Evening star., 1909-06-07

understanding grip of his fists His
forehead grew moist. So did his palms.
Nor did Caleb's attitude lessen the awk-
wardness OF the moment With open
mouth the Fighter sat staring at his
guest. At last he formed words-just Q
few OF them
Well. I'll be ID" he sputtered.
1T seems to me-" said Hawarden. TAX
ing new hold of his sliding courage; 1t
seems to me more honorable thing to
ask your consent-as Miss Shevlin's s
guardian-before daring to offer myself
Son. observed Caleb. profoundly. III
you had little more sense you'd be half
witted"
The boy got to his feet.
1T is your right. l suppose. he an
swered. stiffly, TO insult me. You are
an older man than I. and come to you
as an applicant for"
you read all that in book" snorted
Caleb Cut it out and get down to
sense No ones insultin' you and no
ones stompin' on your buddin' dignity.
You cant wonder / was took aback when
up in the bylaws an constitootion of
plite s'ciety. II it's the usual thing to
come over with a line of talk like you
just got out of your system. why. I'm
down and talk sense So it's the custom
to ask n girls guardian before askin'
her? Nice ree-fned idee. But ! guess
II everybody did it there wouldn't be a
license clerks. An'-why you're just a
kid" he broke out. What in hlazes are
YOU babbin' about marryin' for? De-
Siree's-
answered the boy. proudly. Il think I
am entitled to be treated as man. Not
''oh. all right. all right chuckled
tickle me to death at twenty to be called
Old Man Now. I'd give five dollars to
any one Wild call me My Boy So you
think l ought to treat you like grown
man. hey? All right
He was enjoying the scene hugely. He
liked the boys pluck. Fighter-like. he
was minded to test it to the full As a
possible husband for Desiree. he did not
mentary means Of amusement to himself
he was willing to prolong the interview.
Well s'pose you're a man, then" he
continued. An you want to marry my
ward. Your fam'ly's as good as hers.
Maybe better. as you folks count such
things. So much for that. Now, what's
your income? There. don't look like I'd
made face at YOU: The questions in
count in matrimony? Well. II does. Re-
spectability amt on the free list. Not by
long shot. A family costs three times
as much to keep as chorus girl. what's
IL hardly know. exactly" faltered
Hawarden. When 7 was in college. my
father allowed me 81, 500 q year. He still
keeps it up. But as I'm living at homo
now il costs me less to get on. Then.
after l finish the law school next year
I'll be making a good salary myself very
soon With Miss Shevlin to work for"
ITO put II plain interrupted Caleb.
golden outlook Of earnn' little less In
a year or two.
Il have my allowance" protested Ha-
warden. and"
We'll GU. out the allowance part"
said Caleb. That's just what your father
pays as part of his fine for bringin' you
into the world He's lible to get sore on
you any time an stop playin the alloortn'
role of Human Meal Ticket. What'll YOU
do them
You don't quite understand" protested
Hawarden. "In year from now l shall
he earning my own living and shall not
be dependent on my father. There 10
good money in law and"
There is" assented Caleb. 1--WE put
lot of 1t there. myself. from time to time.
But blamed few lawyers manage to get I.
out. The rest 60 TO work on street cars
Or"
II shall make my way" averred the
lad stoutly. and even II don't succeed
at law. always have my literary work
TO fall back on
Your what?'
my literary work was Yale corre-
spondent for The Star all the time l was
at college. And more of my stories are
being accepted all the time by papers and
ma ga zines. And seeking nightly to SUBJ
due the thrill Of sublime pride In his voice
and to speak in a matter-of-fact tone. as
he played his trump card. Last month
had a thirteen page story in Scribnsr's.'
"Where?" asked Caleb. genuinely curl
GUS
"In scribner's." repeated Hawarden
modestly.
where's that?' inquired Caleb
ITO be continued tomorrow