Bonners Ferry herald. [volume] (Bonners Ferry, Idaho) 1904-current, 1912-04-06

al ihiotOOh Tic SJ eh9Sty tet
good humor.
Il said I'd cheer you up" he went
on. Il don't want to remind you of
that little matter of two hundred and
fifty bucks which you borrowed from
me two years ago. l suppose you've
forgotten 1t, but"
A look of annoyance came over I'm
derwood's face.
We'll, 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 1t. When
the family kicked me out for marry
ing the finest girl that ever lived, my
father cut me off with a piking allow
ance which l told him to put in the
church plate. 1 told him / preferred
independence. Well" he went on
with serio-comic gravity, 81 got my in
dependence, but I'm-I'm dead broke.
You might as well understand the stu
alton plainly. I can't find any busi-
ness that I'm fitted for, and Annie
threatens to go back to work. Now,
you know I can't stand anything like
that. I'm too much of man to be
supported by any woman"
He looked toward Underwood In a
stupid kind of way, as If looking for
some sign of approval, but he was dis
appointed. Underwood's face was g
study of supreme indifference. He did
not even appear to be listening Some
what disconnected, Howard again
ha ole 10 Ia Inc
refreshed. went on:
Then l thought of you, old chap.
You've made a rousing success of it
got big name as art collector-made
lost of money and all that"
Underwood impatiently interrupted
him.
TITS impossible, Jeffries. Things are
little hard with me, too, just now.
You'll have to wait for that $780,"
Howard grinned.
"'Taint the $3.50, old man, didn't
want that. I want a couple of thou
sand"
Underwood could not help laughing.
"a couple of thousand? Why not
make it a million?"
Towards demand struck him as be-
ing so humorous that he sat down con-
vulsed with laughter.
Looking at him stupidity, Howard
helped himself to another drink.
1T seems I'm a HIT" he said with a
grin.
Underwood by this time had recov-
cred his composure.
$50 you've done nothing since you
left college?" he said.
NO" answered Howard Il don't
seem to get down to anything My
ideas won't stay in one pace. got a
job as .time-keeper, but l didn't keep
it down a week. I kept the time all
right, but it wasn't the right time"
Again raising the glass to his lips, he
added; They're so beastly particu-
lar"
You keep pretty good time with
that" laughed Underwood pointing tC
the whisky.
Howard grinned in drunken fashion
TITS the one thing I do punctually,'
he hiccoughed. Il can row, swim
play tennis, football, golf and polo as
well as anybody, but I'll be damned Il
l can do anything quite as well as
can do this"
What do you want $4,000 for?" de
manded Underwood.
I've got an opportunity to go into
business. I want $4,000 and l wan
1t deuced quick"
Underwood shrugged his shoulders
why don't you go home and asl
your father?" he demanded.
His visitor seemed offended at tn,
suggestion,
"Whatl" he exclaimed, with comb
surprise. latter being turned out like
dog with young wife on my hands
Not much-no.- I've injured thei
pride. You know father married
second time, loaded me down with
stepmother. She's all right, but She
so confoundedly aristocratic. Yol
know her. Say, didn't you and She
wasn't there some sort of an engage
ment once? Seems to me +"
Underwood rose to his feet and All
ruptly turned his back.
I'D rather you wouldn't get person
al" he said curtly. Sitting down at
desk, he began to rummage. with som
papers and, turning impatiently t
Howard, he said:
Say, old man. I'm very busy now
You'll have to excuse me-"
If Howard had been sober, he woul,
have understood that this was a pref
ty strong hint for him to be gone, bu
In his besotted condition, he did no
propose to be disposed of so easily
Turning to Underwood, he burst GU
with an air of offended dignity:
Underwood, you wouldn't go bacI
on me now. I'm an outcast, pariat
derelict on the ocean Of life, as on
of my highly respectable uncles wrot
me. His grandfather was an iron pud
der" With a drunken laugh he wen
on: Doesn't 1t make you ssSk? IT
no good because I married the girl.
had ruined her life I'd still be