The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1910-02-28
WHEN | AM RICH
 by Roy Mason Copyright, G. w Dillingham; Company, 1909)
by Roy Mason.

nistakably the writing of Chester | Taylor. Dear Perry," the letter ran, 'I am l in serious trouble with Goldsmith & Elkins. You have been so kind to me before that I feel sure that I can turn to you again. I must have five thousand dollars now-tonight. There are reasons why you will not refuse | me. The boy is waiting for an an- l swer. Give him check or am lost. | For Gods sake don't desert me in 1 this awful crisis. The money would | be of no use to me tomorrow. have
 arranged to cash the check tonight.
 If you consent, and send the money.
 nod to me after you have done so. Yours in agony, Chester Taylor" | '1t seemed to me- muttered Perry
 thoughtfully, 'that that is rubbing it | in pretty hard. He says nothing
 about the payment. What was it he
 said about there being reasons why
 I should not refuse him?" Perry
 used an expletive which seldom pass
 ed his lips. 'T presume that this ex-
 plains his feverish gaiety tonight" Another expletive, and @ long pause.
 Well" with an effort, "I'll have to
 go to work. That's all there is to it." Two minutes later the page had | J rfo hic
 whose face was hard and set, nodded
 across the table to Chester. The lat
 ter nodded back understandingly, and
 glanced around at Elxins with
 smiling.
 l "He seems to be perfectly happy :! for once," he murmured to Perry. "You certainly are bully host.'' Perry stared at him but did not
 answer.
 The men had begun to don their overcoats, and Chester was the first
 among them.
 Would you mind," asked Perry,
 waiting for a moment? I want to
 talk to you"
 I'm tired, Perry, and I've got to
 get to business tomorrow. I'm no
 blooming sybarite who can sleep all
 day like you"
 Under the circumstances" repeat ed Perry, it would be just as well if I you waited a moment"
 | '1'1l see you at the office in the
 morning." said Chester yawning. I'm
 really in hurry tonight l The other men were crowding about them, and had begun to listen to che colloquy, and Perry forced himself to
 bid them a cheerful goodnight,
 Chester was nearly the first to leave. and presently he was heard below still singing:
 Oh, the Three will take the Deuce ,t And the Ace will take them all, }. And now we're in the company
 We won't go home at all, Here's to you, my jovial soul,- Il "I never thought it of Chester Tay- lor," muttered Perry, as he sped the last departing guest. 'I've always known that he was erratic,s but he
 seemed to me as square as die. Wouldn't even discuss it with me! wonder what the Devil the trouble
 is. He has been there only few days, and can't have had access to
 any amount of cash. Damn it, Perry, you're an internal low down pup for
 even thinking such a thing. Of course he'll explain it in the morning. q He didn't want to attract their at- tention by staying behind tonight. 7 But why didn't he ask me that at llunch? Must have happened this , afternoon. The notes the queer part
 of it."
 ,I He took it out and scanned it again.
 ! That's Chester's writing all right. $ Besides he nodded back at me, and , even had the impudence -. There ; you go again, Perry! Go to bed.' , He went to bed and lay there t sleepless, revolving in his mind over , and over again the pros and cons of Chester's action. After threshing
 over the ground for the hundredth 3 time, he fell asleep from pure ex- haustion, and dreamed that the five thousand dollars, which was all he , had kept for living expenses, was ? ground in a long unceasing roll out 3 of hurdy gurdy which buzzed like l a stock ticker, and that Chester was s operating the handle. But when he ? tried to take it from the cup into 5 which it was falling Chester begged \ him, in agonizde tones, to leave it t there. He awoke in the morning in . a dripping precipitation and in that 7 uncomfortable state of mind which
 can be likened only to that of man ; who knows that he had an important engagement and can't for the life of t him remember what it is. ? 'T don't see the object in taking +ba rick said Flkins to his mariner