Evening star., 1919-10-05

w VWTRfF
as you might say is this slim. stoop-
shouldered gent with the long face and
the thin nose. It's an odd face, bit
whopper- -jawed on one side. deep lines
about the mouth corners. and the
weirdest pair Of buttermilk- blue eyes
I ever met. Camped in chairs just
beyond are two slick haired young
fellows, one with a lapful of maga-
zines and newspaper clippings, and
the other with notebook on his knee.
Leanin' up against the water cooler
is Swiftly Joe, gawpin' fascinated.
We'll" says l. reading from left to
right which is Mr.. Bristow?"
The long faced party in the chair
looks up, waves the young gent who's
in a thin. wavery voice. "I-er-I am
Mr.. Bristow. And / have the pleasure
OF meeting Prof. McCabe?"
III that's your idea Of pleasure" say
]. you have McCabe's my name. l
wasn't lookin' for you. though. until to-
morrow. Maybe Swiftly didn't get it to
you clear"
"Oh, yes, says Bristow careless. But
today suited me better You see, pro-
fessor, l had heard of you thro Ugh sone
business acquaintances; rather impor-
tant men, by the way They spoke
highly of your methods. Yesterday 1
decided to take a course with you. 1
reed it. We have been through rather
4
of industry if l may so class myself.
I've had my share. and it has left me
rot in the best condition. And on the
18TH OF next month I must go abroad
as chairman of the commission to pro-
n ote international fellowship. which
have recently organized. So you see 1
have no more than three weeks to give
you. dear professor
He says it all easy and soothin', them
queer eyes wanderin' around as he talks
and mis- slim fingers lacin' and unlacin'
restless.
ut didn't strike you might be all
dated up for today, eh?" says I.
"If it did," says he, II failed to con-
slider it. That can easily be arranged"
Think so, do you?" says I.
"Of course" says he. you may need
TO cancel other engagements. 1 quite
understand that this may be necessary.
But, allow me to add, l am accustomed
to paying for what I want-liberally. I
would suggest that we start in at once"
And he unimbers himself from the
chair.
Don't rush yourself" says /. "Ac-
in until $3.50 tomorrow. IL you start at
FILL. That don't need any diagram. does
IT."
You'd most think crisp come back
like that would get lin pinkin' up be-
hind the ears. But it don't. He Just
springs q curious. sappy. crooked smile
ard flutters his hands at me like he was
shooin' balky settin' hen off the nest.
'Merkins." says he. my check book. -
One of the slick-haired young gents
passes It over prompt and unscrews a
fountain pen. Business of film in.
There" he goes on. passin' over a
baby blue slip. THAT will be for the
first week: afternoons. from 2 until
4:30."
glances at tho check casual. It's for
a round thousand. and l can hear Swiftly,
who's rubberin' over my shoulder.
breathin' hard. I'll admit. too. that's
.nnoren usually take in for fifteen
hours work. But some way this T. D.
Bristow person has stirred up the
mulish streak IN me. I ohucks the slip
back on the desk.
Listen, Mr. Man." says I. "Some
OF these parties you'd like to have me
scratch off without any notice are old
reg'lars Of mine, who have been coming
here to the studio for years. and are
dependin' on me to keep 'em In trim.
Besides, most of 'em are personal
friends"
II beg pardon" says he, cold look
hickerin into them buttermilk- Z 'ue
eyes and the thin upper lip tightenln'