The Washington herald., 1920-06-25
NHR. TOWERS CHANDLER was
Nl pressing his evening suit In


was heating on a small gas stove;
the other was being pushed Wig
orously back and forth TO make
the desirable crease that would
be sem later on extending In
straight lines from Mr.. Chambers
patent leather shoes to the edge
of his low-cut vest. So much OF
the hero's toilet may be intrusted
TO our confidence. The remainder
may be guessed by those whom
genteel poverty has driven to ig-
noble expcdient. Our next view of
him shall be as he descends the
steps of his lodsing-house immac-
ulately and correctly clothed;
calm. assured. handsome-in ap-
pearance the typical New York
young clubman setting out.
slightly bored, to inaugurate the
pleasures of the evening.
Chambers honorarium was SIS
per week. He was employed. In
the office of an architect. He was
twenty-five years old; he consid-
cred architecture to be truly an
art; and he honestly believed
though he would not have dared
to admit it,in New York-that the
Flatiron Building was inferior in
design to the great cathedral in
Milan.
Out of each weeks earnings
Chandler set aside one dollar. At
the end of each ten weeks with
the extra capital thus accumu-
lated. he purchased one gentle
mans evening from the bargain
counter of stingy old Father Time.
He arrayed himself in the regalia
of millionaires and presidents: he
took himself to the quarter where
life is brightest and showiest. ana
there dined with taste and luxury.
With ten dollars a man may, for
few hours. play the wealthy
idler to perfection. The sum is
ample for a well-considered meal,
a bottle bearing a respectable la
bel. commensurate tips, a smoke,
cab fare and the ordinary eject
eras.
Up Broadway Chandler moved
with the vespertime dress parade.
For this evening he was an ex-
hibit as we'll as a gazer. For the
next sixty nine evenings he would
be dining in cheviot and worsted
at dubious table d'hotes. at whirl-
wind lunch counters. on sandwiches
and beer in his hall bedroom. He
was willing to do that, for he was
a true son of the great city of
razzle- dazzle. and to, him one
evening in the limelight made up
for many dark ones.
Chandler protracted his walk
until the Forties began to inter-
sect the great and glittering
primrose way, for the evening
was yet young. and when one Is
of the beau monde only one day
in seventy. one loves to protract
the pleasure. Eyes bright, sinis-
ter, curious. admirinR. provocative
alluring were bent upon him. for
his garb and air proclaimed him
q devotee to the hour of solace
and pleasure.
At a certain corner he came to a
standstill. proposing to himself
the question of turning back to-
ward the snowy and fashionable
restaurant in which he usually
dined on the evenings of hiS-spe-
cial luxury. Just theni,a girl
scudded lightly around The cor
ner, slipped on a patch of icy
snow and fell plump upon the
sidewalk.
Chandler assisted her to her
feet with instant and solicitous
courtesy. The girl hobbled to the
wall of the building. leaned
against it. and thanked him de-
murely.
II think my ankle is strained"
she said. "It twisted when l fell"
Docs IL pain you much?" in
quircd Chandler.
Only when ! rest my weight
upon it. 1 think l will be able to
walk in a minute or two"
"If 1 can be OF any further SER
vice" suggested the young man,
81 will call a cab. Or"
Thank you" said the girl. soft
ly but heartily. 81 am sure you
need not trouble yourself any fur
ther. 1t was so awkward Of me.
And my shoe heels are horribly
common-sense: 1 can't blame them
at all"
Chandler looked at the girl and
found her swiftly drawing his in
terest. She was pretty in a re-
fined way: and her eye was both
merry and kind. She was mex
pensively clothed in a plain black
dress that suggested a sort Of uni
form such as shop girls wear. Her
glossy dark-brown hair showed
its coils beneath a cheap hat of
black straw whose only ornament
was a velvet ribbon and bow. She
could have posed as n model for
the self-respectfng working girI
of the best type.
A sudden idea came into the
head of the young architect. He
would ask this. girl to dine with
him. Here was the element that
his splendid hut solitary periodic
feats had lacked. His brief sea-
son of elegant luxury would be
doubly enjoyable if he could add
20 1t a lady's society. This girl
was a lady. he was sure-her
manner and speech settled that.
And in spite of her eXtremeiS
plain attire he felt that he would
be pleased to sit at table with
her.
81 think" he said to her. with
frank gravity. that your foot
needs A longer rest than you sup
pose. Now. I am going to sug-
gest way in which you can give
II that and at the same time dc
me a favor, I was on my way to
dine all by my lonely self when
you came tumbling around the
corner. You come with me and
we'll have cozy dinner and
pleasant talk together. and by
that time your game ankle will