The Washington herald., 1914-12-20
Copyright. Isl4.l

its huge, gay, lazy flags above the street.
Inside, dark wainscots, dim high mir
rors, and the pale CLINT of crystal from
shadowy ceilings; and crests innumer-
able-on everything; and lean lackeys
stealing to and fro, with the complex
ions of men newly dead.
From the desk a crest-embroidered
servant led me TO the mirror-lined ele-
vator.
The princes suite" l heard him
whisper TO the rigid figure at the ele-
vabor door.
We padded down deep-carpeted
corridor, our door opened, and l was
passed, with a formaIity that froze the
soul, TO another lackey, sitter and
lcancr than the first; was led through
a, high-wallcd sitting-room, and found
myself in a tremendous chamber-tap-
cstried walls. high carved wardrobes,
and a great black carved bed with tall
corner posts towering up toward the
ceiling.
By one of the high windows sat the
great figure of man of about fifty, in
Lavender pajamas and bathrobe, mo-
tionlcss, stolidly sick
Hello, Doc" he said. How are
you? Sit down. Higgins, my name is. !"
The dcath's-head of laclley faded
from the room.
Say, fix me up, will you:' went on
the man in the high-backed chair. 1--WE
been hitting it up too much the last
day or two.
got his symptoms, and gave him
something 10 relieve the pain. He was
inc specimen. physically; but there
were some rather significant signs Ii
seemed TO me | caught 4 suspicion of a
very menaclng trouble-one of those
diseases of the restaurant you see so
much III great cities.
Have they ever put YOU on a perma-
ncut Dict" ! asked him
lie gave me most singular look,
and started shaking with laughter.
That's a good one" he said. That
certainly is all right"
He clambercd into the bed of princes
and left him, comfortable and pleased,
still chuckling over my question.
The next morning | found him sit
ting in his outer room, the morning
papers strewn in an untidy circle around
him, an unlighted cigar fixed content
cdly in his mouth.
Hello, Doe he cried in great, vi
hrant masculine voice, and waved his
newspaper
He lifted himself slowly and shook
hands.
well, how're you today: Have a
cigar" he said. and extended one from
the upper pocket of his coat, which
bristled with cigars.
well, thank you," L said. How are
!ou:"
Fine and dandy. Never felt better
in nv life" he went on Say, that
was a funny crack OF yours yesterday,
that diet business. You don't think so
much OF it now, do you?"
He stretched himself up before me.
He was a wonderful specimen; a
breed not raised in the cities; or any
where but a few particular sections of
the earth He looked FIVE years young
CT than he had the day before. But
Just the same, there was something
there, something serious.
u still think you've got to diet"
said.
"Dictl" he cried. Me-. Why.
could bite the top off hydrant and
take a drink this minute. I'm strong
cr'n herd OF elephants
His exuberance rose as he proclaimed
himself. Il guess I'm sick, eh, Doc
You'll swear to it, won't you? Now,
s. tell YOU what you do for me-. Doctor.
Nou keep me lingering along through
the spring, and about June you tell me
I've got to have rest and little sea
trip. Then l can get out and take my
5aby and go abroad
Ills huge palm. falling upon my
shoulder. nearly cracked my soul loose
from my body. "Oh, no, that's the
gamc!' he cried
lie tugged d great watch from his
waist, opened it, and held it toward
me
ESay. amt she a nice little girl, Doc
tor? That's my Baby. Her mother
dead. She's all | got now"
In the watch cover was the photo
graph of thin-faced, rather petulant-
looking girl in a fussy headdress, hair
piled high on her head. and all the
marks of that peculiar genius for hectic
dressing which flowers into richest
bloom when the robust imagination of
the Middle West lays hold upon the
women's storehouses of New York.
They were certainly Middle Western
CTS.
There's the girl" he said, I'm
going TO take abroad with me this sum-
mcr You don't blame me for wanting
to. do you: Amt she regular little
heartbrcaker? And, at that, she's only
eighteen"
She was dressed like a woman of at
least twenty-five. But, of course, that
must always be expected in life like
that There is no girlhood; they pass
At once from childhood TO full-fiowered
maturity.
The telephone rang, and he went up
and put his sOnorous voice into it.
Sorry" he said, coming back. I've
got a hurry call" He pushed a
button. Il tell you what you do, Doc.
You come over here tonight and take
dinner with me. and we'll talk over this
diet business right-when we're feeling
good. Now, you got 10 come; / won't
take no. You and l got to get &C
quainted. It's time two good fellows
like you and me got TO know each
other"
looted lackey was pulling on his big
overcoat with an astrachan collar
i H. L.,