Evening star., 1914-12-20
CATCHING UP WITH GERALD

by no means gentleman, by no means!'
Il hear you tried to aSsassinate him with
mop, says |.
IL was not quite myself" says Gerald,
colorin' still more. you see, he put me in
such false position before those Chicago
men; and when | tried to tell them the
truth he-well, he acted brutally. ask you,
Mr.. McCabc what woald You have dolc??"
"Me?' says |. Il expect I'd slapped him
rough on the wrist, or something like that.
But you know he was always little quick
about such things, and when it was all over
he was gen rally sorry-if he had time. You
see he remembered your case. Now the idea
is, how can that little aft air of yours be
squared
at may have been little affair to him.
says Gerald, poutin' a bit sulky; "but it
wasn't so to me. lit changed my whole
life-utterly!'
"Of course, puts in ]. Bayard soothin'.
1--WE understand that, Mr.. Webb
"But you've come out all right; you
struck something just as good, or better,
eh?' and | waves round at the teashop.
Course, you amt catchin' the business here
you might if you was located better. And
l expect you feel like you was wastin' your
talents on a place this size. But with a
whole second floor near some of the big
II
could soak EN- half dollar for club sand
wich and a quarter for cup of tea,-a
1ossy, big joint with hundred tables, real
French walters from Staten Island, and a
genuine Hungarian orchestra, imported from
East 10th street, where you could handle a
line of Mexican drawnwork, and Navajo
blankets, and Russian samovars, and
"Ne, no." breaks in Gerald peevish. "Stop."
"Eh?' says |, gawpin at him.
"lf you are proposing all that as IA
recompense for being publicly hurniliated,'
says he, Aand having my career entirely
spoiled well, you just needn't, that's all!
| do not care for anything of the kind"
gasps. Then l gazes foolish over at J.
Bayard to see if he has anything to offer.
He Just scowls at me and shakes his head,
as much as to say:
"There, you see! You've messed things
all up
@All right, Mr.. Webb says 1. "Then
you name it.
4Do you mean,' says he, that Mr.. Cor
don intended to leave me something in his
will; that he-er-consdered l was en-
titled to some-ah-'
"That's the idea, more or less, says |.
@Only Mr.. Steele here, he's been tryin to
dope out what would suit you best
"Coud-could it be in the form of "a
cash sum- asks Gerald.
l sighs relieved and looks inquirin' at
Steele He mods, and | mods back.
@Sure thing" says |.
"How much?" demands Webb.
@Time OUT says l, until Mr.. Steele and
| can get together"
60 while Gerald is pacin' nervous up and
~ down between the tables we makes
figures on the back of the menu. We be-
gins by guessin' what he was gettin' when
he was fired, then what salary he might have
been pullin' down in five years, at the end
of ten, and so on, deductin' some for black
times and maxim allowances for hard luck.
But inside of five minutes we'd agreed on a
lump sum.
"What about twenty thousand?' says |.
Gerald gulps once or twice, turns little
pale, and then asks choky, "Would-would
you put that in writing?'
81 can give you voucher for the whole
amount says Steele.
"Then-then pease!7 says Gerald, and he
stands over ]. Bayard, starin' eager, while
the paper is bein' made out. He watches us
10th sign our names.
"This is drawn says Steele, "on the at
torney for the estate, and when you present
it he will give you check for