The Washington times., 1909-01-06
CHAPTER XI.
AN OBJECT OF CHARITY.


comfort. Nothing further had been
said about his falling eyesight, and as
ne kissed her good-by she RETAINED
from reminding him Of his promised
visit TO the specialist.
Hurry home, John. dear" she called
as he was descending the stairs. IL
shall watch for youi bring only good
news"
LangdOn fastened 10 his office and
reached it some moments before his
usual time. None Of the other clerks
had arrived as yet-a fact Of which
he was glad--and he appeared .ost In
deep thought as he slowly drew on his
Well-wOrn Office coat
Then he unlocked his desk, and. TAX
ing out his books, opened them care
lessly before him. He glanced at them
indiferenuy. then drew back as a shad-
OW gathered on his brow.
Again he leaned over the book. the
shadow turning TO a puzzled wrinkle
of his forehead A glance at the page
seemed TO suffice and he tapped :he
leaves over rapidly.
Suddenly he sat back in his chair
and mis- face paIed q triie.
Hello. Langdon," a voice exclaimed
at his elbow and no faced about TO see
beside him Thornton, another book
keeper.
The two were fairly GOOD friends. a. d
10 him Langdon had impaired his dra-
matte hopes.
See your play met with an accident
last night"
yes, it did" was the sad reply.
TOO bad, old chap the other sym
pathized. but brace UP. It viii be
an right, and suppose viii mails lots
of newspaper talk. When viii they put
it on again.
Don't know Lsngdon replied
Nothing definite decided yet"
That's what tina Recorder says,
Thornton pointed 10 the paper he had
! careIessIy thrown upon his desk. Read
their account or last nights accident"
lie hadl Tt was tho one paper Of all
those ne had secured that spoke the
least kindly. In their account they had
endeavored TO make IT humorous, and
as Mrs. Langdon had read it aloud
early that morning. IT had made her
husbands blood boil
Eyes, I read it, and If 1 had hold Of
the chap that wrote It It would give
me uneuding pleasure 70 wiring his
neck He is not a dramatic critic
he IS only a. clever writer-one who
borders on being a humorist, I call
him q cad"
"But he must get the money" the
other interDosed.
"Oh, no doubt Of thai" Iangdon re-
Joined. But ne is earning &c at the
expense Of perhaps WTeclciug the hopes
Of some poor young fellow. There ara
lots OF people in this city who really
place dependence upon that fellows
criticism. But what does Il amount TOT
Nothing. absolutely nothingl To the
best Of my recollection, 7 90 not recall
"a play OF which ne has ever spoken
highly If ne did. poor misguided fool
that he IS. he'd lose his reputation and
with those fellows lost regulations
mean lost Jobs as a ruie.'
There was a strange bitterness, al
most -sndIctiveness. IN Laugdou's tone.
lie smoke earnestly and gesticul4ted
freely. a strange sight 70 those who
knew him as a quiet, seif-cOntained
man.
Nor did ne heed the fact that the
other clerks had entered and were now
eagerly listening 10 his remarks.
L.anedou paused for breatis and be-
fore he could continue. one Of the book
Keepers ammo -i'1s7l' li7'7 'o'''77 '-'0
'o55. -.e,,-,--. IT,
-rr - -, ,rr)..s
"lai "7 49, -..t 81. 80
VINO l.'l- p, -----l.- 49,. a., 80
"7L2 ~ ,,,. ~ -. - zat -
80 -, So
o'D->7 - - --,...g IN
- .r - -, s,t,-l7 d. ,7is1,t
49,
T--.-.7,- .r,-, -..-,a5 IN. take m in
+s-es+ IN The ferf that Mr.. Grenneu'
wa ir, hIs nrivate office he sat back
IN hts rbefr. his head bent as If I'm
tr,r-fr7t Then he leaned forward and
closed his books with ii slam shat
caused the other clerks 10 raise their
heads wouderIugIv.
aGreuneWs n his Office Thornton
cautioned him.
ssyvhat OF it2' LangdOn quaried sharp
IN.
cob. nothing" Thornton returned
fo....- ,etiarra NTH his friend .Rur'
70 r-- go. ..g,- nan. ,,-ft,,