The Meridian times. (Meridian, Idaho) 1909-1938, 1912-02-09


mate had certainly chosen good time
to come and ask him for money. How
ard mistook the cynical gayety for
good humor.
81 said I'd cheer you up" he went
on 81 don't want to remind you oil
that little matter of two hundred and
fifty bucks which you borrowed from
me two years ago. suppose you've
forgotten 1t, but"
A look of annoyance came over Un.
derwood's face.
well, what of it," he snapped.
Howard took another drink before
he continued.
81 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 off with piking allow |
ance which | told him to put in the |
church plate. I told him l preferred |
independence. WE'LL" he went on |
with serio-comic gravity, II got my In
dependence, but Fm-fm dead broke.
You might as we'll 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
ysu know / can't stand anything like
. that. I'm too much of man to be
! supported by any woman"
!, He looked toward Underwood In
: stupid kind of way, as II looking for
: some sign Of approval, but he was dis
i ! appointed. Underwood's face was
g study of supreme indifference. He did
Q mot even appear to be listening. Some
: what disconnected, Howard again
3 raised the glass to bis lips. and thus thus
Y refreshed. went on:
Then I thought of you, old chap.
|, You've made rousing success of it
5 got big name as art collector-made
q ! lost of money and all that"
!. Underwood impatiently interrupted
+ him. .-........
Its impossible, Jeffries. Things are
l. little hard with me, too, just now.
= You'll have to wait for that $3.50"
e Howard grinned.
"'Taint the $3.50, old man, didn't
" want that. want couple of thou
p sand"
/, Underwood could not help laughing.
"a couple of thousand? Why not
IF make it million?"
g Towards demand struck him as be-
2 ing so humorous that he sat down con-
/. vulsed with laughter.
d Looking at him stupidity, Howard
Is helped himself to another drink.
Is 1T seems I'm hit" he said with a
1t grin.
Underwood by this time had recov-
cred his composure.
v 80 you've done nothing since you
lie left college?" he said.
s. mo" answered Howard. Il don't
n seem to get down to anything, My
IL ideas won't stay in one pace. I got a
y, job as time-keeper, but didn't keep
n. it down a week. / kept the time all
f. right, but it wasn't the right time
Again raising the glass to his lips, hi
he added: They're SO beastly particu
Pc lar"
in you keep pretty good time wit
de that" laughed Underwood, pointing b
the whisky.
ed Howard grinned in drunken fashion
le- TITS the one thing do punctually,
VS. he hiccoughed. Il can row, swim
OK play tennis, football. golf and polo al
wv well as anybody but I'll be damned i
l." can do anything quite as well as
ay can do this"
Ic- What do you want $4,000 for?" de
manded Underwood.
ak i've got an opportunity to go int
rs business. want $4,000 and l wan
ne it deuced quick"
Underwood shrugged his shoulders
IN why don't you go home and asl
re your father?" he demanded.
no His visitor seemed offended at thu
IN suggestion.
on What" he exclaimed, with conf
surprise, after being turned out like
'h dog with young wife on my hands
'4u Not much-no. I've injured thet
pride. You know father married
second time, loaded me down with
'uh stepmother. She's all right, but she
so confoundedly aristocratic 70
7H know her. Say, didn't you and she
e, wasn't there some sort Of an engage
49, ment once? Seems to me L"
80 Underwood rose to his feet and al
,a9 ruptly turned his back.
49, I'D rather you wouldn't get person
90 all he said curtly Sitting down at
~ desk, he began to rummage with som
his papers and, turning impatiently t
Howard, he said:
cd Say, old man, I'm very busy nov
You'll have to excuse me-"
aa If Howard had been sober, he woul
have understood that this was pre-
tn ty strong hint for him to be gone, br
in his besotted condition, he did ne
al,
Turning to Underwood, he burst OF
with an air of Offended dignity:
Underwood, you wouldn't go bac
BOD on me now. I'm an outcast, partial
ing dereIict on the ocean of life, as on
yer of my highly respectable uncles wrot
gar me. His grandfather was an iron put
at der" With drunken laugh he wei
to on: Doesn't It make you sick? II