The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1910-02-17
CHAPTER I. Rock Bottom.

policeman, surveying him critically. "Ye don't say?''
 Chester Taylor was the exponent by contrast of the truth of his as servation. His coat, procured in a pawn shop together with seven dol lars in exchange for several English tailor-made suits, was frayed in the cuffs and too short behind. Its for mer possessor had apparently carried Q safe in each pocket, for it sagged down immeasurably in front, fact which served only to accentuate the ahbreviation in the rear. He wore no collar, and his shirt was serving for underwear as well. His "unmen- tionables,' as he, would have styled them, did full credit to the name. By way of contrast he had on a pair of immaculate patent leather pumps which looked particularly out of place. His general appearance was dilapidated beyond description, ord the policeman included his attire 1n
 
 "Ye don't say?' he repeated a third time
 "Yes,' replied his interlocutor cun- ! fdent1y, that is really my candid l opinion. Unfortunately it has no cash value''
 And who," inquired the police man, might your tailor be-"
 My tailor" said Chester, ''is 3 confiding individual whom I have yer 1 to discover. Good afternoon"
 He bowed politely and strolled away.
 Bound for the bug-ward sure" " reflected the policeman. 'If he isn't candidate for the funny house my name ain't Jerry O'Brien." | Chester retraced his steps 'I forgot to mention,'' he said, that l accumulated this really va.lu- able bit of information which I am imparting to you at so reasonable a rate in a bar-room poker game where I left my last forty cents last night
 ''It taught ye that, did ut?'' asked Jerry amiably.
 "Yes, and I trust that you will profit by my experience,'' replica Chester severely.
 ''I'll make note of it, said Jerry 1 obligingly.
 Chester turned away again, but this time he proceeded steadily like man with a definite purpose.
 Trial number one,' he murmured That was a most genial policeman It is gratifying to know that he will make q note of it. When I am rich He shivered slightly and continues on his way.
 Chester Taylor was a Junior al Yale when the blow of his fathers death fell upon him. Instead of be ing left rich man as he had alway: been led to expect, he found that hi: fathers fortune and credit, botI maintained by his splendid reputa tion when he was alive, had beel swept away in the failure of the Chi cago firm of brokers of which he c,d Q member. Chester changed Iii room for a cheaper one, wrote a iitt for the newspapers, retired within himself, and refused all invitation: By the time they had ceased to re
 
 except a chosen few had forgotte him. The latter's advances and prof fers of help and friendship Cheste steadily refused. His grief was s poignant that he scarcely realized tin changed circumstances of his life a first, and when the vitality and ex urberance of youth had performe their normal and accustomed tasl with the aid of kindly Father Time < the cancer pride had superseded gr1e i in his bosom. His mother had die ee in his early infancy, and all hi F young affection had been centered . his surviving parent. The chg 11s was indeed great and sudden, and tn ]; mental balance of an undergraduat is more easily upset than that of
 man who has rubbed shoulders wit the world for a while.
 After Commencement Chester cam :. to New York. He applied, on U, a strength of the shattering stories Ii d had sold, for a position on a hi
 daily. None was to be had At tn end of four months he found hin1se
 in the plight in which he appears
 the beginning of the chapter, cor '. fding new found philosophy to
 policeman on lower Sixth Avenue |! 9 could have returned at any time |
 Chicago, and found a warm welcon and eager hospitality, but the longe
 he stayed away the more distastefl
 this idea became. The plan had re
 duced itself to lack of railway far l. and the prospect of trampirg all tf way, or the even more repugnart c, e pedient of borrowing money from h q fathers friends, before Chester il :,
 finished considering it. Then i
 abandoned it altogether. He was yeI young and DerhapS if was best Po(