Daily Arizona silver belt., 1909-06-06
CHAPTER I.

1906 the apprehensions of
 V Philip Kirkwood. Esq.,. paint
 CT. were enlivened by the discovery
 that he was occupying that slngularly
 distressing social position which may
 be summed up succinctiy in phrase
 through long usage grown proyerbial,
 "alone in London" Inevitably m ex.
 tremist because of his youth Che had Just turned twenty-five), he took no
 count of mitigating matters and would
 hotly have resented the suggestion
 that his case was anything but alto
 gether deplorable and forlorn. That he was not actually at the end
 of his resources went for nothing. He
 held the distinction bubble, mock
 ingly immaterial, like the store of | guineas In his pocket. too insignificant l for mention when entrusted with his
 needs. And his base of supplies. the American city of his nativity, whence, and not without glow of pride in his | secret heart, he was wont to register at foreign hostelries. had been arbi- trarily cut off from him by one of those accidents sardonically classified by insurance and express corporations as acts of God.
 Now. to one who has lived all his days serenely In accord with the die tates of his own sweet will, taking no thought for the morrow, such situ- ation naturally seems both appalling and intolerable. at the first blush. It must be confessed that, to begin with, KirkwoCd drew long and disconso- late face over his fix.
 Then he resolutely shrugged 1t of and went in search of mans most faithful dumb friend-to wit, his pipe, the which. when found and filled, he lighted with a spill twisted from the envelope of cable message.
 Its about time." be announced, watching the paper blacken and burn fin the grate fire. "that was doing something to prove my title to liv- ing" And this was all his valedictory to a vanished competence. Anyway, I'm sight better of than those poor devils over there. really have great deal to be thankful for ROW that my attentions drawn to it.
 For the ensuing few minutes he thought 1t all over. soberly. but with a stout heart. standing at q window of his bedroom in the Hotel Pless. hands deep in trousers pockets. pipe fuming voluminously. his gaze wandering out over a blurred infinitude of wet, shin- ing roofs and sooty chimney pots
 There came rapping at the door.
 K.rkwocd removed the pipe from be- tween his teeth long enough to say "Come in!' pleasantly.
 The knob was turned, and the door opened. Kirkwood. swinging on one heel. beheld. hesitant upon the thresh- old. diminutive figure in the livery of the Pless pages.
 "Mr. Kirkwood?"
 Kirkwood nodded.
 "Gentleman to see you, sir"
 Kirkwood nodded again. smiling
 "Show him up. please" he said. but | before the words were fairly out of | his mouth man stepped into the room.
 'Mr. Brentwickw Kirkwood almost | shouted. Jumping forward to seize his visitors hand.
 'My dear boyw replied the latter. "Tm delighted to see you. Got your note not an hour ago and came at once you sec"
 Tt was mighty good of you. Sit down. please. Here are cigars. Why. a moment ago was the most miser- able and lonely mortal on the foot stool"
 "i can fancy" The elder man looked up. smiling. at Kirkwood. "The man. agement knows me-" he offered ex- planation of his unceremonious appear ance. ESQ took the liberty of following on the heels of the bell hop. dear boy And how are you? Why the anxious undertone l detected in your note?"
 He continued to stare curiousiy into face. At a glance this Mir. Brentwick was . man of tallish figure and rather slender. with a coun- tenance thin and flushed . sensitive pink. out of which his eyes shone. keen, alert. humorous and a trace wistfui behind his glasses. His year5