Bluefield evening leader. [volume] (Bluefield, W. Va.) 1906-1911, 1909-08-13
CHAPTER l.

afternoon in the year Of grace
l9OG the approximations Of
PhiiIp kirkwood, Esq. paint
er' were eniivened by the discovery
that he was occupying that singularly
distressing social position which NAV
De summed up succinctly in phrase
through long usage grown proverbial
alone In London" Inevitably an ey-
tremlst because Of his youth Che had
Just turned twenty-hve). he took no
count Of mitigating matters and would
hety have resented the suggestion
that his case was anything but alto.
gether deplorable and furlorn.
That he was not actually nj the end
or his resources went for nothing. He
held the distinction a bubble, mock
ingly immaterlal, like the store Of
guineas In his pocket. too insignificant
for mention when contrasted with his
needs. And his base OF supplies. the
American city of his nativity, whence
and not without glow of pride in his
secret heart, he was wont TO register
at foreign hostelries, had been arbi
Irarily cut of from him by one Of
those accidents sardonically classified
by insurance and express corporations
as acts OF Cod
Now, to one who has lived all his
days sercnely in accord with the die
tates OF his own sweet Will. taking no
thought for the morrow, such a Stu
alton naturally seems both appalling
and intOlCrable Mt the FIRST blush. l.
must be confessed that, TO begin with.
KlrliwOod drew long and discouso-
late face over his fix.
Then he resolutely shrugged it Off
and went I'm search OF mans most
faithful dumb friend-to wit, his pipe.
the which, when found and filled he
lighted with n spill twisted from the
envelope Of a cable message.
IT'S about time" he announced.
watching the paper blackcn and burn
I'm the CRATE fire, that ! was doing
something to prove my title TO Iiv-
ing" And this was all his valedlctory
to n vanished competence anyway.
I'm n sight better Off than those poor
devils over there 1 really have
great deal 10 be thankful for now that
my attentions drawn to g."
For the ensuing fcw minutes he
thought It all over sobcrly but with
his bedroom I'm tho Hotel Plcas. hands
deep In trousers pockets pipe Tuning
voiuminously, mis- gaze wandering ont
over q blurred inHnitudr Of wet shin
ing roofs and sooty chimney pots
There came % rappinE at tho door.
KirkUood removed the pipe from be-
tween his teeth long enough to say
"Como iu" pleasantly
The knob was turned and the door
opened. EirEwood. swinging on one
heel. bchcld. hoitaut upon the thrcsh-
old. n dimnutiye figure I'm the livery
Of the Plcse PAGES
"Nfr Eirl wocdF
IiIrkwood nodded.
"GcntlcWln 10 see you. sir"
Kirkwood nodded again. smiling
"Show him up please he said. but
before the words were fairly ont Of /
his mouth man stepped into the
room.
"Mr Brcntwlck" KIrkwoo1 almost /
shouted. jumping forward to seize b. .
visitors hand
"My dear boy" replied the latter.
T'm delighted to geo You. Got your .
note mot on hour ago and came at once /
you scc'
"It was mighty good ~ you S
down. please Here arc cigars. WIS .
moment aro ] was the most mi-rr- I.
able end lonely mortal ou thc 3oo.
stool"
or can fancy" The elder man looked I
up. smiling, at Kirkwood "The man /.
.agcmcut knows mc' hc offered OK /.
PLANTATION of hi uuccrcmoniou- appear
ancc. $50 ! tool, Che liberty ~ following .
ON The heels of the bon hop. dear boy .
And how are your why th. anxious
uudcrtono 7 detected BOO your uofcf
TIC continued to stare cuHously iut.
Kirkwoods face Sc rlauee this /
Mr. Breutniak was man or nu-h .
figure and lathor slender. vlH ..u.. .
tcuaucc Thin and flushed scui five .
pink. ont ~ which hie owes shono
keen. alert humorous and trace