The gazette-times. [volume] (Heppner, Or.) 1912-1925, 1915-03-05
BY MAY c. RINGWALT.

the downtown crowd, men and
women scurrying for shelter into
convenient doorways or racing under
bobbing umbrellas to their final
destination. But Higgins, colorless
figure blurred in loose-hung shabbi-
ness of clothes, who had slouched up
on the outskirts of the throng, pushed
his battered hat down over his
shaggy eyebrows and with su-
preme disregard of the downpour
shuffled on.
Toward the end of the third block
he came to a hesitating halt, glanced
stealthily about him, then shot in be-
tween slaps of the heavy storm doors
at the white marble entrance of one
of the city's highest-priced office
buildings.
Inside, he began wearily to climb
flight after flight of white marble
stairs, for beggars were not allowed
in the building and he wisely judged
his appearance too suspicious to
risk an elevator boys scrunity.
AS he approached the top floor, the
sound of voices brought him to a
sudden standstill, tiny pool of
water from his dripping clothes
gathering at his feet as he flattened
himself to the shallow shadow cast
by the side wall upon the white
glare of the stair.
I'm awfully sorry to turn you
out of these diggings, old fellow"
man in the hall above was saying,
but now I'm back, l suppose I've
got to buckle down to work again"
THE idea of apologizing, Fred!"
came the answer. I'm under ever
lasting obligations to you as it is
Everlasting fiddlesticks! tossed
back the first speaker 'The accom-
modation was mutual. You hadn't
studio yet, and wanted some one
to look after my traps Don't go
until you find what you like, for l
shan't come in before the first of
the month anyhow. And say, Grif-
fifth, can you dine with me at the
club tomorrow evening? Good!
Meet me in the lobby at seven"
Higgins hugged his shadow close
high silk hat strobe past the stairs
to the elevator, then, reassured by
the swish of the descending car down
the cage, he cautiously tiptoed to-
ward the studio-with a twitch OF
gances to right and left in nervous
dread of janitor.
The studio door was still open and
he stole in unseen by the artist
standing by his easel, his gaze
riveted upon the floor.
There was such silken delicacy
about this man that to Higgins
scornfully measuring him from the
careful part in the middle of the fine
light hair down to the embroidered
tip of his slipper-the artists re-
f1nement seemed the embodiment OF
effeminacy, borne out rather than
belied by the precisely trimmed flossy
beard.
"a spoit baby pouting over the
loss of a pet nursery" the intruder
sneered to himself. II wonder" his
thought leaped fiercely on as hand
clinched in his empty pocket, how
he'd feel II he hadn't money for
nights lodging"
The artist suddenly looked up.
What do you want?" he asked
sharply.
Il thought you might need
model, and
"And | don't" cut in the artist.
Higgins slowly turned toward the
door.
Its hard on fellow willing to
work when nobody wants anything
he can do.
''It is hard" said the artist in a
changed tone. wait minute"
Higgins stepped eagerly back.
ut is storming," said the artist
as though the rain and the wind had
just awakened him from his dream
of comfort in the steam-heated room.
Here you can at least be warm.
You're quite welcome to stay a
while"
"a man who is starving" angrily
retorted Higgins, "has no time to
stand idle, hugging a steam heater. "
The hand Of the artist, instantly
thrust into his pocket, came out
slowly, and there was a peculiar ex-
preston in the eyes looking down at
a dime upon the soft palm, then
he held out the coin.
Buy something to eat with this. "
The brute In Higgins. grown strong
and passionate through suffering,
famed with desire to break that
doIipatn hlue-vninpd wrist with n