The Southern herald., 1911-05-26
CHAPTER I.-contlnusd.

I wish could help you. old man.
As it is my own salary barely serves
10 keep me IN neckwear. Wall streets
Ureat fun. but it doesn't pay much;
that IS, not unless you play the game
yourself"
Howard smiled feebly as be re-
piied:
Nonsense wouldn't accept help
uf that sort I'm not reduced to so
Setting charity yet l guess I'd pre-
Ser the river to that But if you hear
e anything. keep me in mind"
The athlete made no response. He
~as apparently lost in thought when
suddenly he blurted out:
Say, Jeffries. you haven't got any
noney, have you-say, a couple Of
thousand dollars?"
Howard stared at the questioner as
u be doubted his sanity.
Two thousand dollarsl" he gasped.
DO you suppose that I'd be wearing
oet shoe leather looking for a Job,
d had s2.OOO?"
Coke looked disappointed as he re-
oiled:
oh. Of course. understand you
haven't 1t on you, only thought you
might be able to raise IT,"
Why do you ask?" inquired How
ard. his curiosity aroused.
Coke looked around to see If any
sne was listening. Then in a whis.
Ger he said:
It's a cinch. II yop had $4,000,
You and l could make a snug little
forthne. Don't you understand? In
Dy office | get tips. I'm on the inside
I know in advance what the big men
are going to do. When they start to
move a certain stock up, I'm on the
Dob. Understand? If you had 1000,
could raise as much, and we'd pool
cur capital, starting in the business
ourselves-on a small scale, of course.
II we hit 1t right we might make a
Aice income"
Edwards mouth watered Certain
" that was the kind Of life he liked
pest The feverish excitement of
gambling, the close association with
rich men, the promise of a luxurious
style Of living-all this appealed to
aim strongly. But what was the use
Where could he get $4,000? He
s.s.ouldn't go to his father He shook
nA5 head.
Tin afraid not, old sport" he said
~ they left the saloon and he held
out his hand to say good-by. But I'll
bear II In mind, and II things improve,
= III look you up. So long,"
a SElimbing wearily up the dirty stairs
Of the elevated railroad, he bought a
Hicket with one of the few nickels re.
manning in his pocket, and taking a
seat in north-bound train started on
his trip back to Harlem.
The day was overcast, rain threat
sned. pail Of mingled smoke and
mist hung over the entire city. From
the car window as the train wound
its serpentine course In and out the
maze of grimy offices, shops and tene
ments, everything appeared drab
dirty and squalid New York waf
seen at its ugliest Ensconced in q
erossseat, his chin leaning heavily
on his hand, Howard gazed dejectedly
out OF the window The depressing
outlook was in keeping with his owl
state of mind.
How would the adventure end
Reconciliation with his father was ou
.af the question. Letters sent hom'
remained without response. HI
wasn't surprised He knew his pate
too we'll to expect that he would re
lent SO soon. Besides, II the old mai
was so Internally proud, he'd SHOW
him he had some pride, too. He't
drown himself before he'd go down Of
bis knees, whining to be forgiven. Hi
father was dead wrong, anyway. Hi
marriage might have been foolish
Annie might be beneath him socially
She was not educated and her fathe
wasn't any better than he ought L
be. She did not talk correctly, he
manners left much to be desired, a
times he was secretly ashamed of hel
But her bringing up was her misfol
tune, not her fault. The girl hersel
vas straight as die. She had
heart Of gold. She was far more il
Gelligent, far more likely to max
him a happy home than some stucl
ap, idle society girl who had n
thought for anything save none.
dress and show. Perhaps If he ha
been less honorable and not Marie
her, his father would have though
more highly of him. II he'd RUNE
the girl, no doubt he would have bee
welcomed home with open arm
Pshaw! He might be poor, wea
fool but thank God, they couldn't r
proach him with that. Annie had bee
loyal to him throughout. He'd stis
70 her through thick and thin.
As the train swept round the cur
1t Fifty-third street and started on
long. straight run up, the West sid
his mind reverted to Robert Undt
wood. He had seen bis old associa
enly once since leaving college.
mn psFoaa hina oAe day on Fffth ~