The Washington times., 1914-01-11

! Iicd Augv had relieved the world Of hi
! tedious presence. Therefore, there's &C
Ing TO be a wedding in Brewer street.
| 'ScCOLdly, ! went round this mOrnln
! in my most beautiful garments TO tn
! offices of the ByStandeT, at the editor
I personal request, and found that he
! the most bTainv man in London. Tha
/ Is to say he has recognized the Cunnin
| in my pencil. and I'm member of hi
! STAFF at a salary Of eight Uuid a week
| Eight UUid Il week. my boy! Do yO
I know what that means? IT means
| change OF dict from the friendly bu
| m"EOtCHOUs kpper. Il Means nCy
| frucks for my wife, my Wife!-and i
means. also that tonight We arC goin
| to hold vast and magnificent celehra
4 ton. in which champagne and oyster
are mere trriing items. 1t means more
over. that YOU. have got to celebrate
with rs. In fact. without you we sha
not celebrate at all. and you will, there
fore. ruin what should be the greatcts
DIV in our lives.
DO YOU understand that Angy i!
waiting, and has been waiting down
stairs in taxi fO- the last fifteen min
uics, and that you have been the caus'
OF EoT waiting? Do you understand tina
10 not leave this room without you
and that. furthermore, you must be il
Nour glad rags and a good temper?'
lie broke OH for moment and watch
ed EHeraTd crushing his unsmoked Gig
arctic. When he spoke again it wa,
quite simply and with great feeling.
Look here, old son, try ard keep you
end up. Don't use that thing. We'v,
all made hideOus mistakes, hut there,
always way out If you only keen or
trying. l don't want to Seem a poison
Gus ass, but-God's a jolly good sports
man and-He'n make il all right. Why
dash il, look what He's done for Angy
and me. Give it another chance. Come
with US and help me make my little gir
have the happiest hight Of her life
Making other people happy is the sures
way to forget ones own troubles"
Everard looked at him with a sneer
You're talking platitudipous nonsense,
he said. How the deuce do you know
anything about It? You talk about
making people happy, and keeping or
trying in an easy, copybook way, but
have you gone down 10 h night after
night h which is partly your OWL
cursed making? Have sou been hunted
by remorse until you've turned round
in the streets to see IL you've escaped
at last? Have you been hit when you're
down. by your spor:smanltke Provi'
He broke off and kicked viciously at
the revolver, and then suddenly his
whole manner changed. Ali the cynic-
ism and bitterness and rage left his
caught hold of his arm, and when he
spoke it was like a child pleading.
Don't leave me here alone. Take me
with you. Take me anywhere-I don I
care where it is, so long as ] don't stay
here. I've had about as much as can
stand, Ruddy. For Heaven sake don
go!''
Ruddy was amazed and appalled, and
deeply moved. He had never in his
life seen any man so emotional, so hys-
terical. so completely out of control, so
near the verge of breaking entirely
4 ArnI 1TH nf
he had thought that he was just putting
in a pretense at work and having a
good time. Hadn't this man few
nights ago been the life and soul of
their little party at Frascati's? Hadn [
he cracked Jokes and done funny Things
in the most whOle-heartcd and delight
ful manner? Could it be the same man
who was now ClinginE to his arm, beg
ging him not to go? If he didn't look
out Everard would break down.
That's all right he said, in a most
casual tone of voice. That's what I'm
here for. I've come to fetch you, an
we're all going out to have tremen-
GOJ SU-ce. Now, come on, my dear Eel
l,iw, ana have a cleanup. and make
y.,Urself COX like little gentleman
he took him across the bathroom
and stJod about, talking hard, while
EveraiG obeyed instructions and wash
ed himself. But while he was drying
Ruddv slipped into the sitting room and
picked UP lne TtNOlktl, anu GihpNl'N
the chambers, and made a collection Of
every Car.ridge he could see. and hid
them all in a corner behind some old
LaCaZ;DeS.
Ther ne laid out dress clothes and put
links in q white shirt, and took the
t"ees cut of his shoes and blew clouds
Of cigarette smoke and dropped ash
everywhere and told Everard all about
the day that had brought forth such
momentoUs events for himself and
AHgy and how they were going for 4
honeymoon after Everard had been best
man a. the wedding: until at last, after
what seemed an eternity, he got his
where Argv told them of all the things
she had been wondering while they
Kept her waiting. And while Everard
vas pulling himself together and apol-
O-NiHg, 4tuddv leaned back I'm the cab
with a great sigh of relief. It was going
1C be ~ difficult TO give AnEy the
haDpies. niEht of her life.