The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1910-03-08
WHEN \ AIM RICH
 by Roy Mason. Copyright, G. w Dillingham; Company 19O9)
by Roy Mason.

 i he was the hippopotamus' benefactor W hose anonymous contributions had | been arriving throughout the previous | week? Had he not convinced tho 1 keeper, with some difficulty, that he really was not insane, and had he not casually inquired if many young 1 ladies enjoyed looking at the hip- popotamus? And had not the keep CT, most blessed among men, told him that a tall, graceful, young lady with awful eyes h"m he h Id seen there before had been there that very afternoon? Had he not ex- plained to the keeper that it WAS eJ11irer-t1y right and natural to be dazz1ed by said young ladys eyes, and that he was so dazzled himself :? He had. He had. And he believed l joyfu1Iy unme1odious song as he | shaved himself with studious care. Fifth Avenue exhibited itself in a different guise when Chester rubbed | a clear space in the frost on the front window of the stage with the tip of his glove. It was a silent Fifth Avenue, with here and there bent and hurrying figure showing black against the snow as it fought it's way s,tnwart the icy blasts. What chance was there that he would not be the hippopotamus' sole visitor on such a day this? Nore, seemingly; but such is the optimism of elated youth that Chester persisted in his design until the staggering stage horses crew up at the Sixty-fourth Street entrance opposite the Zoo.
 The keeper did not look surprised to see him.
 She's all right today,'' he vo1un- teered. ''She has just been eating your vegetables
 'The state of her health is vast relief" panted Chester breath1ess1y. He had just been blown in through the swinging doors by a fercer gust than usual.
 You're regular sweet on her, ain't you?" commented the keeper. Finest animal I ever met as- severated Chester. t'So graceful and intelligent
 ''Huh?''
 ''Has she had much company to- day?''
 'sMidd1in'." answered the keeper evasively.
 "Men or women?''
 ''1t's blowing pretty hard ain't it?" replied the keeper.
 Man or woman?" persisted Ches- ter.
 T1 l1 ing up here on a day like this? And besides how did you know there was only one?"
 Chester's fingers closed on the keepers shoulder with a wise like grip. The latter abruptly withdrew his hands from his pockets to re- taliate at this unexpected attack. A dollar bill futtered to the floor at his side Instead of grappljng with him as Chester had expected, the keeper snatched up the bill in great con fusion.
 |" . she ...I promised .''I he slammed, sthead off," shouted Chester. What will you take for that dollar bi1l?''
 .swhat?" The keeper was more and more bewi1dered.
 What will you take for that dol lar bili?'
 ''She .''
 "shut up: What will you take for that dollar bi11?''
 ''But .''
 "Tn give you two dollars for it, said Chester finally.
 The keeper handed him the dollar bill, and Chester gravely handed him two others in exchange.
 ''Now don't. think that I'm a hip potomaniac, as the Sunday papers would say," he remarked severely. | But I need exercise to keep in con- oition. The weather may strike you as somewhat indictment, but that is because you are narrow minded. Moreover, it is comparatively easy to follow wheel tracks in this now. Good bye.'
 .'It was a s1eigh,'' the man mutt tered doubtfully-
 Hold you tongue,' said Chester; and saIlied forth.