The Washington herald., 1912-08-25
He COMES UP SMILING s. aaz5IEz S5EEHza

his code, but could not find il and had
to write the telegram in English. II
would be safe enough. The operator
was raw country youth who wouldn''
be able to understand it anyway, and
it would go direct to his broker, who
would be spending the day at his coun-
try place on Long Island.
Have w. H. B." wrote Bartlett
will take him for weeks tour in
the country, with Billy's help. Eat
them up"
Rush it," he ordered sternly, "and
bring me the answer / will wait for
II on the porch"
The news soon spread that the stran-
ger dining with the general and his
daughter was none other than the sud
denly famous young stock broker,
told in headlines in the daily papers,
and whose life from the cradle up was
thrillingly recounted in the Sunday sup
plement When he had changed his
seat at the table. there had been a
unprecedented of amusement for the
eccentricities of great man, and those
who made a study of human nature
saw plainly an indication of that char.
acter which knew what it wanted ant.
would get it and keep it, overriding all
obstacles. A man like that, nothing
could down.
As they stood on the porch after
dinner, waiting for Bartlett to rejoin
them, the four were soon surrounded
by an ever-growing circle of friends
and near friends, and to his panied sur
prise, the Watermelon was the admired
center. of the group All looked on
him much as the general did. not so
much as a man but as a character out
Of the Sunday supplement. Bored to
exhaustion. lie shook hands Imply with
a score or more whom he did not know
and did no. wart TO know.
Ii was getting late and he would
have to return The clothes and become
once more merely the Watermelon. He
had forgotten the beauty show and had
no heart for it now. When he left
Billy nothing more counted, nothing
mattered Old clothes or good. hobo
or millionaire, without Billy, one was
as desirable as the other. He would
return the clothes and beat it up the
line that evening. James and Mike
could go to grass Meanwhile. in
ste1d of getting the most out of the
short space OF time allotted 10 him and
having Billy alone somewhere, here he
was shaking hands with a frowsy
bunch OF highbrows.
Mr.. Bachelor. would you invest in
copper. if YOU were :" queried an cid
erly maiden whose hand he had weak
~ graspcd and but Just dropped.
The Watermelon looked around, des-
perately, miserably Billy was gazing
at him from the edge OF the crowd, awe
ment on her small face Henrietta had
presented him gayly. to this one and
that, and the general. thoroughly in his
element. stood by and showed him off
as though he were a new horse or the
latest model motor car
No" said the Watermelon. Il
would not invest in copper"
Have you any copper" questioned
another with wink that the great man
was caught.
No" repeated the Watermelon with
the animation OF a hitching-post Il
have no copper. | have never had any,
not even pennies" he added. thinking
how fast the time was going and he
would become tramp again. with rag
ged clothes and empty pockets, while
Billy would still be-Billy.
Every one laughed and the general
-ssayed a joke on his own account
"Greenbacks are a better investment"
said he. "and you have invested in them
pretty we'll"
How could you tear yourself away
from the Street. asked one impress
sionable young thing.
Il don't know" said the Watermelon.
Wall Street is practically my home"
And he gazed languidly over their
heads into the trees across the road.
oh, Mr.. Bachelor, do YOU think the
ariff will affect the cost OF living" in
luired another of his new friends. so
many people claim that it will"
Henrietta laughed. Poor Mr..
Bachelor" said she You can now
-calize some of the drawbacks to great
ness"
The tariff" said the Watermelon
nonotonously, is all right. Take it
from me-"
He glanced again at Billy. The
lock in the garage struck two and he
NY Ndlf 44C 4huN-
cred vaguely, and made for the steps. |
He ran down them and started around
he hotel toward the stables. As he
passed near the place where Billy stood, |
lie looked up straight into her eyes.
Aren't you coming to see my car
Billy" he asked, the odd little name |
,elow his breath, so that even she did
lot hear
"Oh. yes. indeed" said Billy.
He caught her hands and swung her
Town to the lawn beside him.
At the garage they did not stop. The
Watermelon heard the general painting |
'ehind in the distance. but he did not
,ause. Ungratefuly he led the way
iown a narrow path around the stable,
nto the deep, cool shade of the woods. !
I was ?. He would give himself un-
il the clock struck 3. before he slnnk
way into the unknown again.
CHAPTER vi.
What Is Heaven Like:
.HEY found little messy knoll