The Arizona copper camp., 1920-04-17

City OF Purple Dreams

IuInInIulIuInIllIlIlInrnIuIuIuInII


In hole. You'll have to wait, that's
all"
"Have l said l wouldn't?" suggested
Fitzhugh.
Artie looked up quickly, a sudden
glad hope leaping to his pale eyes.
"Then you won't press me for it?'
he wondered eagerly.
Il may not ask you for it at all.
l may make you Christmas present
of the entire batch, if you"
"Only command me! I'll do any
thing you say"
1.-THE last three days." continued
Fitzhugh, watching the effect of his
words, "Pve had detectives working
for me on rather delicate matter. They
were making a secret investigation Of
you and your family. l know to a
hicety your financial status, your so
cial standing, and / knew before I
came here that you were unusually
hard up at present. / need social
valet, and I'm willing to give you&the
job"
MY deah fellow"
Il shall want to join the best clubs.
Your part is obvious. You will intro
duce me to people whom l wish to
meet, you will procure me the entree
to homes l wish to enter. There will
be other commissions which 1 shall
give you from time to time, and as
you fulfill them ! will return, one by
one, your o US"
The effect of the proposal upon Ar
tie was somewhat singular. He
screwed up his mouth in a ludicrous
manner and emitted sound that was
cross between a baby's crow of de-
light and the screech of a peacock.
Its excruciating he cried, when
he found his breath. It'll be fright
full fun" He sobered suddenly. saw
l say! One teeny-weeny peep at the
slips, what?"
Fitzhugh showed him the I o U's
and he nodded his head brightly.
Then his mirth overcame him a 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: "I'll try you ON
my friends-what?" He smiled pref
tily.
i 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 fiaccid, listless,
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 q certain
brand of cigarette or a particular kind
OF mixed drink. None had any indi-
viduality but all were cut from the
same pattern.
Some time later, in the street be-
low, Fitzhugh paused a moment in
the falling snow and spoke feelingly
to himself.
tits enough" said he, Ito make
man stop posing"
Then he went home, addressed an
envelope to Kathleen Otis, slipped
therein a one-dollar bill and after it
a card, upon which he wrote:
"May you have Merry Christmas
is the wish of him who bought the
soap and water"
Fitzhugh planned well in making
Artie his "social valet" After that
Monday conference in his brokers'
Office he had surmised the relations
between himself and Otis would
thenceforth be unamicable His sur
misal proved correct when not long
afterward he met Otis and his wife
one Sunday on the drive. He doffed
his silk hat with a Chesterfeldian
gesture-and was rewarded for his
courtliness by being ignored more
pointedly than if he had been an ut
ter stranger.
Clearly after this there was but one
way for him to see Kathleen, and that
was by the aid of Artie Sparkle.
Fitzhugh never required a second at
tempt to scale the citadel Of any
home, no matter how Exclusive" that
home might be. He Immediately be-
came "the sensation" wherever he
went. What with his distinguished
his flashing wit, his skill
at repartee, and, above all else, his
gift of adapting himself readily to any
role and playing it with avidity, his
was of a wondrous growth.
He never lacked an audience, nor did
he ever fail to keep one hanging on
his every word.
But Fitzhugh had little time to be
a society pivot. Though he was be-
come a lion he seldom went out to
roar. Only when he believed he
should see Her would he accept any
of the invitations.
These were busy days for Fitzhugh,
days filed with suspense and excite
nent and acute money fever. By the