The Washington herald., 1921-08-28
Wherein Is Set Forth the
tduentures of the Mad
Pa1riarch, InUoluing the
Purple Curtains and
Beauty in Distress.

been broken since the entrance OF the
parior maid and the coffee. With his
pad on his knee. happy. absorbed. the houses
master. Farrant the novelist wrote hard at
\ last chapter over whose beauty and elo-
, quencs the critics would. In due season. wax
deservedly enthusiastic.
Barraclough. lying back in his chair. was
half way through . third cgaret On the
hail. Immediately facing him. hung calen-
dar Of the kind known as block" The date
It showed was the 18th Of May. His eyes
rested upon It And the smile that now and
then twisted his lips was not q pleasant one-
II conclude he spoke without moving
- conclude you don't by any chance. hap
pen to remember the date7"
-Eh7" inquired Farrant half giancins up.
He was naturally a person Of brevity.
The 14th Of May" proceeded Barrs-
elough smoothly. you had perhaps over
looked lit Or imagined that had? Not at
all. Or that tomorrow Is consequently the
18th. Otherwise. my wedding day"
you didn't want me to remind you. I
suppose?" said Farrant..
Again: not at aIl-lt was quite unneces-
sary." returned Barraclough levelly. He
turned in his chair. laughed. II wonder
you also recorect q talk We once had? Just
before you married Margaret. You suggested
that. instead Of celebrating the last night Of
his bachelorhood with the usual nareup, q
man who saw his heaven opening would do
better to spend It in saying his prayers
Don't know whether you carried out your
own program
Yes, did,
All! Well. results have Justified you-I
don't dispute It I was about to say that
recollect cordially agreeing. And-privately
deciding that when my time came. II it
did, would do likewise. Which reveals me
as having been q particularly Grass idiot
He stood up with a yawn. To relapse upon
the accepted parIance. I am about to make
a night Of it"
Don't "-admonished Farrant Of the
eloquent pen and the ineloquent tongue
don't you get making a dashed ass of your
seK!-
The town." went on Barraclough. unheed-
ingly. will be painted exceedingly red. To
look upon the wine when Of a corresponding
hue is. I presume, the shortest road to the
desired result? We shall see."
81 wish "-growled Farrant uneasily--I
wish Margaret were here. confound your
Those who knew him merely well were
won't to declare that he cared for but two
things, his wife and his work The few who
knew him better were aware that he cared
for At least a third thing. which was his
friend BarraclouEh laughed
Il have" he said deliberately. = the highest
rsspest for your wifa II she were here she
would probably enter upon expostulations
which should be forced to disregard. There
fore ! consider II rather fortunate that she 4
called out Of town As she may possibly.
sftsr tonight decline my further acquaint-
anes. / should Ike her to know that your
Hospitality for the last two months has been
perhaps more appreciated than either she or
you-
Rot" Fsrrant rose. The last two
menthsI- he said bIuntly. - wonder II you
realize what you have done for yourself in
the last two months1 O. I'm NOT thinking
Of your losses At oards and so on. though
happen to know they have been frightful.
It's-things In general. Good heaven. you
dent suppose people don't knowf Why.
Ssu'vs net SO much - set your foot inside
Ssur chambers. Look at the briefs you were
getting. and at your age! why. you'd the
ball st yegr feet" He paused. watching the
smIls. again far from pleasant. that twitched
the etheFs lips %. might as well hold
my teHsue, Of course! But can't see you
deliberately kick down your whole career
and say nothing. -. Look hare. II you
hssst ss-I can spsrs the svsning-Iu come
with sss.-
BaFFaeleugh laughed again.
II think not" he disssnted. Margaret
advised yeB net to let ms out Of your sight,
1 suppsss1 IYss. I see she did. Fortunately
fer heF-aaa yeursslf-you are not an expo
rent sf realism. Consequently you win re-
maIB where you are For myself. I shall get
tistsssIy. rsarinsly. ravingly drunk. What
may fellow is On the knees Of the gods. You
win probably be called upon to bail me out.
suppssiHs that am bailabls. Fur the pres
Sht-gssd-Risht"
Farrant attempted no answsr-ths man Of
few wsrds knew when it was futile to use
any he turned away with . shrug. Barra-
elsssh. at the door. stopped and glanced
hack, Then creased over quickly and held
cut nls hsaa. A. was sometimes the case,
he locked suddenly almost boytshly young.
Thanks. cid man. he said quietly. Good.
night"
Farrsas nodded and echoed the good.
night earrseiough went out. In q few
minutes was strolling leisurely through the
warm. dry streets. Leisurely. because the
night was stin young. And before the morn