Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1912-02-23


WOMAN"
few months on bacon and liver and
then turn our attention to trufflpS and
old wines and Cabanas at two francs
fifty We are collectively a good Sur;
OF vagabOnd | have n little besides
my work: not much. but enough to loaf
ON when no newspaper or magazine
cares to pay my expenses in Europe
Anyhow, | prefer this work to staying
home 10 be hampered by intellectual
boundaries. My vest will never reach
the true proportions which would
make me successful IN politics"
You are luckier than am" Brett,
mann replied He slipped his wine
slowly and with relish How long was
it since he had tasted a good chamber
tin?
Perhaps Fitzgerald had noticed it
when Breitmann came in The latterS
velvet collar was worn. there waS Il
suspicious gloss at the elbows. the cuff
buttons were of cheap metal. his lin
gers were without rings. But the
American readily understood. There
are lean years and fat years in jour
nalism. and he himself had known
them. For the present this man was a
little down on his luck; that was all.
A party came in and took the near
table. There were four. two elderly
men an elderly woman and girl
Fitzgerald, as he side glanced. was az
forded shiver Of pleasure He recog
nized the girl 1t was she who had
given the flowers to the veteran.
THAT is remarkably fine young
woman" said Breitmann. echoing
Fitzgerald'S thought.
The waiter opened the champagne
Eyes. saw her give some violets
this afternoon to an old soldier in the
tomb. II was pretty scene"
J Their glances, drawn by some occult
force, half circled till they paused on
the face of the girl. who. perhaps com.
PEELED by the same invisible power.
had leveled her eyes in their direction
With well bred calm her interest re.
turned to her companions. and the in
cident was to all outward sign closed.
Whatever took place behind that beau
tiful but Indifferent mask no one else
ever learned. but simultaneously in the
minds Of these two adventurers-and
surely to call a man an adventurer
does not necessarily imply that he is
chevalier d'industrie-a thought. tinged
with regret and loneliness. was born
to have and TO hold maid like that.
Sometimes. knowing that | shall
never be rich. have desired a title"
remarked Fitzgerald humorously.
And what would you do with it,
suriously.
! "Oh. Id use it against porters and
walters and officials. There's nothing
like 1t. | have observed a good deal
1t has a magic sound, like Orpheus'
Tyre. The stiffest back becomes supine
at the first twinkle of it"
IL should like to travel with you
Mr.. Fitzgerald" said Breitmann mus
ingly. You would be good company
Some day. perhaps. I'll try your pre-
Scripdon. but I'm only a poor devil
OF a homeless. landlesS baron"
Fitzgerald sat up. You surprise me"
Yes. However. neither my father
nor my grandfather used it. and as
the pitifu few acres which went with
Il is a sterile Bavarian hillside have
never used it either Besides, neither
the peerage nor the Almanach de
Gotha make mention of it. but still
the patent of nobility was legal. and
could use II despite the negligence
Of those two authorities"
You could use it in America. There
Ire not many 'Burkes' there"
1T amuses me to think that should
confde this secret to you. The wine
Is good. and perhaps-perhaps was
hungry. Accept what have told
you as a jest"
/ They both became untalkative as the