Los Angeles herald., 1910-12-04


# Jerking the cigarette from his mouth
@gW with such violence that the ashes be-
spattered his clothes, he stared down the
street after the departing couple. Good Lord he
said softly.
The couple walked to the end of the street, where
they turned the corner and their disappearance brought
him to his senses. Calmly pulling cigarette box from
his pocket he lit another cigarette and turning his back
on the newspaper office hurried toward Broadway His
present task was to interview hnancier returning on
the "Cedrc and nothing short of an earthquake would
have made him miss the appointment
When the fnancier was interviewed and the article
turned in for next mornings edition, he boarded sub
way train and rode uptown. He lived far up on the
West Side with his sister and her husband and with
them he took his dinner. Bul after 1t was over he
Immediately left the house and hurried around the cor
ner where arriving at the fiat, he rang Lily Beachs
bell.
Lily was alone She a pretty girl of twenty two
with light hair and blue eyes, but tonight her manner
was so quiet and serene that Ferdy nettled. He
therefore wasted no time in preminares. 'If you had
date with fifty millions why didn't you tell me?" he
demanded,
Lilys room was small, and she drew sketches for
the newspapers, articles scattered about it in
artistic confusion Perhaps it thisthe crampness
of the roon-that made Ferdys voice sound loud. AT
any rate she received him coldly and asked him to
remember where he was. Besides" she added when
you speak of my friends, please be careful what you
say"
"Friendsr Ferdys gray eyes widened and he pushed
back the cump of light brown hair that in his excite
ment had fallen across his forehead Good Lord
you and Dudley Gilman friends"
"Why not I'd like to know"
"Why not? Well, for thing, I always thought
friendships between financial kings and young news
paper women confined to dime novels"
81 suppose you never heard of such things in high
class literature like yours?
n anything hgh-class, the girl wouldn't keep secrets
from her fance Don't you suppose, if the Queen of
England took driving in the park Id tell you
about II"
Lily had gurgling laugh mo fear of that" she
said.
That's itp Ferdy's anger had passed, and in its
place was an air of great detection "I'm not down
my luck enough, am 1? You've got to rub it in"
Ly's laugh subsided. Women not made of
stone despite numerous indications that they are and
she bent down and patted the young the back.
Don't be fool, Ferdy" she said "I met Dudley
Gilman at Cherrington's studio, where his daughter is
learning to paint He knows all about my engagement
to YOU and he only goes with me because he likes to
talk about art
Ferdy looked up a little shamefacedy. $50 that's it,"
he said in sufficiently low to pass for an apology
Then as another thought to him, he added fierce
y "Did you tell him the we can't marry, too!
Did you tell him it's because like him squeeze the
very blood out of Our veins"
did you tell your rich uncle from Cleveland that
you voted last year for Debs asked Lily with aperiy
|I guess not But did something better than that"
Something betterl As he looked at her, Lily was
smiling contentedly and her mysterious air annoyed
him "What did you do?"
Il told him you terribly bright and I've fixed it
for you to meet him some time. Suppose he takes
fancy to you and gives you some information on the
market?"
Out of Ferdy's deep distress came the shadow of
smile "Whatll I speculate with-ar?"
"You don't have to, yourself; you can tell your
brother-in-aw."
"Newtownl He wouldn't take another tip from me
if I gave him the money to buy with"
Lily at this, was lost in thought For a moment she
was SILENT then she suddenly cried: Suppose he gives
you information and you make it into an articlel"
Something big, you mean"
Something nobody else knew about-a scoop"
"By Godp The idea was SO wonderful that Ferdy
was lost for moment in contemplation OF it. But his
thoughts, when they came, tumultuous, and =
moment later he was excited that the cump of un
ruly hair swung back and forth like pendulum. IF he
did, you know what it would mean| he shouted. It'd
mean that every paper in New York would try to get
me. wouldn't have to stick to a Wall Street paper
with few thousand circulation; I'd 90 with the Herald
or paper like that Robinson, our editor, called me
dub to-day Well let pull off scoop, thatss all,
He'd kow-tow in short order, I tell you%
He kept on like this until his enthusiasm spending
its force Lily amplihed her plan. On the following
Friday Dudley Gilman coming to the studio to
examine her work and Ferdy must be there, too To
introduce them would be her part, but Ferdy must
manage the rest
leave it to me-" said the young 'Ill manage
it to the Queens taste"
The Friday arriving Ferdy early. Mr.. Gilman
had not yet put in appearance but the sound OF
his automobile rose presently to the open window and
few minutes later he entered the room.