Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1914-05-24

ward slightly, his lackuser eyes kinding with fire
He looked the way dog does when door, which has
shut him outside, is about to open. There mo-
ments silence the man part; then he spoke eagerly
Bully for you Kid! How did you pull it OFF,"
Carmody tingled with the glow of his companions
undsguised interest But that just like old Fraser
He was always ungrudgng chap No matter if he
down and out himself, he ready enough to
cheer the victorious
ooh, had little thing at Vans. Perhaps told you
and it's sold. Come along and say what It's on
You need something stiff to brace you up"
Fraser did not answer: he seemed scarcely to have
heard. The afternoon light, streaming in at the
curtained window, revealed with ptless cearness his
worn, deeply lined face, from which the flush had re-
coded, leaving it CHASTITY its paor He sat very still
The only motion about him in his hands, which he
kept slowly opening and closing Suddenly he stretched
them out, palms uppermost. They were shaking as if
he had the palsy.
aEmpty' he cried. empty! I'm beggar All
day I've gone up and down among the boys trying to
borrow-no, to beg-money from them And they've
turned me down everywhere: they've had nothing to
give me. So 1 came here. I didn't know of your
windfall: I'm out of the way of I only thought
-hoped-that somehow you'd be different from the
rest"
Carmody did not speak, and the tense voice, after
waiting age-ong instant, went on doggedly:
"A beggar! But my wife-oh, you know LYDIA
she's ILL., She's been i'll all winter: only so merry so
brave! My God! I can't think of it! And she doesn't
get any better The doctor says she go away that
she won't be able to stand the March winds here. He
wants her to go South to be out in the air and
sunshine, and have fruit, and cream, and eggs Why,
he might well order take her to Egypt and buy
her of the pyramids for paything! could do that
well as the other I'm at my wits end l thought
perhaps the fellows might advance couple of hun
dred-"
would a couple of hundred do it?"
4You bet they would! know little place where the
prices cheap-the doctor says would be just the
we'll
make her! For-oh, Carmody-Carmody-I can't let
her go!"
Carmody kept his eyes resoutely averted. He could
bring himself look at the shaken face and what
it revealed. Almost Immediately he brought his chair
down on its four legs with rasping sound.
@Come, buck up, old chap! III be your banker.
You've happened in at the psychological moment
they say the story books Here's old Vans check for
three hundred and fifty. I'll ndorse it, and you get
it cashed-you11 need it ALL" He dashed off his sig
nature he spoke, take it, my and bless your
Fraser tottered to his feet with loud cry. 3You
mean it! You aren't playing with me! YOU He
made effort at selfcontro and put up his hand with
gesture that full of dignity, hrusting back the
little strip of paper Carmody urging upon him.
"Stop! Are you sure you can spare this? Won't it
cripple your"
1Not bit. Didn't tell you my ship had come in?
That's Vans fist all right but there's another party
who's interested in this small boy, W. H. Pember
ton Ever heard of him? I've done little thing that's
caught his fancy. Oh he knows what's what-he's got
taste!"
Fraser stood staring. Then his fingers closed gently
the check precious bit of happiness
that rude touch might shatter tone of color crep
into his face, and suddenly, gray haired and he
was, he seemed the very spirit of youth.
you've given courage again, he said without
any buster, Nand can't even thank you. Oh, can
never thank you-but I'll pay you back some day,
swear!"
4Cut that out. You can settle when it's convenient
x&:11 A.