The Washington herald., 1920-10-11
AN O. HENRY STORY
"Masters of Arts


cleaning a cargo OF cocoanuts for
a speculative descent upon the
New York market. Keogh was
booked for a passage on the re-
turn trip.
yes, I'm going to New Yorh,"
he explained to the group OF his
countrymen that had gathered on
the beach to see him on. But
I'll be back before you can miss
me. I've undertaken the art edu-
cation of this piebsld country,
and I'm not the man to desert
it while it's in the early throes
of tintypes."
With this mysterious declara-
ton of his intentions keogh
bearded the Karlsefin.
Ten days later, shivering, with
the collar of his thin coat turned
high, he burst into the studio OF
CaroIus white at the top OF a
tall building in renth street, New
York City.
Carolus White was smoking a
cigarette and frying sausages over
an oil stove. He was only %,
sHd had noble theories about art.
Billy Keogh!" exclaimed White,
lHS mana NloS " as AACN
busy with the frying pan. From
what part of the uncivilized
world. ! wonder
Hello, Garry" said Keogn.
dragging forward a stool, and
holding his fingers close to the
stove. I've been looking for you
all day in the directories and art
galleries. The freelunch man on
the corner told me where you
were. quick. ! was sure you'd be
painting pictures yet"
Keogh glanced about the studio
with the shrewd eye of con-
noisseur in business.
Yes, you can do it," he de-
clared, with many gentle mods OF
corner with the angels and green
clouds and band-wagon is just
the sort of thing we want. What
would you call that, Carry-scene
from Coney Island. amt it?'
That" said White, u had in
tended to call The Translation
OF Elijah, but you may be nearer
right than am"
Name doesn't matter" said
Eeogh. largely: its the frame
and the varieties Of plant that
does the trick. Now. / can tell
you in a minute what l want
I've come on a little voyage OF
1000 miles to take you in with
me on a scheme. l thought OF
you as soon as the scheme showed
Itself TO me. How would you like
TO go back with me and paint a
picture? Ninety days for the trip,
and 5000 for the ioh"
Cereal food or hair-tonic
posters?" asked White.
1T isn't an ad."
What kind of a picture is II
to be?"
It's long story" said Keogh
Go ahead with il. II you don't
mind while you talk I'll Just
Keep my eye on these sausages
Let ON get one shade deeper than
EN-" 'PO''
heogh explained his project
Ihey were to return to Coraiic
Where White was to pose as a
distinguished American portrait
painter who was touring in the
tropics as a relaxation from his
arduous and rcmunerative pro.
fessional labors. II was not ar
unreasonable hope. even to those
who had trod in the beaten paths
OF business, that an artist with
so much prestige might secure a
commission to perpetuate the
hneaments of the president, and
secure a share Of the pesos that
We're raining upon the caterers tc
his weaknesses.
keogh had set his price at ter
thousand dollars. Artists had
been paid more for portraits. He
and White were to share the ex.
penses Of the trip, and divide the
possible profits. Thus he laid the
scheme before White. whom he
mad known in the West before
one declared for Art and III,
other became a Bedouin.
Before long the two machin.
ators abandoned the rigor Of the
bare studio for a snug corner oil
a cafe. There they sat far into
the night with old envelopes anc
heogh's stub Of blue pencil be.
tween them.
At twelve o'clock White dou,
bled up in his chair, with hi,
chin on his fist, and shut his eve.
at the unbeautiful wall paper.
Til go you. Billy" he said. II
the quiet tones of decision. "Iv,
got two or three hundred savet
up for sausages and rent; and II
take the chance with you. Fiv,
thousand! 1t will give me tw,
years in Paris and one in italy
I'll begin to pack tomorrow"
You'll begin in ten minutes" sal,