The Red Cloud chief., 1920-06-17
an answer, and the door closed ;ctind
him.
CHAPTER TX.

the doOrbell OF Artie's apartment. Soon
Artie appeared.
"My business" explained Fitzhugh,
when the servant had gone, "has to
do with your / o US which / hold"
Jaw, yes. You did let me have q
few hundreds. I remembah."
"The total amount" said Fitzhugh,
"is eleven thousand dollars
mol" Artie jumped violently. "You
let me have no such sum. IFS a false
hood ~
Don't get excited. I bought In all
your paper after the game. 1t totals
eleven Thousand dollars, Just as I
said"
Artie sprang to his feet, and, light
Ing q cigarette, began pacing nerv.
ously to and fro. Tossing the ciga-
rette aside, he sat down, resting his
elbow on his knee, and passed his
hand shaklly across his brow.
81 can't do anything for you now"
he muttered, without looking up.
MY allowance is Overdrawn and I'm
In a hole. You'll have to wait, that's
all"
Have I said I w%ouldn'tT" suggested
Fltzhugh.
Artie looked up quickly, a sudden
glad hope leaping to his pale eyes.
"Then you won't press me for it,"
he wondered eagerly.
II may not ask you for 1t at all.
l may make you a Christmas present
Of the entire batch, If YOU"
NOp1y command mo- III do opy,
thing you say"
"The last three days." continued
Fitzhugh, watching the effect Of his
words. 1--WE had detectives working
Tor me OF q rather delicate matter. They
were making a secret investigation Of
you and your family. / know to a
nicety your financial status, your so
cial standing, and / knew before ]
zane here that you were unusually
hard up at present. l need IA social
valet, and I'm willing to give you the
Job"
my deah fellow"
II 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 I wish to enter. There will
give you from time to time, and as
you fulfill them I will return, II by
one, your I o U.s."
The effect of the proposal upon Ar
tie was somewhat singular. He
screwed up his mouth In a ludicrous
manner and emitted a sound that was
a cross between q baby's crow Of de-
light and the screech of a peacock,
TITS excruciating! |" he cried, when
he found his breath. It'll be fright.
full fun" He sobered suddenly. cav
I sayl One t~eeny-weeny peep ut the
slips, what?"
Fitzhugh showed him the I o US
and he nodded his head brightly.
y 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 u servant entered and
announced several callers.
TASK 'em to toddle right In" Then
turning on Fitzhugn: 'I1l try you on
my friends-what?' He smiled pref
tily.
~ 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 faced, ~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 a certain
brand of cigarette or u particular kline
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 IL
the falling snow and spoke feelingly
to himself.
Its enough" said he. ito make {
man stop posing"
Then he went home, addressed ar
v envelope to Kathleen Otis, slipped
q therein a one-dollar bill and after 4
a card, upon which he wrote:
MAY you have a Merry Christina:
{ Is the wish of him who bought thu
u soap and water"
. Fitzhugh planned well In maxim.
:. Artie his social valet" After tina
!, Monday conference in his broker
> Office he had surmised the relation,
between himself and Otis woul,
i thenceforth be unamicable. His sur
mlsal proved correct when not lonl
. afterward he met Otis and his wifi,
= one Sunday on the drive. He doffet
" his silk hat with a Chesterfieldial
gesture-and was rewarded for hi
u courtliness by being ignored NOR,
polntedly than If he had been an ut
y ter stranger.
3 Clearly after this there was but on
;. way for him to see Kathleen, and tina
II was by the aid OF Artle Sparkle