, 1910-05-05

that Is. not unless you play the game
yourself"
Howard smiled feebly as he r.
Piled:
"Nonsense-I wouldn't accept help
Of that sort. I'm not reduced to So
fer the river to that. But II you hear
Of anything. keep me In mind"
The athlete made no response. He
was apparently lost in thought when
suddenly he blurted out:
Say, J~effries, you haven't got any
money. have you-say. q couple of
thousand dollars?"
Howard stared at the questionsr a.
II he doubted his sanity.
1.-TWO thousand dollarsi" no gasped.
do you suppose that I'd be wearing
out shoe leather looking for a Job.
II I had $2.OO0?"
Coke looked disappointed as he re-
Piled:
"Oh, Of course, I understand you
haven't it on you, only thought you
might be able to raise it."
'hy w you dbh AhAuiACo INV
ard, his curiosity aroused.
Coke looked around to see II any
n vas listening. Then in q whis-
per he said:
TITS . cinch. II you had 5 1000,
you and I could make q snug little
fortune. Don't you understand? In
my office I get tips, I'm on the inside.
I know in advance what the big men
are going to do. When they start to
move a certain stock up. I'm on the
job. Understand? II you had 81. 900,
/ could raise as much. and we'd pool
our capital. starting in the business
ourselves-on a small scale, Of course
II we hit 1t right we might make a
nice income"
Towards mouth 'watered. Certain
ly that was the kind of life he liked
best. The feverish excitement of
gambling. the close association with
rich men, the promise of a luxurious
style of living-all this appealed to
him strongly. But what was the use?
Where could he get $4,000? He
couldn't go to his father. He shook
his head.
I'm afraid not, old sport" he said
as they left the saloon and he held
out his hand to say good-by. But I'll
bear it in mind. and If things improve.
I'll look you up. So long,"
Climbing YEARLY up the dirty stairs
Of the elevated railroad, he bought a
ticket with one of the few nickels re-
naming in his pocket. INT taking a
seat in a north-bound train started on
his trip back to Harlem.
The day was overcast, rain threat
ened. A pail of mingled smoke and
mist hung over the entire city. From
the car window as the train wound
its serpentine course in and tut the
maz of grimy offices, shops and tene-
ments, everything appeared drab,
dirty and squalid. New York was
seen at its ugliest. Ensconced in a
cross-seat, his chin leaning heavily
on his hand, Howard gazed dejectedly
out of the window. The depressing
outlook was in keeping with his own
state of mind.
How would the adventure endf
Reconciliation with his father was out
of the question. Letters sent home
remained without response. He
wasn't surprised. He knew his pater
too well to expect that he would re-
lent so soon. Besides, II the old man
was so Internally proud, he'd show
him he had some pride, too. He'd
drown himself before he'd 90 down on
his knees, whining to be forgiven. His
father was dead wrong, anyway. His
marriage might have been foolish;
Annie might be beneath him socially.
She was not educated and her father
wasn't any better than he ought to
be. She did not talk correctly. her
left much to be desired, at
times he was secretly ashamed of her.
But her bringing up vas her misfor.
tune, not her fault. The girl herself
was straight as a die. She had a
heart of gold. She vas far more in
telligent, far more likely to make
him a happv home than some stuck
Ito be continued).