New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1914-06-21

Of a ind he'd made in old <>N
rrntshop-a pencil sketch by Whistler. NM
He collects such things, believe Well, .thS
this was something he wanted very badly;
bu, he'd happened to be caught without
cash enough to pay for it. So he'd asked
the dealer to put it aside until next day. x<~vx.
There was my chance. | know something w.
about etchngs; own few, in fact al ~
though Id never splurged on Whstlers.
BIZ. | was on hand next morning when s<
tia. shop opened, and for a bonus OF ~
twenty francs persuaded the old pirate N,
q. sell me the sketch he was holding for ~
~vombey-Crane. 1t was a beauty too; ~
one Of the half-dozen Whistler did IN ny
~ king up that portrait OF his mother 80
,.-haps his most famous piece. It's about ~
the only sketch Of the kind too, not in ~
q public gallery. How Twombley-Crane
must have raved at that Frenchman! So,
as the English put it, | did score OF HIM
a bit, you see H.
You sure did says l. THAT picture 9k r.
Collection is what he's dafy over; even NIW
more so than over his horses. And right E#M
there l. Bayard, IS your cue" S*A&
~Eh?r SAYS he, starin puzzled. aMW
Simple as swearin off taxes says |. sTHE
send him the sketch.
Mr. Steele gasps. "Wha-a-at!" says he.
aWlv. I've been offered ten times what
pad for it, and refused although there
have been times when-well, you under
stand Nv dear McCabe, that little pencil drawing is
r. more to me than fragment Of genius. 1t stands
i.- satisfaction It's something that | own and ne
wants"
And there YOU are, says I. "Been rackin your nut
70 Jig up something kind and generous to DO Tor him.
amt YOU? Well?
SAY, YOU should have seen the look J. Bayard gives
- me al that It's mixture OF seven OIL rent klius
Of surprise rcproach, and indignation And the lie 0,
argumcn, he puts up too, How he does w1ggle ana
s4urn over The very thought of gvn that picture 10
Iuomi'.C rane after he'd done the gloat act so long
But had the net over Mr. Steele good and iaSt' ana
while was about it | dragged him over few bumps;
just ior the good Of his soul, as Father Reardon "ouiu
say.
"Oh, GOMEZ" SAYS l. you're maxim the bluff that
you want scatter deeds of kindness; but wheh l
point one out right under your nose you beef about 1t
like you was bein frisked for your watch hot idea
Of bein an angel of mercy you've got amt you? Hon.
est now, in your whole career you ever guilty OF
wastin kind word, or putin out the hepin hand, II
YOU couldn't where it might a trick for J.
Bayard Steele?"
Makes him vince little that jab does, and he lushes
up under the eyes.
81 don't know that have ever posed either as
nbantbropis or a saint says he "If seem to have
assumed role of that sort is because has been
thrust upon me- because have been caught in a web of
circumstances, a tangle OF things, without purpose
without meaning That's what life has always been to
me, always VIII DE, suppose Oi0' Iu.'I0SS maze,
where I've snatched what could for myself, and given
ND what | couldn't hold. Your friend Gordon did his
share in making it so for me; this man Twombley-
Crane as we'll DO you expect to be inspired with
goodness and kindiness by them!'
@Oh Pyramid had his good points, says l. you'd
find Twombley- Crane has his if you knew him well
enough
aAnd who knows" adds Steele, defiant and bitter,
"but that | may have mine|
| glances at him curious. And, say, with that set,
hard look in them narrow eyes, and the saggy droop to