The Harrison times., 1920-05-15
an answer, and the door closed behind
him.
CHAPTER TX.

| few hundreds, ! rgm.mlJh'
"The total amount" said FiZhugh,
els eleven thousand dollars"
"No" Ar,ie jumped violently. "lou
let me have no such sum. It's q false
| hood >"
Don't get excited. | bought in all
your paper after thc game It totals
| eleven thousand dollars, just as
said"
Artie sprang TO his feet. and, light
ing a cigarette, began pacing nerv-
ously TO and fro. Tossing the cIgu-
rctte aside, hc sat down, resting his
elbow on his knee and passed his
| hand shahily across his brow.
81 can't do anything for you now
he muttcred, without looking up.
My allowance is oycvdrawn and I'm
in a hole Youu have to walt that's
ALL"
Have said wouldn't?" suggested
Fltzhugh
Artie looked up quickly, a sudden
glad hope leaping TO his pale eyes.
Then you won't press me for itT'
he wondered eagerly.
II may not ask you for it at all.
may make you a Christmas present
Of the entire batch, if you"
"Only command me! I'll do any.
thing you say"
"The last three days" continued
Fitzhugh watching the effect Of his
words, i've had detectives working
for me on rather delicate matter. They
were making a secret investigation Of
you and your family. | know to a
llcety your financial status, your so
clal standing, and | knew before l
came here that you were unusually
! hard up at present | need IA social
valet, and I'm willing to give you the
job
MY deah fellow
81 shall want to join the best clubs,
Your part is obvious. You will intro
duce me to people whom | wish to
meet, you will procure me the entree
to homes | wish to enter. There will
be other commissions which | shall
give you from time to time and as
you fulfill them l will return, one by
one, your l o US"
The effect Of the proposal upon Ar
| tie was somewhat singular. He
screwed up his mouth in u ludicrous
manner and emitted a sound that was
a cross between a baby's crow Of de-
light and the SCreech Of peacock.
It's eXcruciating" :" he cried, when
he found his breath. eth be fright
full fun" He sobered suddenly. "Aw-
l say! One teeny-weeny peep at the
slips, what?'
Fitzhugh showed him the l o U'S
and he nodded his head brightly.
Then his mlrth OverCame him Il second
time and he went off into another peal
Of delight
While Fitzhugh sat watching him in
critical silence a servant entered and
announced several callers.
ASK 'em to toddle right in." Then,
turning on Fitzhugh: "Tll try you on
my friends-What| He smiled pref
tily.
II suppose l can stand it,
The four or five young men who en-
tered were for the most part, Of Ar
ties class. They were 1laccid, listleSs,
1 seemingly consumed with ennui and
a-weary of the world. They talked
| languidly Of tailors and different
makes Of mOtorcars. They expressed
lukewarm preferences for a certain
brand Of cigarette or a particular kind
Of mixed drink. None had any indi-
vlduality but all were cut from the
same pattern.
Some time later, in the street be
low, Fltzhugh paused a moment in
the falling snow and spoke feelingly
to himself.
ITS enough" said he, "to make Il
man stop posing"
Then he went home, addressed an
envelope to Kathleen OdS, slipped
therein one-dollar bill and after it
a card, upon which he wrote:
May you have il Merry Christmas
is the wish Of him who bought the
soap and water"
Fitzhugh planned well In making
Arte his Social valet After that
Monday conference in his brokers'
Office he had surmsed the relations
between himself and Otis would
thenccforth be unamicablc. His sur
misal proved correct when not long
ufterward he met Otis and his wife
one Sunday on the drive, He doircd
his silk hat with Chesterheldan
gesture-and was rewarded for his
courtllncss by being ignored more
pointedly than If he had been an ut
ter stranger.
Clearly after this there was but one
way Tor him to see Kathleen, and that
was by the aid Of Artie Sparkle,
Fitzhugh never required second at
tempt to scale the citadel Of any
home, no matter how "eXclusye' that
home might be, He Immediately be-
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