The weekly true Democrat. (Tallahassee, Fla.) 1905-1912, 1909-08-20

II can fancy The elder man looked
%, smiling, ct RiFkWoOd "Tbe man
aEement knows me-" be offered ez-
PLANTATION Of BIS uDcefemOuiOus appear
ance. $50 ! took the liberty Of following
on the heels Of the bell bop, dear boy.
And how are your Why the anxious
undertone ! detected IN your nOte7"
lie continued TO stare cuFi0usly into
KiFkWoOd's face. AZ a glance this
MF. BrentWick was q man Of taIllsh
figure and rather slender, with cOun-
tenance thin and flushed q sensitive
pink. out OF which bis eyes shone,
keen, alert, humorous and a trace
wlstful behind his glasses. His years
were lndeterminate. With the aspect Of
fifty, the spirit aud the verve Of thirty
assorted oddly Bot bis hands were
old. delicate. fine and fragile. and the
lips beneath the dropping white mus
tache az times trembled. almost Inn
perceptlbly. with the generous senti-
.ments that como with mellow age lie
held bis back straight and his head
with mn air-aB air that was not a
swagger. but the sign token Of sea-
BOned experience In the world. The
most carping could have found no
flaw IN the quiet taste OF his attire.
10 sum up KirkwOod's very good
friend. and his only one then IN Lon.
don, Mfr. Brentwick, looked and was
an English gentleman
"WbyT' he persisted aa the younger
man hesltated. II am here 10 hnd out.
Tonight ! leave for the continent In
the meantime"-
"And at midnight sail for the
States" added KirkwOod. "That IA
mainly why ! wished 20 see yOu-to
say goodby for the time"
you're going home"- A shadow
clouded Brentwiek's clear eyes.
''To fight II out, shoulder TO Shout
der, with my brethren IN adversely"
The cloud lifted. THAT Is the spir.
itF declared the elder man. "FOr the
moment did you the injustice 20 be-
lievs that you were running away
But now ] understand. Forgive me.
Pardon, too. the stupidity which ]
must lay ne the door Of my advancing
years TO me the thought Of you as q
Parisihn hxture has become such
commonplace. Philip. that the news Of
the disaster hardly stirred me. Now
remember that you are a CalifOr
nlan."
II was born IN san Francisco" az
hrmed KirkwoOd, a BIT sadly. "My
father and mother we're buried there"
"ABd your fOrtuneT
Il inherited my fatheF's interest IN
the hrm OF KlrkwOOd & Vanderlip.
when I came over to study painting
left everything IN vanderlips hands.
The business afforded me q handsome
living"
"YOu have heard from MFR. Wander.
ilpT"
Fifteen minutes ago" KlrkwOod
took a cablegram. still damp. from his
pocket and handed II 10 bis guest
Unfolding II ths latter read;
Kirhwood, Ploss, London;
Stay where you are. No eood coming
back Everything Eons' HS Insurance
"when got the news IN Paris"
KirkwOOd volunteered. II tried the
banks They refused 10 honor my
drafts ! bad a little money IN hand,
enough 70 see me home. 70 ] closed
the studio and came across. I'm
booked on the Minneapolis, sailing
from Tilbury at daybreak. The boat
train leaves 90 ii30. ! had hoped
you might be able TO dine with me end
zee me on"
In silence Brcntwick returned the
cable message. Then, with a thought.
ful lock, "You are SURE this n wiser
be queried.
'Tts the only thing I can see"
shut your partner says
Naturally be- thinks that by this
time ! should have learned 10 paint
well enough 70 support myself Cor a
few months until BE- can set things
running again Perhaps might"
Brentwlck supported the presumption
with q decided gesture. But have
a right 10 leave Vanderbilt 60 fight II
out alonel For Vanderbilt has wife
aud klddles to support To-
"Your gculusF
my ability. such as Il b. ana that
only. II can walt MOI this means
simply that ! must come down from
the clouds. plant my feet on solid
earth and set 10 work."
"rhe sentiment h sound" admitted