Cleveland County herald., 1920-04-08
an answer, and the door closed behind
CHAPTER TX.

Monday afternoon Fitzhugh rang the doorbell of Artie's apartment Soon Artie appeared.
 My business" explained Fitzhugh, When the servant had gone, "has to do with your 1 o U's which I hold"
 "Aw yes. You did let me have a few hundreds, remembah.'
 "The total amount" said Fitzhugh, "is eleven thousand dollars"
 "Now Artie jumped violently. "You let me have no such sum. It's q false hood !"
 Don't get excited. I bought in all your paper after the game. It totals eleven thousand dollars. just as 1 said"
 Artie sprang to his feet, and, light ing a cigarette, began pacing nerv- ously to and fro. Tossing the cga- rette aside, he sat down, resting his elbow on his knee, and passed his hand shakily across his brow.
 T 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 wouldn't?" suggested FitZhugh.
 Artie looked up quickly, sudden glad hope leaping to his pale eyes.
 Then you won't press me for it?" he wondered eagerly
 .'I. 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. l know to a l hicety your financial status, your so- cial standing, and I knew before l came here that you were unusually | hard up at present I need a social valet, and I'm willing to give you the | job"
 My deah fellow-e 'I shall want to join the best clubs. Your part is obvious. You will intro- | duce me to people whom I wish to meet, you will procure me the entree | to homes I wish to enter. There will be other commissions which I shall | give you from time to time, and as you fulfill them l will return, one by one, your I Us"
 The effect of the proposal upon Ar. | tin wac CoDn{Ebot Sino1IaT He screwed up his mouth in a ludicrous manner and emitted a sound that was a cross between a babys crow of de- light and the screech of a peacock.
 Its exeruciating !" he cried, when he found his breath. "It'll be fright ful fun" He sobered suddenly. "Aw- 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 second time and he went off into another pea of delight.
 While Fitzhugh sat watching him 1T critical silence a servant entered ant announced several callers.
 
 turning on Fitzhugh: "Tll try you or my friends-what?" He smiled pret tily.
 q suppose I can stand it."
 The four or five young men who en tered were. for the most part, of Ar ties class. They were flaccid, listless seemingly consumed with ennui anG 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- viduality but all were cut from the same pattern.
 Some time later, in the street be- low, FitZhugh paused moment in the falling snow and spoke feelingly to himself.
 'E's enough" said he, ito make a 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 Chesterfieldian | 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 I