Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1912-03-01
4 ripping good time here nrst. VIII
q month do?"

81 have joined in Cathewe, quietly.
What do you know about him."
Met him in Paris last year Met
him once before in Macedonia. Dined
with me in Paris Amazing lot Of
adventures. Rather down on his luck.
should judge"
Couple of scars on his left cheek
and bit of the scalp gone; German
student sort, rather good looking, tine
physique?"
That's the man."
Il know him. but not very we'll"
And Cathewe fumbed among the
other newspapers.
'Dine with me tonight" urged Hew-.
lit.
I'll tell you what. See that Italian
over there with the statues? am
going to buy him out, ard if ! don't
make a sale in half an hour I'll sign
the dinner checks"
Done
"I'll take half of that bet" said
Cathewe, rising 1T will be cheap"
Ten minutes later the two older
men saw Fitzgerald hang the tray
from his shoulders and take his posi-
ton on the corner
81 love that chap, Hewitt; he is what
always wanted TO be, but couldn't
be-" Cathewe pulled the dropping
ends of his mustache Heaven on
earth, will you look! A policeman is
arguing with him"
But | bought him out" protested
Fitzgerald. There's no law to pre-
vent my selling these"
"0h. I'm wise We want no horse
play on this corner; no joyful col.
lege stunts" roughly
Fitzgerald saw that frankness must
he his card so he played it. Look
here DO you see those two gentle
men in the window there"
The club?"
"Yes made a wager that | could
sell one of these statues in half an
hour If you force me off I'll lose
dinner"
We'll, I'll make bargain with you.
You can stand here for half an hour.
but if you open your mouth to wO-
man I'll run you in. No foOling; I'm
talking straight. I'm going to see
what your game is"
81 agree"
So the policeman turned to his cross
ing and reassumed his authority over
traffic, all the while never losing sight
of the imprOmptu vender.
Many pedestrians paused To see
well dressed young man hawking plaS
ter VenuSes was no ordinary sight
They knew that some play was going
on. but with that inveterate suspicion
of the city pedestrian none of them
stopped to speak or buy. Some news
boys gathered round and offered
few suggestions Fitzgerald gave
them back in kind.
Once he turned to see if his friends
were still watching him. They were.
two among many, for the exploit had
gone round. and there were other
wagers being laid on the result. While
his head was turned and his grin was
directed at the club window hand
some young woman in blue came
along. She paused, touched her lips
with her gloved hand meditatingly
and then went right about face swift.
ly. Some one In the window motion.
ed frantically to the vender, but he
did not understand. Ten minutes left
in which to win his bet He hadn't
made a very good bargain. HIM! The
young woman in blue was stopping
Her exquisite face was perfectly seri
GUS as her eyes ran over the collection
on the tray They were all done
execrably. something Fitzgerald hadn't
: noticed before.
How much are these apieceT
"Er-25 cents. ma'am," be stammer-
ed. As a matter Of fact he hadn't any
idea what the current price list was.
You seem very well dressed"
doubtfully, land you do not look hun
cry"
} Il am doing this for charity's sake"
! finding his wits. The policeman how
cred near, scowling. he was power
less. since the young woman had spo-
ken first.
81 will take this Canova, believe"
l she finally decided. opening her purse
and producing the necessary silver
"0f course. 1t is quite impossible to
. send this?"
q Eyes, ma'am. Sending IL would eat
up all the profits" But with Ill con
cealed eagerness. IF you will leave
your address ! can send as many as
you like"
81 will do that"
Incredible as it seemed. neither face
lost its repose; be dared not smile. and
the young woman did not care to.
Thsre was something familiar to his
memory In the oval face. but this was
> no time for a diligent search.
"Hey. miss" yelled one Of the news
d boys. you're t'rowin' your money
away. He's q fake; he amt no statoo
Q seller. He's doing it for joke"
y Fitzgerald lost little color. that
was all. But his customer ignored the
lmputation. She took out card and
Ia a Al f,,r hos