Evening star., 1909-07-15
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ness from ne and then went TO work
himself"
You're little TOO fond of speaking
about YOUR own affairs, Granny, | SAID.
Perhaps am. I'm too fond OF belteN-
ing that every man is made like myself.
He laughed, blowing the smoke from his
lips.
so Gertie is still al Brighton I re-
marked, turning the conversation INTO a
different channel
Yes. dear little soul shes growing into a
charming child he said, pleasant. con-
tented expression oNerspreading his face.
AS YOU know | put her into A family
tradespeople they are-livinC along at
Hove They send her to a very good
school. and she's getting an capitaliA. 4.
See, she's been showing me TO-DAY how
/ she can write and draw, and The big
fellow pulled from his breast pocket
, piece Of paper on which were some child
| ish writing and some crude sketches OF
ducks and houses. He, the man whom
the world called an adventurer was
proud OF II. for he loved that child better
than his life
| took the paper and looked at it. re-
| marking that she must be getting ON
we'll
Rather. my dear chap. Shes as sharp
as needle. and she grows prettier every
| day. The good people keep her very
| nicely dressed, but of course they're Wei
paid for it.
Thanks to you, Granny" | remarked.
Her existence is one of your secrets,
isn't it?'
Yes" he said i'm low voice. No
! body knows the real truth. only you.
! Phil. You recolect, no doubt. what 1
/ told you-how, late one winters night.
| While | was going along Holborn | met
| poor shiNering woman, thinlN clad.
| and so Ill with rheuma tiSm that she could
scarce drag one foot after the other. Her
face was wan and pinched. and she wore
dark gray summer dress although it
was midwinter. BY the hand she led II
f,ir io,,,. II Chi - ,-f.xI
on my way bask TO the Cecil the woman
| held out her hand offering me matches,
/ but saying no word. | brushed past her.
| bur as did look in the eyes Of the
| poor pinched little child caused ME to
| halt and turn back Well didn't buy
| the matches. but | gave the woman
| sovereign. She almost collapsed with
| thankfulness. for they were both stary-
| ing. They had not tasted meat for
| month. for sha was a widow, and too Ill
to work. And tn cut a long story short.
| gave the poor woman from time To time
| money TO put her on her legs again. Two
/, months went past. and she had already
| obtained work. and Was again earning
| her living. when she was suddenly taken
ill., and died before knew of her seizure.
| Little Gertie was left alonc-and l.
adopted her, and she is mine.
| A strange and pathetic meeting.
said, with a sigh. Surely man would
believe that at the bottom OF Granville
Coughs heart such deep sympathy
Tor tne poor ana dIHlcte0- ttdd not
known the truth | myself should have
secuted the idea. You love the child
| know
Love herr" he echoed. turning in his
chair. "She's all the world to me. Phil.
| I tell you that | always thank Providence
| for giving me the money I've invested for
her. She will never want again.
And while you are hard up like this
she has every luxury.
What does it matterr' he laughed
| lightly. II never think of the morrow
for myself Never have done il in all my
life
You're too generous to your friends. -
| declared recolecting the many open
handed actions which / had known him
perform.
Well" he said. I'm fast coming to TIE
conclusion that the more one helps one
| friends the less one Is thought of. Why.
| The very men whom I've been able To tids
| over a crisis are those who have after
| ward been my worst enemies. And when
| a man like myself has an enemy its a
serious matter, l can tell you. One word
against me has often been the means of
preventing me from bringing off lucra-
tive stroke of business. One case I recol-
lect especially. l was in Athens, selling
TO the Greek government two torpedo boat
destroyers built in Italy. Paulettts OF
! Genoa had given them into my hands TO
sell al big commission. | had worked
all my cards with the Greeks-back-
| sheesh, etc.-and was just on the point OF
getting the purchase signed, when there
sprang up in Athens man who was one
of my worst enemies-even though I had
once saved him from arrest In Vienna.
! This sentleman--he was a German. by
| the way-Trote to the Greek minister Of
marine denouncing me cheya lier
dindustrie. The result was that / was
compelled TO pack my traps and take the
boat back to Brindsi"
! Cro be continued tomorrow