Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-11-29
Copyright, 1907. BY John Lan. Company,

| | Hegisippe saiuted and declared his en-
chantment. according to. the manners of
his country. Sypher raised his hat po-
litely.
"Of Sypher's Cure-Friend Of Human
ingly, in French.
QUEST ce que cest que car asked
Hegisippe, turning to Septimus. Septi-
mus explained.
"Ah-h!' cried Hegisippe, open-mouthed.
the light Of recognition in his eyes. La
Cure Sypher!" He made 1t rhyme with
prayer" But l know that well. And
it is monsieur who fabricates ce ma
chin-la?''
Yes; the Friend of Humanity. What
have you used it for?''
For my heels when they had blisters
after a long days march,
The effect of these words on Sypher
was electrical. He brought both hands
down on the table, leaned back in his
chair and looked at Septimus.
Good heavens!" he cried. changing
color. lit never occurred to me-
What"
.'Why-blstered heels-marching. Don't
you see? 1t will cure the sore feet OF the
armies of the world. It's revelation!
1t will be in the knapsack of every SOL
| der who goes to maneuvers or to war.
L IL d
a marshars baton! 1t will bring soothing
| comfort to millions of brave men. Why
did / never think OF it? / must go round
to all the war offices OF the civilized
globe. It's colossal 1t makes your biain
reel. Friend of Humanity? ! shall be
the Benefactor of the Human Race"
What will you have to drink" asked
Septimus.
said. impatiently. obsessed by his new
idea. Tell me, Mons. Cruchot, you who
have used the Cure Sypher. 1t is well
known in the French army. is 1t not? You
had it served out from the regnnental
medical StoreS?'
"Ah, no, monsieur. 1t is my mother
who rubbed 1t on my heels.
Sypher's face expressed disappointment,
but he cheered up again immediately.
Never mind. 1t is the idea that you
have given me. l am very grateful to
you, Mons. Cruchot.
Hegisippe laughed. ut is to my mother
you should be grateful, monsieur
II should like to present her with free
order for the Cure for life-if l knew
where she lived
THAT is easy said Hegisippe. seeing
that she is concierge in the house where
the belle dame Of monsieur has her ap-
partement."
Her appartement?" Sypher turned
sharply to Septimus. What's that? l
thought you lived at the Hotel Godet.''
"Of course" said Septimus, feeling very
uncomfoi table. Il live In the hotel and
Emmy lives in a fiat. She couldn't very
well stay in the Hotel Godet because 1t
isn't nice place for ladies. There's
dog in the courtyard that howls. / tried
to throw him some cold ham the other
morning about 6 O'Clock to stop him, but
it hit a sort OF dustman, who ate 1t and
looked up for more. 1t was very good
ham and was going to have it for sup
per-" 49,
But my dear man." said sypher. lay
ing his hand on his friends shoulder, and
paying no heed to the dog, ham and dust
man story, aren't you two living to-
gether?'
"Oh. dear. no." said septinu,s, in alarm.
and then, catching at the first explana-
tion-''you see, our hours are different"
Sypher shook his head uncompre hend-
ingly. The proprietor Of the establish
ment, in dingy shirt sleeves, set down
! the beer before him. Hegisippe. who had
mixed his absinthe and was waiting pO-
litely until their new friend should be
served, raised his glass.
Just before you came, monsieur said
he. Il was about to drink to the
health"
LOT L'Arnee- Franchise" interrupted
Septimus, reaching out his glass.
But no." laughed Hegisippe. 1T was
to monsieur. madame ct bebe.'
'Bebe?' cried sypher, and Septimus felt
J his clear. swift glance read his soul.
They elinked glasses. Hegisippe, defy.
ing the laws governing the absorption OF
alcohols tossed of his absinthe in swash-
( buckler fashion and rose.
!. Now l leave you. You have many
things to talk about Ny respectful COM
. pliments to madame. Messieurs, au re-
voir.''
Z He shook hands, saluted and staggered
y OF. his chechia at the very back OF his
n covered in front.
"A hne fellow. your friend. an intelli-
! gent fellow" said sypher, watching
: him.
y Hes going to be a waiter said Sep
y Now that he has had his heels rubbed
Z with the cure he may be more ambitious.
y valuable fellow. for having given me
: a stupendous idea-but bit indiscreet,
eh? Never mind he added. seeing the
= piteous look on Septimus' face. "I'll have
! discretion for the two Of us. I'll not
y breathe a word Of it to anybody"
Thank you." said Septimus.
There was an awkward silence. Septi-
Z mus traced diagram on the table with
the spilled tea. Sypher lighted a cigar.
{ which he smoked IN the corner OF his
"Weil. I'm damned" he muttered be-
Z low his breath.
He looked hard at septimus. intent on
his tea drawing. Then he shifted his CT
N gar impatiently to the other side OF his
| mouth. mo. I'm damned II l am. !
can't be-
you can't be what?" asked septimus,
/ catching his last words.
II Damned"
\ why should you be?''
Il Look here" said Sypher. 1--WE rushed
4 in rather unceremoniously into your pri-
4 vate affairs. I'm sorry. But ! couldn't
! help taking an interest in the two of you.
both for your own sake and that Of Fora
II Middlemist''
II suppose you would do anything for
n her"
i Yes
/ so would l." said Septimus. In q low
/ voice. There are some women one lives
1 for and others one dies for"
/ she is one Of the women for whom
II one would live"
\ Septimus shook his head mo, she's
/ the other kind. It's much higher. I've
l had a lot of time to think the last few
/ months" he continued. after a pause.
4 I've had no one but Emmy and Hegi-
i sippe Cruchot to talk to-and I've thought
a great deal about women. They usedn't
to come my way. and 1 didn't know any
thing at all about them.
do you now?" asked Sypher, with q
smile.
.Oh, a great DEAL" replied septimus.
seriously. Its astonishing what n lot
OF difference there Is between them and
. between the ways men approach different
| types. One woman q man wants to take
by the hand and lead. and another--he's
quite content II she makes carpet OF
his body and walks over 1t to save her
feet from sharp stones. It's odd. isn't
lit?"
4