The Elbert County tribune., 1911-04-14

Il mAt6 uaQ ccIt4luiy CHOSEN u Booo u1no
to come and ask him for money How
ard mistook the cynical gayety for
good humor
II said I'd cheer you up" he went
on II 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 1t. but"
| look Of annoyance came over Un-
derwood's face.
We'll, what of tit" he snapped.
Howard took another drink before
he continued.
II wouldn't remind you OF the loan.
old chap; but I'm up against It, When
the family kicked me out for marry
ing the finest girl that ever lived, my
father cut me on with a piking allow
ance which told him to put In the
church plate. told him preferred
independence. Well" he went on
dependence but I'm-Im dead broke.
You might as well understand the stu
| alton plainly. can't find any busi-
ness that I'm fitted for. and Annie
threatens to go back to work. Now.
you know can't stand anything like
that I'm too much of a man to be
supported by any woman"
He looked toward Underwood in a
stupid kind of way. as II looking for
some sign of approval. but he was dis
appointed. Underwood's face was a
study Of supreme indifference. He did
not even appear to be listening. Some
what disconnected, Howard again
raised the glass to his lips. and thus
refreshed. went on:
Then / thought of you, old chap.
You've made a rousing success of tt
got big name as art collector-made
! lost of money and all that"
Underwood impatiently interrupted
him
Its impossible, Jeffries Things are
little hard with me, too. just now.
You'll have to walt for that $3.50"
Howard grinned.
"'Taint the $3.50. old man, | didn't
want that. want a couple CT thou
sand"
Underwood could not help laughing
"A couple of thousand? Why not
make 1t a 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
1T seems I'm hit" he said with a
grin.
Underwood by this time had recov-
cred his composure.
so you've done nothing since you
left college?' he said.
NO" answered. Howard. Il don't
seem to get down to anything. My
ideas won't stay in one pace. | got a
job as time-keeper. but l didn't keep
it down a week. I kept the time all
right, but 1t wasn't the right time"
Again raising the glass to his lips. he
added: They're SO beastly particu-
| lar"
You keep pretty good time with
that" laughed Underwood, pointing to
the whisky.
| Howard grinned in drunken fashion.
tits the one thing l do punctually,"
| he hiccoughed. II can row, swim.
play tennis. football. golf and polo as
well as anybody, but I'll be damned If
can do anything quite as well as
can do this
What do you want $4,000 for?" de-
manded Underwood.
I've got an opportunity to go into
business. l want $4,000. and want
1t deuced quick"
Underwood shrugged his shoulders.
why don't you go home and ask
your father?" he demanded.
| His visitor seemed offended at the
suggestion.
| What" he exclaimed. with comic
surprise, latter being turned out like a
dog with young wife on my hands!
| Not much-no. I've injured their
pride. You know father married a
second time. loaded me down with a
stepmother. She's all right. but she's
SO confoundedly aristocratfc. You
know her. Say. didn't you and she
wasn't there some sort of an engage
ment once? Seems to me l."
|. Underwood rose to his feet and abb
ruptly turned his back.
I'D rather you wouldn't get person
all he said CURLY. Sitting down at a
desk. he began to rummage with some
papers and. turning impatiently to
Howard. he said
Say. old man. I'm very busy now.
You'll have to excuse me-"
If Howard had been sober, he would
have understood that this was pref
ty strong hint for him to be gone. but
in his besotted condition. he did not
propose to be disposed of SO easily.
Turning to Underwood. he burst out
with an air OF offended dignity:
underwood, you wouldn't go back
on me now. I'm an outcast. pariah,
a derelict on the ocean of life. as one
of my highly respectable uncles wrote
me. His grandfather was an iron pud-