The Seattle star. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1899-1947, 1921-09-30
"PAPER ROSES"
By RUBY M. AYRES
RiEht. ,eseees.s..ee,

NR"'f SAN NNt II UONn to l4llllAn
Fanc's engagement to Querne.
Rorie dropped into another chair.
took a paper and ordered a wills
ky.andsoda He didn't want the
whisky. and when Il was brought he
let II stand UNLISTED on the table.
He read the paper thru from begin.
ming to end. and yet. when he had
finished. he could not recall a word
Of what he had read
II was a pleasant surprise, how.
ever, to find that the afternoon had
passed; u was o'clock.
A man who had been sleeping by
the firo woke. rose a. his feet yawn-
ing. and strolicd across TO Roris.
'Hullo. old chapr'
''Hullor' Tho two men looked at
ono another with lack.luster eyes
Young Briton ala not particularly
care for Halsham; he know by bitter
experience that he lived ON borrowed
money. which he never made any at
tempt TO repay.
Halsham was An unheaithy>lcoi-
Ing man. with thin. sailow cheeks
and duh eyes: he looked as n no
drank too much. and slept too little
Even as he stared down at Rorie ono
could almost have guessed from his
expression that he was wondering n
II would be any use sounding him
for "tcnncr'i An hour ago he had
successfully borrowed three flyers
from a new member Of the club who,
as yet. knew nothing OF his reputa.
ton. ana had, consequently. forked
out the money willingly; but the fact
OF the bank.notes IN his pocket by
no means deferred him from at
tempting TO get others.
Young Briton took the wind out Of
his sails by asking what he was DO
ing that evening.
Haisham shrugged his shcuidcrA
Nothing. I've got q card for the
Fsne's 10 o'clock show. but I'm not
keen You goingr"
'No." Rorte scowfed: he thought
I, was rotten bad taste TO have asked
the question. Have some grub with
me-" he suggested. As a rule. he
Stunned Hsisham. II spoke eloquent
~ OF his loneliness tonight that he
was driven TO ask for his company.
III you like" Halsham dropped
Into q chair. and shut his eyes again
He had been assisting a pal 10 bury
the latchkey the previous night and
In consequence felt like . wet rag.
as he expressed II.
A waiter entered. Rorfe ordered
dinner and a bottle Of champagne.
He didn't care for champagne partic
uiariy. but he felt as n he must
spend some money: the weight OF the
wealth he had been 80 anxious to
obtain was already beginning to op-
press him.
II was O'Clock before shsy I'm
ished dinner. II Roris ate nothing,
his companion made up for>it when
II was over. he suggested sbox at a
new musical oomedy--Roderick TO
pay. of course.
II don't care ssid young Brfton.
He really didn't: ks felt absolutely
indifferent 70 everythtng--a bad
state for any man TO get into. He
had phoned up for the box before he
remembered he was wearing morn
ing clothes.
what does n matser7- Halsharn
objected. so arm - -
They left tho club together. A.
they went down the steps . ragged
newsboy ran past them carrying .
late special"
HsiAham fished m his pocket. ana
found a penny. Here. paper" He
waited for his haifpenny change.
Roris felt Disguised: meanness had
never been . fault with him. even In
his poorest days He would like 20
have given the boy something 10
make up for his disappointment. but
with Halsham looking on n was not
possible. Tho two men walked on.
Under the first lamp Haisham
paused. and opened his paper: ha had
backed a horse heavily for q Q
O'Clock race. and was feeling anx.
ious.
He turned me pages with nervous
fingers. scanning the stop press
news.
TN bet MS lost: always my
damnabls luck. Where tho Good
God. Brfton. look herer'
His voice changed suddenly TO .
tone Of shocked horror: he thrust
the paper under Roric's eyes.
Young Briton gianced disinteress-
edIy at the couple Of lines:
Mr.. Bartlett II. Querne. ths well
known American financier. was acct.
dentaliy killed this evening In .
motor-car collision"
Halsharn. watching Roris's face
curiousiy. had quito expected to see
something more than the blank look