Evening star., 1921-02-20

expectantly large public was wait
Ing to see him put some of these into
execution. 1t was not until he came
down to breakfast that this new
phase Of success was called to his at
tention by an eager young reporter
intent upon a Sunday special. Barney
had been waiting around ever since z
that morning, and it was now 10. The
hotel clerk pointed out Talbot as soon
as he appeared. and Barney stopped
him as he was entering the dining
room.
day as a millionaire" explained Bar
ney. I'm assigned to follow you
until you turn in tonight
You are. are your" snapped Talbot.
We'll. just cut II out, will you?"
II can't do that. Mr.. Talbot. You're
public character now"
II don't know how you figure that.
II it's advertising dope you're after.
I'm out Of Gusher."
planning a campaign on something
elseT
/ You betcha; on breakfast" an
swered Talbot. I'm through with
the market"
You must have hit IT right. I'll
hang around until you've eaten.
want to get line on what you order"
Talbot sidled away; but evidently
the word had been passed around. for
he found the head waiter addressing
him by name and so1icitously consult
ing his taste in the matter of tables.
Anywhere out OF sight Of that
Talbot. '
He was given his choice of corner
tables and selected the nearest. And
here for the next hour he thoroughly
enjoyed himself. He was hungry.
his time was his own and he chose
from the menu thoughtfulfy and at
will. with not the slightest respect
for the tiny adjacent figures that
taste and curbed his appetite. He
had that morning some 100000 on
deposit with the Knick erbocker
Trust. When he had time to invest
IN Libertys. as he intended. he would
have an income of around $4,000 a
year-a thousand dollars a month
Not an extravagant sum, but more
than enough to allow him full indul-
gence in the matter of meals. II not,
then he could draw on his principal.
He did not intend to be held in
bondage by that. He did not intend
to be held in bondage by anything.
He meant to use this money-aI of
it-as he chose: to test to the limit
the best that life contained.
That was his mood this morning,
but. even so, he was surprised at
how little headway he made in this
his first venture.
After his grapefruit. a bit OF ten
derloin. his coffee and rolls. he was
through. The bill. everything con-
sidered. was not so much, and less
than a full hour had been consumed.
Barney was waiting for him.
Enjoy it?" inquired the reporter.
"You bet. You're the only little
ny in the ointment I've found so far.
Cut it out. will you?"
"Oh, don't mind me-"
ssVorv Va1i 7 WN0n'tp AuSwarnd sra1 .
bot. $50
Which is quite the wisest stand he
could have taken. 1t was not long
before the press dropped him. After
! it had described what he ate, what
he wore. and his new charters at the
Barchester. into which he moved al
most Immediately, they We're prac-
ticaIiy done with him. For a little
while longer they kept half an eye
out hopefully, but nothing sensa-
| tional developed. and they finally
dropped him altogether--dropped him,
as they SO often do. at the very point
where his life began to get interest
| ing.
II Barney had only known it. the
tip to have followed UP was Miss
Wadsworth. and. yet he might not
As a matter of fact, Talbot himself
did not. She was too much of an
| intangible.
1t was at the end of his first week
at the Barchester that She came bob
| bing back into Talbots thoughts
That had been a wonderful weeks
| soul-satisfying week. If the press
had only been able to get below tha,
beautifully tailored exterior. of his
! to the center that registers sensa
| tions. it would have had materia
enough. That is the kind of report.
| ing that counts. But Talbot was his
own reporter and own pubiic--for al
| least seven days, Relaxing. he gave
himself up utterly TO the sheer lux.
ury of indulgins to capacity his five
senses.
His only limit was the limit oi
pleasurable reaction he was able tc
secure. This OF course cut him OF
Grom . 1pE Of xunGh atu6 because h<
- nlHfnl1y -1annoUk.r 41ah1 ?