The Seattle star. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1899-1947, 1920-11-29
An 0. HENRY Story a Day :SS$$;

ease of the drowning swimmer wht
has ceased a. struggle
Blythe walked To the next cornei
ana stood there while he brushed
the sand from hir garments ana re-
polished his glasses.
"tye got 20 do IL oh. I've got t.
do A." he told himself aloud. IL
had a quart OF rum believe | could
Htavo II Off yet Tor "A little while
/ hut there's no more rum for 'ltecl
xebuh. as they call me. by tbs
flames ~ Tartarns' II I'm to sit al
the right hand OF Satan. somebody
has got 20 pay the court expenses
Your have 10 pony up. Mr.. trant
Goodwin You're "A good fellow. bat
gentleman must draw the line al
being kicked Into the gutter Black
mail isn't pretty word. but it's tbs
next station on the road I'm travel
ing"
with purpose In his steps Blythe
nov moved rapidly thru the town b5
way ~ its landwRrd environH. ii'
passed thru the sauaiid quarters Of
the inprovident negroes and ON b"
yond the picturesque hhacka OF the
poorer meniiaos. From many points
along his course he could zee. thru
the outrageous gladcs. the house Of
Frank Goodwin ON iin wooded hin
And a. he crossed the little bridge
over the lagoon the lands OF Good
win began 10 slope gently upward
A grassy road. shaded BY a munifi
cent and diverse array 81 tropical
flora, wound from the edge OF AZ
outlying banana grove 90 the dwell
ing. Blythe took this road with
long and purposeful strides
Goodwin was seated on his coolest
gallery. debating letters 10 his see
fetAry. a sallow and capable native
youth. Tn. household adhered Il
the American plan OF breakfast. and
that meal had been "a thing Of this
past for the better par, Of an hour
The oastaway walked 10 the steps
and flourlshed a hand.
Good morning. Blythe" said
Goodwin. looking up. Come IN and
have a chair Anything I can d.
fof YOU
= want To speak to YOU in PR
vate"
Goodwin nodded at his sscretar,
who ssrolied out under mango
tros and bt n olgnret Bylth. took
the chair that he had left vacant
Il want some money he began
doggcdiy.
I'm sorry said Goodwin. with
equal dlrecsness. hut ,ou can't
have any. You're drinking yourself
10 death. blythe. Your friends have
done all they could 20 help you 70
bfac" up. You won't help yourself
There's no use furnishing you with
money 70 ruin yourself wllh any
longer"
Dear man said Blythe. uliins
back hls chair. ~ lent question
Of social economy now It's past
that ! like you. Goodwin. and I've
come 20 stick knife between your
ribs. l WAS kicked out Of E.paaa's
saloon this morning. and Society
OWES mo PREPARATION for my wounded
feelings"
Il didn't kick you out
no. but In a general way you
represent Society; and In a particti.
lar way you represent my last
chance. I've had TO come down 20
u. old mani tried 10 do II a month
ago when fosada's man was here
turning things over, but I couldn,
DO u then. Now rs different. I
want a thousand dollars. Goodwin.
and you'ii have TO give Il to me. "
only last week. said Goodwin.
with a smile. "a silver dollar was
all you were asking for
An evidence" said Blythe. Nip.
PANTY. that I was stlil virtuous
though under heavy pressure. The
wages OF sin should be something
higher than a peso worth - cents
Iseta talk business | am the villain
In the third act. and | must hay.
my merited. II only temporary. tri
umph. ! saw you collar the late
presidents vaiiseful OF Doodle. Oh.
know l,'s biaekmaii. but I'm liberal
about the price. ! know I'm a cheap
yiilain--onc OF the regular sawmill
drama kind-but you're one OF my
particular friends. and | don't wan,
20 stick you hard
suppose you go into the details. .
suggested Goodwin. calmly Arranging
his letters on the table.
AN right" said "Beclzebub" Il
like the way you take u. desplse
histrionios. 30 you viii please prepare
yourself for tho facts without any
red fire. calcium or grace note on the
saxophone.
ION the night that his fly.by night
exccllency arrived In town WIS
very drunk You will excuse the
pride with which I state that fact,
but Il was quite feat for me To
attain that desirable sini. some
body had left cot oui under tho
orange trees In tho yard Of Madama
Or;iz's hotel. l stepped over the wall,
lay down upon Il. and fen asleep I
was awakened by an orange that
dropped from the tree upon my
nose, mud lay there for awhile
cursing Sir Isaac Newton. or who.
ever II was that invented rraviia-
ton. for not combining his theory 10
apples.
"And then along came Mr., Mira.
flores and his true.love with the
treasury in valise, and went into