, 1912-02-15

u0u UlB thAhSo ut thC Sdlne tlDue. ne
was a free lance in all the abused word
Implies. and he lived as he pleased.
spending his earnings freely and often
carelessly. knowing that the little his
father had left him would keep a mod
erately hungry wolf from the door
He had been born to a golden spoon.
but the food from the pewter one he
now used tasted just as good.
$50 here you are! I've been in the
billiard room and the card room and
the barroom."
Talking of barrooms!" Fitzgerald
reached for the button. "Sit down.
Hewitt, old boy. Glad to see you. Now
III tell you right of the bat, nothing
will persuade me. For years I've been
jumping to the four points Of the COM
pass at the beck Of your old magazine
and syndicate. I'm going to settle down
and write a novel,"
"Pifier" growled the editor. dropping
his lanky form into a chair.
"Pifie it may be. but I'm going to
have a whack at 1t. If ! ever do an
other article 1t will be as a millionaire's
private secretary. should like to
study his methods for saving his
money. What is 1t this timer"
"a dash to the north pole"
Never again north of Berlin or
south of Assuan for mine. No"
Come. Fitz; a great chance"
when you sent me to Manila I ex-
plored hell for you. but I've cooled of
considerably since then. No ice for
mine. except In silver buckets
you've made a pretty good thing out
Of us-something like FIVE thousand a
year and your e-xpenses-and with the
credentials we've always given you
you have been able to see the world as
few men see it."
That's just the trouble You've
spoiled me-"
eff it's a question of more money
Perish the thought" cried Fitzger
aid. clasping his knees and rocking
gently. "You know as well as I do,
Hewitt. that it's the game and not
the cash. I've found a new love. my
boy"
-Double harness?" with real anxiety.
Hewitt bit his scrubby mustache.
when a special correspondent married
! that was the end of him.
"There you go againT' warned the
recalcitrant. IF you don't stop eating
that mustache you'll have stomach
trouble that no Scotch whisky will
ever cure. The whole thing is in a
NUTSHELL" a sly humor creeping into
bis eyes. >" I'M tired of writing
epllemeral things. want to write
something that will last"
Write your epitaph. Jack" drawled
a deep voice from the reading table.
That's the only sure way. inc even
that is no good If your marble is
spongy."
"oh, Cathewe. this is not your
funeral" retorted the editor.
Perhaps not. All the same. III be
chief mourner II Jack takes up novel
writing"
You've been up north. Arthur" said
Fitzgerald. Whats your adviceY"
Don't do 1t. You've often wondered
nov and where | lost these two digits.
Up there"
Arthur Cathewe was a tall. loose
limbed a forty-two or three. rather
handsome. and a bit shy with most
folk. Rarely any one saw him outside
the club, He had few intimates. but
I" these he was all that friendship
me~ans-kindly, tender. loyal. generous.
self effacing. And Fitzgerald loved
MIN best of all men. 1t did nc mat
Yer that there were periods when they
became separated for months at a
ume. They would some day u up
together In the same place. why.
hello, Arthur" Glad to see you.
ackr' and that was all that was
Necessary. All the enthusiasm was
lown deep below. Cathewe was al
pays In funds: Fitzgerald sometimes:
ut there was never any lending or
Borrowing between them. This will
10 much toward keeping friendship
Teen. The elder nan was a great
unter: he had been everywhere.
lorth and south. east and west. He
ever fooled away his time at
iseons and traps: big game. where
he betting was even. where the ami
pai had almost the same chance as
ne man. He could be tolerably
umorous' upon occasions. The solemn
asst to his comedy face predestined
in for this talent.
Well. Fitz. what are you going to
or
Hewitt. give me a chance. I've
cen home but a week. I'm not going
dash to the pole without having
ripping good time here first. VIII
month DOR
Oh, h expedition doesn't leave for
NO months yet. But we must sign
" Contract a month beforehand" '
Today Is the first of June; l prom
o to telegraph you yes or NO this