Evening star., 1911-08-31
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HAPPY
HAWKINS
Copyright, 1910, The Bobbs- Mesrin Company

country We pay more attention to the
realities than we do to the trimmings He
picked out the hack-50 cents apiece
that's a good sign!
by George. the boy has filled out! He
| looks like a man; but what is he doing?
He's shaking hands with the coachman
| he's shaking hands with the cook! Good
| Lord! thought he was going to kiss the
maid. Now he's shaking hands with old
isn't introducing his quality friends
Queer looking quality. too"
The old man raised the window and in
| a voice which shook a little from excite
ment called. Here. Dick: stop that con-
| founded nonsense and come in and speak
| to me.
1T looks to me as IL he had Joined a
| show he grumbled. as he turned to the
! door to meet his nephew. From the very
I has been a constant surprise to me.'
day that child came into the world he
The next moment Dick, his brown face
| shining with health and the Joy OF a long
| deferred homecoming. burst into the
room. seized his uncle's hand and shook
| 1t vigorously. backed of q few steps.
surveyed him critically, pounced on the
hand once more and after another Wig
| orous shaking. exclaimed: by jing.
uncle, you are in corking form! l never
saw you looking better. Maybe a pound
there is no use Juggling around lot OF
surplus fat"
The elder mans face had broken into
/ involuntary smiles at the boys breezi-
ness; but the twinkling welcome in his
eyes shone through an unsuspected mist
He had staked a good part Of himself on
the task OF bringing this boy through to
| manhood, and ii affected him more than
the clear. steady. brown eyes and noted
| the open courage with which they re-
| turned his glance.
I'm mighty glad you're back, Dick he
said. gravely. You're looking well. Are
you ready to pitch in and work?''
| Play that bet open, uncle. and you'll
win a fortune." answered Dick. enthusi.
astically. II am strong for the life Of
toll and want to begin right away"
That's right! By George, Dick. you've
You might come back with a lot Of nom
sense IN your head" Bennington smiled
benignly and trif1e apologetically.
Never fear" replied Dick. seriously.
| have found my. lifework / want to begin
on 1t without moments waste. But let
me present my friends. This is Claude
| Lorrain; he is a count of one OF the most
ancient French families, but has cast
! aside his title and entire patrmony in
| order to devote himself to his fellow
/ men,"
| Lorrain bowed gracefully and held out
| a white slender hand as he said. with a
very slight accent, Il am rejoiced to meet
so much OF monsieur's good qualities that
already he seems like an old friend, also. =
| Mr.. Bannington's brows had drawn to-
| gether as he scrutinized Lorrain critical
| ly. II am always glad to meet one OF
Dicks friends" he said. in a voice which
held faint trace of reserve. ''but a little
| later / want to learn more OF this cast
| ing-aside business. Doesn't sound prac-
4 teal to me-
"And this is Emil Birkhead. uncle" con-
tinued Dick. you'll be sure to like him.
| He talks like a double-entry ledger"
1t was evident that the stolid German
| found more favor and there was no res
| ervatiOn in the hearty handshake he re-
ceived You don't look to me like man
who has given away his birthright, said
| Bennington. dryly.
1T is impossible for a man his birth
right to give away" replied the German,
as though from a platform. my birth
| right entities me to a little less than one
billionth Of the earths yearly production
| Of wealth. Grab / more become rob-
Der. accept less / am fool. That is,
| am a fool unless -
+, And this is Ivan Michaelowski. uncle"
interrupted Dick Here is a genuine
Russian peasant who speaks and writes
seven languages and is one OF the keen
| est reasoners you ever met You'll like
| him, ] know"
The Russian was a tall. lean man, with
| straight black hair, worn rather long.
/ His expression was. tense in its gravity
and his deep eyes burned with the fire of
| a consuming purpose. and yet a twinkle
| Of amusement flashed in Richard Ban
ningtons eyes as he offered his hand. II
am glad to meet yDu." he said, and the
| Russian merely bowed.
| And now, Higgins" said Dick to the
| butler. "show my friends to their rooms
| at once"
Higgins led the way into the hall and
| up the stairs. holding his small head very
high and oozing superciliousness at every
ThA al Do ornS, crtn fNl1 ya1
them with his eyes until they disappeared.
| and then he asked, gravely ''Is this the
entire troupe. Dick. or will the balance
arrive shortly?''
Dick laughed good humoredly. This
| Is the entire troupe, uncle. and I'm not
| surprised that they strike you as being a
little peculiar. They are out of the or
dinary. They are men Of remarkable at
1 tainment. l have spent the entire last
| year with them, and I consider it my
postgraduate course and of more i'm
portance than my entire university edu-
cation
'.Who footed the bills. Dick?" asked his
uncle.
well. I looked upon them as special
instructors, you know; SO 1 felt it my
duty to- settle most Of the bills"
Didn't have to fight much to have
your own way. did your
talked them around answered Dick.
stanchly striving to avoid the appearance
of making an apology which he felt was
in no measure due.
maintained his expression Of mild inter-
est and then his shrewd face relaxed into
an amused smile. You must be a most
convincing talker. Dick. a most con-
your checks. you know"
CTo be continued tomorrow.)
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