The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1918-06-23

He gets up thinner every OihiAe' ~
Piled Tricotrin. 1T is sad, but | should
not describe it as mysterious Experience
has proved to me that ambition and high
thoughts constitute a meagre diet.
well, but listen! he does not buy nour-
ishment when he has the means; that is
the strange part. A few days ago he
called upon me to confde that he was
starving, and l lent him sixteen sous. do
not say it vaingloriously, but was touched
and lent him sixteen SOUS"
at was handsome action"
well few minutes afterward CHANGED
to see him on the Boulevard, and his-fur-J
tive air prompted me to keep an eye on
him. Figure yourself my feelings when he
skunk into the establishment where you
drop discs into slot to listen to tunes on
the Pathephone! 1t costs four sous mel
ody, that distraction, and as heaven is my
witness, he squandered the whole Of my
loan before he left the place! Trembling
with indignation stood and watched him
through the window"
Really? That was scandalous Of him
it on tunes! Now you come to mention it,
have seen him hanging about that estab-
lishment more than once lately. ] was
never aware that music was one Of his
weaknesses"
Nor l." returned the painter. 81 hope
he is not going out Of his mind"
q shall look into the matter" said Tri-
cotrin 81 take an interest in Lajeunie."
And having made inquiries in the inter
val, he said to Pitou, the composer, that
evening:
Nicholas, has it ever been your view
that Lajeunie was inordinately interested
in music?"
''Lajeunie?" echoed Pitou; "the poor lad
has no more taste for it than cat"
well, it may astonish you to learn that
it has become a secret vice with him!
am told in the Quarter that he has been
borrowing money right and left, and there
is every reason to suppose that he lavishes
it all upon tunes on the Pathephone. More
over, to Judge by his emaciated appear
ance, his professional income is all
chucked in the same weird way. 1t ap-
pears to have become a mania with the
poor fellow"
"one must have talk with him!" said
Pitou, shocked. 81 have a liking for La
jeunie."
LET us put on our hats and step round
to his place without delay!" suggested Tri-
cotrin 81 am of your own opinion-it is
s,Fo If
his friends"
Lajeunie was at this period lodging on
fifth floor in an unsavory court that was
named the "City of Repose," and when the
artists had climbed to his attic the literary
man was discovered in reverie, with his
heels upon a manuscript on the table. His
face frightened at their entrance.
81 gather that we are not interrupting
the flow of composition" said the twain
simultaneously.
ION the contrary, am rejoiced to see
you," declared the author. at, must be
Providence that guided you here! Not to
beat about the bush, every editor that I
have called on to-day has been engaged
and my purse is as void as my interior.
You find me ravenous! Positively / am
sinking with exhaustion. Could either OF
meal?"
The visitors exchanged glances.
ALAS! our accounts at Banque de Franc
and the Credit Lyonnais are both over
drawn" said Pitou. at is a most unfortu-
nate coincidence. I tell you what how
ever, you can come back with US and share
our dinner, which for once in a way is
ample"
The hopefIn expression on the features
Of the novelist faded. "If you could make
It four sous instead, dear old boy" he said
desperately, at would suit me better!"
"Iajeunie," urged the poet I'VE are your
friends, and we realize that to err is
human; we will be gentle with you, we will
help you to conquer the craving. But make
a clean breast Of il! Come, come is II not
a fact that were we to supply you with
the funds you see, you would forthwith
slip disc into slot and dissipate them
on a monograph"
Lejeunie started. Since you have dis
covered my weakness" he groaned, pulling
his shirt sleeve down again, at is beneath
my dignity to make denials."
you admit 1t, them" said Pitou. "All
those loans that you have been raising in
the Quarter, on the plea Of an empty stom-
ach, have gone down slots? You have i'm
posed on good hearts to crafty this cor
roding vice?"
Il have imposed on nobody's heart" OBJ
jected Lajeunie with hauteur 'In saying
that / had an empty stomach, my state
ments have been strictly accurate. II I,
nevertheless, preferred to apply the money
to the Pathephone that was my affair!
What right has anybody to complain Of
that? l have not shrunk from applying
my own money to it,"