Evening star., 1909-07-18

idee O. yours, and come back here to-morrer at
ten o'clock if we still feel We want to let me have
it, and I'll think it over myself and see how l
feel about takin it. Ye see, I'd like to oblige
We by borrown your money, but We got to
consider nv own feeln's as we'll So far | ain
never owed nobody anything in the way o
spondulix, and I've always sort o felt that
maybe not OWN any man a penny was the
nearest approach to real freedom we got in this
country, and | amt sure l want to change my
record"
IAN right. old man" said Bradley, "ten
O'Clock to-morrer be 1t. but L hope you IL
take it"
With this understanding the new made
friends parted, and Bradley, returning to his
home, removed his makeup and went to the
club satisfied with the results of his first day
sociological fishing.
There's dozen good specials in that chaps
line of talk" he said and he spent good part
of the night putting down on paper what he re-
membered of 1t.
TT was with more than usual eagerness that
Bradley sought out his bench in Madison
Square the next morning. The idea that there
existed anywhere in the world a man OF the
genus hobo who would refuse to accept prof
fered financial loan, either as permanent con-
tribution to his welfare, or as temporary
measure of relief from untoward conditions
would even temporiZe such matter
Cooper had done, something so undreamed
of in his philosophy that it whetted his desire
to more of his chance acquaintance. Where
fore, with his fourteen dollars in his pocket, not
in clean crisp banknoteS but in bills almost
dilapidated as himself, in order better to
carry out the Illusion he was at the trysting
place a full half-hour in advance of the time
agreed upon, and he found it rather impressive
to note that the beneficiary OF his generous
offer was not there before him.
Il wonder if the fellow really means to
refuse it, he muttered to himself. Even
granting that that tale of his about the family
home waiting with its doors standing wide open
day and night to welcome him was a fake,
would a man of that stamp really let ship
chance to lay his hands on such easy money
this? Fourteen negotiable dollars, in real
money, to be had for the reaching out of his
hand to take them!
Clearly that was impossible and Bradley sat
there, possessing his soul in patience, feeling
absolutely assured that ere many moments
Cooper would arrive. He pulled copy OF
The Gazette" from his pocket and read oyer
the morning news, letting his eve rest with no
little satisfaction on the advertisement an
nouncing the first of his eagerly awaited
Studies of Life in the Shadows" Just he
was finishing his perusal of a somewhat ferv1d
allusion to his marvellous talents as a competent
observer of social conditions shadow in very
truth fell athwart the page, and looking up
from his reading Bradley was startled to see
Young man of about his own real age standing
before him, clean cut, Immediately dressed
and apparently prosperous.
YOU will excuse me-" said the youth; but
are you waiting here for man named
Cooper-Jim Cooper"
Yes" said Bradley, a trihe disturbed by
this unexpected turn of affairs. 1t might just
be that after all Cooper, in spite of his denial
second story man, and the youth might
have come from police headquarters with a
warrant for his pal. "Yes," he repeated; but
what if | ann"
% have instructions to say to you that he
will gladly accept your offer of assistance if you
are still willing to give it., said the young man.
Bradley gave short laugh. You will ex-
cuse my smile, mister" he said. "but might
you be MIR. Cooper's private secretary, or are
YOU the treasurer of Hoboes' Union Number
Six"
Il represent Mr.. Cooper" replied the young
man.
"Well, I'll be damned!" calculated Bradley.
Say, what kind of game is this, anyhow
I've got Jm's money right here" He slipped
his hand down into his pocket and drew the
somewhat forbidding looking roll of tattered
bills out of its ragged depths. There it is; but
I'd rather give it to Jim myself, if you don't
mind" he added. " l may look like Reuben
young man; but I'm a careful little jaybird
and l don't hand out my hard earned rhino
to everybody who chooses to ask for it..
You are perfectly right" said the new
conner, with bland smile: but Cooper is too
busy to come for it himself this morning, so if
you don't mind going to him"
"Deelighted'' cried Bradley, shuff1ing to his
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