Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1909-12-02

BoW ellc ACTON. Ills eyes fastened OH
| the sarc ayidly.
II say" he said after u moments
| pause MS Harry made to shut its door
'can you loan me another fifty? I'm
nat on my uppers again. and the old
man has been tight as nails with me
since ! came back. I'm sure to b,
able to return 1t with the rest in
week or two"
Harry stretched hls hand again 10.
ward the safe. then drew it back. with
compressed lips. He had met Hugh
with persistent courtesy. and the other
had found him sufficiently obligin.
with loans. IIuph's lowered gaze saw
The arrested movement, md his checs
flushed.
"Oh, II It's lnconyenient won't trou.
BILE you for the accommodation" be
raid. II care say I can raise it,
The attempt Mt nonchalance cost him
pa'pablc effort. Comparatively small
ns the amount was, he needed It. He
was in sore straits.
at isn't that /. Is inconvenient.
nugh," said Hurry ITS that | can't
approve your manner of living lately.
and-l don't know where the City Is
going"
The mark on Highs brow redeemed
81 wasn't aware that was expected
to render you an accounting" he snld
tulkily "ff do borrow a dollar or two
now and then. What II play cards
md drink n little when I'm dryl I've
got to have bit OF amusement once in
a yyrllile
yourself well enough before you dis
covered sudden talent for preach
inc"
Some men hide their talents under
Napkin said Harry You drown
yours-in a bottle. You have been
steadily going downhil You are de-
csiving your father-and others-with
pretended reform which isn't skin
deep. You have made them believe YOU
are living straight when you are ca
ro,Ising; that you Keep respectable
conpany when you have taken mp with
besotted and discredited Camblerr'
Il suppose you mean Dr Moreau."
returned Hugh There are plenty Of
people III town who are worse than he
is"
'He is quack-dropped from the
hospital staff for addiction to drugs
and expelled from his club for cheat.
ing ut cards"
Hes down and out" said Hugh
sullcnly, "and any cur can bite him.
lie never cheated ne. and | find him
better company than your sanctimo-
:, NOUS. psalm singing sort I'm not go-
ing to give him the cold shoulder be-
calse everybody else does | never
went back on a friend yet I'm not
that sort
you never had a friend, Hugh"
said Harry steadily. "You never real
: ly loved anybody or anything but
yourself. You are utterly selfish You
are deliberately lying every hour YOU
live to those who love you You are
playing n part-for your own ends!
You were only good imitation OF a
good fellow at college You are
poor imitation Of a man OF honor
, now"
, Hugh rose to his feet as he answer
ed hotly: And what are you. I'd Ike
to know? lust because take my
pleasure rs | please. while you choose
TO make stained glass cherub OF
, yourself. is no reason why I'm not
Just rs good IS you, | knew You
well enough before you set up for such
, pattern You didn't 20 in much then
for theological diet Pshaw." he
went on, swapping his fingers toward
the well stocked hoOkshelves Il won.
der how much of all that you real.
~ believe. | ina gine your friends
don't call you Satan nowT
No" returned Harry quietly, they
don't call me Satan now"
He went back to the safe.
The movement set Hugh instantly
70 regretting his hasty tongue If he
3 bad only assumed ponitence instead
! Of hying into passion he might have
4 had the money he wanted just as well
as not.
a There's no sense in us two quarrel
= ing" he said hastily We've been
e friends long time I'm sure ! didn't
@ intend to when | came in. | suppose
you're right about some things. and
: probably dropping Morcau wouldn't
d hurt me any. I'm sorry | said all
:, t.4'L tiN tuc iliuuS! setiiieu SUN a
G litte thing. and IL needed IT.
r Harry stood an instant with his
+ hand on the knob: then instead of clos
i. ing the door he drew out little ORA W.
er. He lifted a packet of crisp yellow
q backs and slowly counted out 500.
a I'm TRYING TO believe you mean wha,
l. you say, Hugh" he said
Hugh's fingers closed eagerly over
r. the cracking notes. Now, that's
=. white OF you after everything | said.
Il You're good fellow. Harry. after al.
# and III always say So He pocketed
the money with an air Of relief and
= picked up his hat and cane.
Q Just then from the dusty street came
" the sound of carriage wheels and the
y click OF the gate latch.
It's Bishop Ludlow" he said sianc.
r ing through the window. Hes COM
e ing in. think I'll slip out the side
way. Thanks for the Loan. and-Ill
r think over what you've said"
: Avoiding the bishop. Hugh stepped
Z toward the gate The money was IN
= his pocket. Well, one Of these days
o he wpuld not have to grovel for a pal
n try $40 He world be his own mas
L ter and could AFFORD TO ht Harry San.
q tferson and everybody else think what
- Il,