Pullman herald. [volume] (Pullman, W.T. [Wash.]) 1888-1989, 1911-10-06
CHAPTER VI.

The door slammed and Underwood
returned to the sitting room. Taking
no notice of Howard he walked over
to the desk, slowly selected a cigar
and lighted 1t. Howard looked up at
him foolishly, not knowing what to
say. His frequent libations had SC
befuddled him that he had almost for.
gotten the object of his visit.
Excuse my butting in, old chap,
he stammered. but"
Underwood made no answdt. How.
ard stared at him in comic surprise
able to notice that something was
wrong.
Say, old fellow" he gurgled
| you're a regular Jim Dumps Why
so chopfallen, So? My! what long
face! Is that the way you greet a
classmate, a fellow frat? Wait till
you hear my hard-luck story. That'll
| cheer you up. Who was it said:
There's nothing cheers us up so much
as other peoples money!" Reaching
for the whisky bottle, he went on I:
First I'll pour out another drink.
You see, | need courage, old man.
I've got favor to ask. | want some
money. | not only want i'll need 1t"
Underwood laughed, a hollow, mock.
ing laugh of derision. His old class
mate had certainly chosen a good time
to come and ask him for money. How
| ard mistook the cynical gayety for
good humor.
L said I'd cheer you up" he went
on. Il don't want to remind you of
that little matter of two hundred and
fifty bucks which you borrowed from
me two years ago. | suppose you've
forgotten it, but"
A look of annoyance came over I'm
derwood's face.
We'll, what of it?" he snapped.
Howard took another drink before
he continued.
Il wouldn't remind you of the loan.
old chap; but I'm up against 1t. When
the family kicked me out for marry
ing the finest girl that ever lived, my
father cut me off with a piking allow
ance which I told him to put In the
church plate. l told him | preferred
independence. Well" he went on
with serio-comic gravity, Il got my In
dependence, but I'm-I'm dead broke
You might as we'll understand the stu.
alton plainly. can't find any bust
ness that I'm fitted for. and Annie
threatens to go back to work. Now,
you know l can't stand anything like
that. I'm too much of a man to be
supported by any woman"
He looked toward Underwood In
stupid kind of way, as If looking for
some sign of approval, but he was dis
appointed. Underwood's face was
study of supreme Indifference. He did
not even appear to be listening. Some
what disconnected, Howard again
refreshed. went on:
Then | thought of you, old chap.
You've made rousing success of it
got big name as art collector-made
lost of money and all that"
Underwood impatiently interrupted
him.
IT'S impossible, Jeffries. Things are
little hard with me, too, just now.
You'll have to wait for that $3.50"
Howard grinned.
faint the $3.50, old man, | didn't
want that. | want couple of thou
sand"
Underwood could not help laughing.
"a couple of thousand? Why not
make 1t million?"
Towards demand struck him as be-
Ing so humorous that he sat down con.
vulsed with laughter.
Looking at him stupidity, Howard
helped himself to another drink.
ut seems I'm hit" he said with
grin.
Underwood by this time had recov-
cred his composure.
80 you've done nothing since you
left college?" he said.
mo" answered Howard. 81 don't
seem to get down to anything. MY