The Washington herald., 1911-02-09
A SPLENDID HAZARD
By HAROLD MacGRATH
Copyright. 1910 The Bobbs- Merrill Cumuny.)

"Ah, bass.' murmured Cathewe from
behind his journal.
by the way, Hewitt" said Fitzgerald,
have you ever heard Of a chap called
Karl Breitmann?"
Yes answered Hewitt. Never met
him personally, though"
Il have joined in Cathewe quietly
He laid down the Times. What do you
know about him.
Met him in Paris last year. Met him
once before in Macedonia Dined with
me in Paris. Amazing lot Of adventures.
Rather down on his luck, / should
judge
Couple OF scars on his left cheek and
bit of the scalp gone; German student
sort rather good-lOoking. fine physique ?"
That's the man.
Il know him. but not very we'll" And
Cathewe fumbled among the other news
papers
Dine with me tonight" urged Hewitt.
'I'll tell you what. See that Italian
over there with the statues? l am go
ing to buy him out, and il don't make
a sale in half an hour I'll sign the din
ner checks"
Done
'T'll take half that bet." said Cathewe,
rising. 1T will be cheap"
Ten minutes later the two older men
saw Fitzgerald hang the tray from his
shoulders and take his position on the
corner.
Il love that chap. Hewitt: he is what
I always wanted to be- but couldn't be-"
Cathewe pulled the dropping ends Of his
mustache. IF he should write a novel
I'm afraid for your sake that it will be a
good one. Keep him busy. Novel writ
ing keeps man indoors. But don't send
him on any damn goose chase for the
pole"
why not?'
"Well, he might discover it. But. hon.
estly. it's so godforsaken and cold and
useless. l have hunted musk-ox, and
know something about the place. North
polling. as l call it. must be a mans nat
ural bent: otherwise you kill the best
that's in him.
Heaven on earth. will you look! A
policeman is arguing with him." Hewitt
shook with laughter.
But 1 bought him out" protested Fitz-
gerald. There's no law to prevent me
selling these"
''Oh. I'm wise. We want no horseplay
on this corner, no joyful college stunts.-
roughly.
Fitzgerald saw that frankness mus, pe
his card. so he played it. Look here. do
you see those two gentlemen in the win
dow there?'
'aThe club?''
Yes. I made a wager that I could sen
one Of these statues in half an hour II
you force me of I'll lose a dinner"
'"Well, I'll make a bargain with you.
You can stand here for half an hour, but
If you open your mouth to a woman I'll
run you in. No fooling; I'm talking
straight. I'm going to see what your
game is"
So the policeman turned to his crossing
and resumed his authority over traffic,
all the while never losing sight of the
impromptu vender.
Many pedestrians paused. To see a
well-dressed young man hawking plaster
Venuses was no ordinary sight. They
knew that some play was going on. but,
with that inveterate suspicion Of the city
pedestrian. none Of them stopped to
speak or buy. Some newsboys gathered
round and offered a few suggestions.
Fitzgerald gave them back in kind. No
woman spoke. but there wasn't one who
passed that didn't look at him with more
than ordinary curiosity. He was enjoy
ing it. 1t reminded him Of the man who
offered sovereigns for shillings and never
exchanged a coin.
Once he turned to see II his friends
among many. for the exploit had gone
round, and there were other wagers be-
ing laid on the result. While his head
was turned. and his grin was directed At
the club window, q handsome young
woman in blue came along. She paused.
touched her lips with her Gloved hand
meditatingly. and then went right-about-
face swiftly. Some one In the window
motioned frantically to the vender, but
he did not understand. Ten minutes left
in which TO win his bet. He hadn't made
q very good bargain. HIM! The young
woman in blue was stopping. Her ex-
quisite face was perfectly serious - her
eyes ran over the collection on the tray.
They were~all done execrably. something
Fitzgerald hadn't noticed before.
& How much are these aptece?
.Er-2s cents. ma'am." he stammered.
As q matter OF fact he hadn't any idea
what the current price list was.
You seem very well drsssed." doubt
fuIiy, .ssnd you do not look hungry"
Il am doing thls for charlty's sake,
AaAm9 hio VITA Tho poa1cogl1n Aevers1l