Evening star., 1919-04-27
(CspyraEht By Hstper 1 Biothsrs)

ripe In pocket ana peace IN heart,
he stepped forth into the sunshine
again. Well, hero was little old
Broadway, famed in story-books and
theater magazines and Sunday newa-
papers. the home Of provincial mil
lionaires and chorus girls, Fort Lob
ster and Fort Champagne and Fort
Tip. William had the native New
Workers. tolerant contempt for the
thoroughfare. He called it the "col-
lar on the beer" the rat-trap for
"boobs" and hicks" and come -ons,"
the coal chute for papas money. No
doubt his prejudice had been sown
and nurtured by the Sunday news
papers. Dutifully each Sunday they
recorded the Broadway exploits of
this tom-fool or that. The Great
White Way: waste, extravaganza,
wild oats. coldb blood and old blood
and lackmercy. On the other hand,
he admired the physical beauty Of it;
at night he knew it had no counter
part in all the wide world.
Some old highway" he murmured,
aloud. "but it'll never dig nickel out
Of my jeans"
He wandered on, peering into this
window and that, fun of lively in
terest in everything he saw. BY and
by he summoned a carpet. 1t car
ried his spirit in one direction, while
his feet led him in another, toward
his destiny. without realizing it, he
turned off Broadway and crossed over
to 9Th avenue Here the fashionable
curio shops attracted him. There
were art galleries, too. and windows
full of strange-looking carpets and
rugs. Presently he paused before a
window which had an art gallery air.
but wasn't. Printers ink instead Of
oil ruled. There were great ships go
ing down to sea, tropical isles, the
Nile country. India, China. Japan:
Arabs camels, elephants, rickshaws
and bewildering temples. He looked
up at the sign overhead.
well. what do you know about
that?' he murmured. Little or
Thomas Cook and Willie Grogan.
Well, say" t2:.t.
But he did not move on. With one
hand propping an elbow and the other
hand stroking his chin, he continued
to stare at the brilliant Autographs
and strange coins and paper money.
Suddenly he knew what it was me
wanted. He drew out his handbook
and eyed the deposit, $2s,5oo.
!~"Sirs, Mike!" ~
He chuckled and stepped into the
ONCE of Thomas Cook 4 Son. who
are agents for Bagdad carpets. A
dozen persons were scattered about.
interviewing clerks. There was one
idle clerk, and boldly William ap-
preached him. He hadn't the least
idea where he was going, but he
knew he was going somewhere. that
ne was going to tie himself up in
such a manner as to prevent caution
from overcoming this marvelously
likable impulse. All his life he had
held himself on the leash, and now
bang! went the leather. He swal-
lowed two or three times; his throat
was still dry from the fever he had
acquired at the law offices of Har-
greave. Bell & Davis. The clerk
smiled reassurtngly.
Anything 1 can do for you, sir?'
II want to take trip around the
world said William. The words
went down hill rapidly, due to his
inability to project them in a level
tone
II the clerk had turned upon him
scornfully with Beat it, bo, while
the beating's good" William would
have faded from the scene like one
Of those double exposures which still
mystihed him at the movies. But the
clerk continued to smile. and said.
affably, This Is the right place for
that"
Eventually. william decided upon
the ship Ajax. The boat left harbor
on August Is for a six months
cruise Of the world, landing at San
Francisco some time along in Feb
ruary. The fare included all travel
on land and water. 1t offered the
tail-end Of summer in Italy and the
fall and winter in the orient.
That's the dope for me-" declared
William. calming himself. But say,
/ haven't got the cash with me.
How'll 1 hx it?"
Make q deposit OF one hundred"
said the clerk, stili smiling. William
certainly did not look like tour Of
the world, but this clerk had seen
many a celluioid collar, and they
were deceiving things.
The JOY of taking a roll OF money
out OF your pocket. money that was
nhsolufoly n aud WHOLLY yOurs mOney