The Washington times., 1911-01-27

as though it were a city to be
taken by storm. He was full
of power, of the creative fury.
His long disused pen, at first, was stub
born, but gradually he rebroke it TO
work; and he wrote with an ease, a
sureness of touch, fire, that he never
felt before. He had half a dozen sepa-
rate incentives, and the sum of these
was a vast energy that drove him con-
quering through the difficulties of his
task
These early days of the story were
high days with him. He forgot, when
writing, his basement room, his jan
itors work, his dishonOr. Infinity lay
between the end of December and the
end of January; in a month his spirits
had risen from nadir TO zenith. He
even dared dream of passing Allen upon
some midlevel and winning to the dizzy
highest place in Helen's regard. The
exhaustion of spirit at the end of each
days writing quenched this dream; but
II was, nevertheless, enrapturing while
It lasted, and at times David came near
believing in it.
David had asked both Rogers and the
mayor to aid him in securing Tom
bona fide position, and after the boy
had been running the Pan-American
Cafe for a month place was found.
Toms wages had been a heavy drain
upon David's meager income, and IT
was with a feeling of relief that David
announced the coming change one night
as they were preparing for bed.
I've got some great news for you,
what's dat?'' asked the boy, drop
ping the shoe he had just taken off.
make a show Of enthusiasm. Delivery
boy on a wagon. You're to get 81 a
week-a dollar more than you're get
ting Think of that! You're in luck, my
boy-you're getting rtch!
But David's enthusiasm was not in
fectuous. There came no sparkle into
the boys eyes and no eagerness into
his manner. He looked thoughtfully at
David a moment, then shook his head.
II don't think I'll take 1t.
"Whatv cried David. The possibility
of refusal had not occurred to him. He
plunged into a fervent portrayal of the
advantages of the new place.
"Mebbe you're right" Tom said, when
gettfn' used to things at de Pan-Amer-
lean; / likes de boss an I likes de wolk,
and don't need de extry dollar. No; l
don't want no better job, dan got. 1t
suits me right up to de chin"
He walked, in one shoe and in one
stocking, across to David and held out
his hand But, pard"-a note of huski-
ness was in his voice-''pard, appre-
ciate dat you was tryin' to do de fine
ting by me. Shake!"
Tom went back to the Mayor and David
continued dropping in Saturdays an
hour before pay time.
One night in early February, as David
was working at his story, he had call
from Bill Halpin, whom he had not seen
since Their first meeting. Halpin leaned
against the door, after II had been
closed. and silently regarded David, a
sneering smile upon his face.
Honest" he shot out at length, with
a short, dry laugh. It was his first
word since entering.
David stared at the sarcastic, saturn
ine figure.
what do you mean?"
Honest! And half believed your
Again the short laugh. You almost
fooled Bill Halp:n-which is sayin'
you're pretty smooth" He jerked his
head upward. Whats your gamer
yours and this man Rogers?"
See here, Halpin, what are you talk
ing about?''
"Oh! I suppose you'll say you don't
even know him. But since I met you
on the Bowery I've been round here
twice, and both times I found you two
with your noses together. You're a
smooth pair. Come-what's your game?'
'I don't understand you
Don't try to fool me, Aldrich," he
drawled "You can't. But don't tell me
the game unless you want to. You know
] wouldn't squeal if you did. All want
Is for you to know you can't throw that
honesty con into me-"
David strobe forward and laid sharp
hold of Halpin's shoulders.
See here, Bill Halpin, what the devil
do you mean7" he demanded roughly
Halpin looked cynical. good-humored
disbelief back into David's eyes and
again let out a dry cackle.
drop that actor business with me,