The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1912-01-17

 and retreating. vast concords in public squares. at coronations, at catastrO- phes. at play. and he never lost in terest in watching them: they were the great expressions of humanity. This is perhaps the reason why his articles were always so rich in color. No two crowds were ever alike to him. consequently he never was at loss for a fresh description.
 Today the Italian vender of plaster statuettes caught his eye. For an hour now the poor wretch hadn't even drawn the attention of one of the thousands passing. Fitzgerald felt sorry for him. and once the desire came to go over and buy out the NeapoIitan: but he was too comfortable where he was and. beyond that, he was expecting a friend.
 Fitzgerald was thirty, with clean shaven, lean and eager face. russet in tone. well offset by the fine blue eyes which had the faculty of seeing little and big things at the same time. He was free lance in all the abused word implies. and he lived as he pleased. spending his earnings freely and often careIessly. 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, bur the food from the pewter one he now used tasted just as good
 "So here you are! I've been in the billiard room and the card room and the barrOom."
 Talking of barroomSr Fitzgerald reached for the button "Sit down. old bnu Glad f0 unF NnvV I'll tell you right off 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"
 "Pitfier' growIed the editor. dropping his lauky form into chair
 "Pif1e it may be. but I'm going to have a whack at it. If l ever do an- other article 1t will be as millionaire's study his methods for saving his money. What Is 1t this timeP'
 "A dash to the north pole."-
 .sNever again north of Berlin or south of Assuan for mine No"
 "Come, Fitz: a great chance"
 "'When you sent me to Manila ex- pIored hell for you. but I've cooled off considerably since then. No ice for mine. except in silver buckets"
 You've made pretty good thing out of us-something like five thousand a year and your expenses-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.T
 eff it's a question of more money''-
 sPerish the thoughtF' cried Fitzger- ald. clasping. his knees and rocking gently "You know as well as l do. Hewitt. that ftss the game and not the cash I've found a new love. my boy"
 sDouble 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 recaIcitrant- If you don't stop eating that mustacheS you'll have stomach trouble that no Scotch whisky will ever cure. The whole thing is in a nutshell" a sly humor creeping into his eyes. 'I am tired of writing ephemeral things. want to write something that will last"
 Write your epitaph. Jack drawied a deep voice from the reading table. That's the only. sure way. and 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. I'll be chief mourner if Jack takes up novel writing"
 You've been up north. Arthur" said Fitzgerald. "what's your adviceT'
 %Don't do it. You've often wondered how and where I lost these two digits. Up there"
 Arthur Cathewe was a tall. loos9 Iimbed man. 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 to these he was all that friendship means-kindly. tender. loyal. generous. self efsacing. And Fitzgerald loved him best of all men. It did not mat ter that there were periods when they became separated for months at q time. They would some day turn up together in the same place Why. hello. Arthur" Glad to see ycu. Jackr' and that was all that was necessnry. All the enthusiasm was down deep below. Cathewe was al ways in funds; Fitzgerald sometimes: but there was never any lending or borrowing between them This will do much toward keeping friendship green. The elder man was great hunter: he had been everywhere. north and south. east and west. He never fooled away his time at pigeons and traps: big game. where the betting was even, where the anil maj had almost the same chance as the man. He could be tolerabiy humorous upon occasions. The solemn cast to his comedy face predestined him for this talent.
 "WeIl. Fitz. what are you going to dor
 Hewitt. give me a chance. I've