worse than he
is"
''IIe is a quack-dropped from the
hospital staff for addiction to drugs
and expelled from his club for cheat
Ing Mt cards"
Hes down and out" said Uugh
sdllcnly, land any cur can bite hin
He never cheated me. and | find him
better company than your sanctino
NOUS psalm singing sort. I'm not go
ing to give him the cold shoulder be.
cause everybody else does. | never
went back on friend yet I'm not
that Sort
"You never had a friend. Hugh,
said Harry steadily you never real
ly loved anybody or anything but
yourself. You are utterly selfish You
are deliberately lying every hour you
Hive to those who love you You are
playing part for your own ends,
You were only Il good imitation of a
good fellow at college You are
poor imitation of a man of honor
now"
Hugh rose to his feet as he answer
ed hotly: And what are you. ia like
to know Just because | take my
pleasure as | please while you choose
to make a stained glass cherub Of
yourself, is no reason why I'm not
Just as good as you! knew YOU
well enough before you set up for such
pattern You didn't go in much then
for a theological diet Pshawm he
went on, swapping his fingers toward
the well stocked bookshelves II won.
der how much of all that you real
~ believe! Imagine your friends
don't call you Satan now?"
No" returned Harry quietly, they
don't call me Satan now"
lie went back to the safe.
The movement set Hugh instantly
to regretting his hasty tongue. If he
had only assumed penitence instead
of flying into passion he might have
had the money he wanted just as well