Evening star., 1921-05-29
Translated From the French BY
WILLIAM l.. MCPHERSON.

v dered his inheritance he
realized that he had acted
like a fool and humbly betook him
self to his Uncle Ambrose. who was
lising on the Mediterranean near
Nice The uncle. having increased
his fortune ten times in Egypt and
India. was now millionaire. He
listened to his nephew without sur
prise or astonishment and said.
"I am one Of those who concede
that a person may ruin himself-on
condition that he doesn't become a
charge on others. A young man OF
twenty-five who once had quarter
of a million and who counts on his
family supporting him is an ignora-
mus.
He fumbled in a box of Manila ci-
gars. poured himself out a ittle'drink
and continued:
Edison claims that a man who
goes broke and who can't within
quarter of an hour discover some
| means of getting on his feet again
is an incurable idiot l don't go as
far as that. And 1 want to aid you
in modest way to get a fresh start
Let me think it over"
Two days later the uncle sent for
the nephew.
II have found something for you to
do" he said. And what have found
ought to demonstrate that you aren't
handicapped by any foolish leftover
preiudices. but have the makings Of
real man in you. ! bought a drome-
dary from a disbanded circus. 1 have
I.rented a stable for it and a sleeping
room for you. In addition I have
obtained the permits you will need
and will give you 500 francs in
f,,f,,
vaster than the Pacific ocean"
THAT goes" replied Robert pro-
fundly disappointed. but nevertheless
amused II shall set out on a drome-
dary."
THAT same evening he found him
self in company with the animal.
whose biblical profile interested him.
but who seemed prodigiously stupid
An Arab, sent by his uncle. gave him
; a few lessons in camel driving.
Thereafter Nice saw appear each
morning and afternoon a dromedary
| led by a young ma nof prepossesslng
manners. The bumped animal car
ried on his fianks placards on which
one could read in gigantic letters:
! Excursions and promenades.
| Two Bolivians were the first excur-
| sionists The dromedary carried them
| to Villefranche and back. In spite OF
| the pitching peculiar to the ship Of
the desert" they declared themselves
satisfied sat with the trip and proved it
! by offering the driver a good sized
/ tin. Their example Influenced the
Chileans. the Argentinians and the
! Brazilians, and then the Yankees. the
English and the Russians.
| Presently Robert had mob OF pa
l x.... najd OAnernuRlv Some
days he made as much as forty francs.
Since he led an existence as frugal
as the cameloid's, he saved money
rapidly. At the end OF two years he
had put by 12.7o0 francs.
Thereafter he began to make plans
in which the beast with the biblical
! profile ceased to figure. Neverthe-
! less. he decided to follow his pro-
fession a little while longer-th
more so since he had acquired two
very assiduous patrons s.,.o
of a lumber king. citizen of the
United States. who owned forests
covering an area as large as several
French departments. The mother.
lady past middle age. showed great
conversation. She asked him many
questions and ended by declaring: :,
| "You weren't born to be a camel
driver"
"DO YOU think SO, ne anSWereu
"One is born predestined to be what
he is and what he will be-"
He didn't hesitate. however. to tell
them his story. which seemed to
amuse them.
you ought to go to America" said
the mother. isn't that so. Corisande!
He would make a good deal of money
| in America"
Corisande smiled and blpahed. Her
face had the tint of white ross Her
ewes were almost the color OF the
Mediterranean under the MONDAY sun.
Nothing could have been more appe-
tizing thp her red lips and glitter
ing white teeth.
"He would" she replied gravely in
her crystalline voice.
They came back many times, ana
Robert began to feel some embarrass-
ment in Corisande's presence. He de-
cided to sell the dromedary ana quit
Nice.
A. MAN who dealt in horses and
mules offered to dispose OF the
beast on a modest commission.
Some days passed. One morning
Roberts uncle invited him to break
fast Drinking their coffee in the
garden under the palm trees, with a
view to the right over the sea. the
uncle announced:
.'If YOU had been an imbecile what
you would have got from me would
hardly have made dogs meal. L
should have drawn a will to keep you
from ever seeing tho color Of my
money But since you have faced
your situation with courage and in