Five Mile Beach weekly journal., 1909-03-19

TOOK his Violin n began TO play. lie
began a barcarole, but the music wan
dered away through insensible varia
lions into a moving minor. a compost
ton of his own.
1t broke off suddenly at a dogs fierce
snarl from the yard and the rattle of a
thrown pebble. Immediately a knock
came at the door. and a mar entered.
Don't stop" said the new conner
1--WE dropped in for only q minute.
That's an Ill tempered little brute Of
yours. If l were you I'd get rid of
him."
Harry Sanderson laid the violin care
fully in its Ease and shut the lid before
he answered "Rummy is impulsive,"
he said dryly. How is your father to
day, Hugh?"
The other tapped the toe of his shin
ing patent leather with his cane as he
said with a look of i'll humor:
about as well as usual. He's plan
ming now to put me in business and ex-
poets me to become a stald pillar of
society-1ike Sanderson,' as he says
forty times a week. How do you do
1t, 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 a month older than l am, yet you
can wind the whole vestry and the
bishop to boot around your finger"
." wasn't aware of the idolatry.'
Harry laughed a little-a distant laugh
"You are observant, Hugh"
"Oh, anybody can see it. I'd like to
know how you do it. 1t was always
SO with you, ven at college. You
could do pretty much as you liked and
yet be popular too. Why, there was
never a jamboree complete without you
and your violin at the head of the ia
ble."
"That is a long time ago." said
Harry.
more than four years. -Four years
and a month tomorrow, since that last
evening of college. Yet ! imagine 1t
will 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.
81 say" he said after a moments
paus 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 a
week or two"
Harry stretched his hand again to-
ward the safe. then drew 1t 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 in%convenient / won't trou
BILE you for the accommodation" he
said. II dare say l a raise it,
The attempt at nonchalance cost him
a palpable effort. Comparatively small
as the amount was. he needed 1t He
was In sore straits.
at isn't that 1t is inconvenient,
Hugh" said Harry. Its that 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
81 wasn't aware that | was expected
to render you an accounting" he said
sulkily, "If l do borrow a dollar or two
now and then. What If l play cards
and drink a little when I'm dry? I've
got to have a bit of amusement once In
awhile between prayers. You liked ii
yourself well enough before you dis.
covered a sudden talent for preach.
mgr
"Some men hide their talents under O
napkin" said Harry. You drown
yours-in a bottle. You have been
steadily going downhill. You are de.
ceiving your father-and others-wlth
a pretended reform which isn't skin
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 besotted and discredited gamblerP'
81 suppose you mean DR.. Moreau,"
returned Hugh There are plenty of
people in town who are worse than he
is"
HE is a quack-dropped from the
hospital staff for addiction to drugs
and expelled from his club for cheat
ing at cards"
Hes down and out" said Hugh
sullenly. land any u can bite him
He never cheated me. and l find him
better company than your sanctimo-
NOUS, psalm singing sort. I'm not 60
ing to give him the cold shoulder be
cauco avarvhodv else docs nnVpI