New-York tribune., 1910-02-06

lin.
And then fewi" says I. az can almost
see myself givin' up that twenty right Oft the
bat. Nothing but great presence OF mind ana
wonderful self control holds me back. But look
here, Mr.. What -your-name-'
'Marston," SAYS he, flashIn an engraved VS.
itin' card, IL. Egbert Marston-''
L. Egbert, eh?" saysI. Does the stand
for Lined? And what do they call you for
"Oh. suit yourself" says he, with careless
wave of the hand
IAN right Eggie," saws l; but before we
get in any deeper I've got COnundrum or two
to spring on you We got kind OF curious,
Pinckney and me, about that visit OF yours.
He thinks we disturbed a fond embrace. IL
looked diff rent to me. l thought | could see
finger marks on the young lady's throat. How
about it?
COURSE he flushes up. Any man would un-
- der a lab like that, and | looked for him
either to begin breakin' the peace or start lynn
out of it. There's considerable beef to Egbert,
YOU know He'd probably weigh III at hum
dred and eighty, with all that ttabby meat on
him. and if it wa mt for that sort OF cheap look
TO his face YOU might take him for real man
But he don't show any more fight than cow
He don't even put in any indignant NOT
quilty!" He Just shrugs his shoulders and IN
dulges in a sickly laugh.
1T doesn't sound nice, says he; but some
times thev do need a bit of training, these
- For instance?" saws l. "In the matter of
handing over a little sPendin money, eh'
You've struck it," says he, with another
shrug.
l glances at Pyramid; but there want any
more expression to that draw poker face of his
than if it was cement block.
"Egbert," says l, frank and confidential
''vou' re a sweet scented pill, ain t yOu:
And does that draw any assault and battery
motions2 1t don't All the result is to mar
row them Shifty eyes of his and steady EN-
down until he's lookin' me square in the face
Il was hard up, If you want to know, says
he. a. didn't have a dollar
And that" says l, is what you give out as
an excuse for"
Yes" he breaks in. And I'm no worse
I'm gentleman; without it-well, get 1t any
way | can. And | want to tell you, / We seen
men with plenty of it get more in meaner ways.
don't know how to juggle stocks, or wreck
banks, or use any of the respectable methods
that
Nothing personal hope" puts in Mr.. Cor
don. with another ChuCkle.
Not so intended" says MarstOn.
'Eh, thanks" says Pyramid.
Well admit" saws |, that Your partIc lar
way of raisin' funds, Mr.. Marston, amt exactly
novel but didn't it ever occur to YOU that
some folks get theirs by workln for II:
Il know says he. tryin' to seem good
natured again; but I'm not that kind. I'm
an idler. As some poet has put 1t, Useless l
hnger a cumberer here
"Youre a cucumber, all right" says l; but
why not Just for change, make a stab at
gettin' job?"
I've had several" says he, land never
could hold one more than a week. Too monotO-
nous, for one thing; and then, IN these offices,
one is thrown among so many i'll bred persons,
you know"
"Surel" says l. feelin' my temper ture risin'.
" Parties that had rather work for a pay en-
velop than choke their wives. I've met 'em.
I've heard of your kind too, Egbert; but you're
the first specimen | ever got real close TO- And
you're bird Mr.. Gordon shall | chuck him
through the window, or help him down stairs
with my toe?
Il wouldn't do either" says Pyramid. I'm
fact, think can make use of this young man"
Then you're welcome to him." says l.
" Blaze ahead"
MUCH obliged" says Pyramid. "Now Mr..
MarSton what is the most reasonable sum,
per month, that would allow YOU to carry out
your idea of being gentleman"
Egbert thinks that over a minute and then
puts it at three hundred.
And would it conflict with those ideas"
Pyramid goes on, If you were required. say