The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1922-12-31


brow and dropping lips. 1t is not
good to be rs and owe approximately
$4,000 when ones visible resources
are practically nil. Out of all that
stac!. of bills at his elbow, there
would be perhaps 10 due to necessity
the others indicated the fool and his
money. Why did he do it? What
was the matter with him, anyhow?
Why didn't he go along decently like
his friends? Hot water, month in
and month out, that was Robert Van
vechten. wastrel, roisterer by night.
thousand resolves today. and not
whole one week hence; SO what
was the good of swearing off?
Money? He was human sieve; It
fairly ran through his fingers.
A clock struck 9. A bitter, dreary
March night, IL you care for at
mospheric effects. A fine drizzle was
falling, and it was growing colder;
the world was tightening up under
the last grim clutch of winter. AS
the ninth stroke of the clock died
away in soft, musical vibr Vons, the
young man leaned back and rumpled
his hair. Roger is right I'm fool.
sure enough"
From underneath the bills he drew
forth letter and read it. He knew
every word of it by heart; still, he
had to peruse it again:
Robert: 1 warned you when 1
gave you your last allowance that
it would be the last if you went be-
yond it. l shall not advance you
single penny. Go to work and earn
ii, if you need it SO badly Take
care of your tin-horn gamblers, your
rarasitical friends; they've seen the
last dollar from my direction Go
to work. l have argued and pleaded
with you and you have sworn hun
dred dicer's oaths-and here you are
again, as deep in the mud as ever.
Get out of it the best way you can
Father knew what he was about
when he drew up his will. When you
are 80, if you want to go to the dogs
always supposing you've not al
ready arrived shall have nothing
to say. ROGER VAN VECHTEN.
Robert flung aside this letter and
looked up at the clock. BY and by
he got up and began to pace the
room Suddenly he stopped and
laughed grimly.
why not? BY the Lord Harry.
I'll do III All in one whack, and
then to lay low for five years. I'll
do IL All right. Roger. I'll give
you shock that you won't forget in
hurry.
He resumed his pacing as he
smoked and from time to time ges-
tfculated.
Below, in the lobby of the club,
young man about the same age as
the spendthrift approached the hall
attendant. rs Bob Van Vechten in
his room?'
Yes, Mr.. Forbes. He left word
for YOU to go right up the moment
you came in. sir
VERY good. Mr.. Forbes remarked
briskly.
Five minutes later j. Mortimer
Forbes illustrator, idler to a certain
extent, always desirable for week
ends because he danced well, played
all games we'll, and avowed publicly
that he would remain bachelor 20
the end of his days, sat down OPP
posite his friend.
We'll, what the deuce have you
been up to now" was his opening
query.
You always say that, Mort, when
I send for you. Here, read this let
ter from Roger
The artist read it. so he's going
to make good his threat? Honestly,
Bob if you want my candid opinion
1 don't blame him. To let the
sharks shake you down as they do,
To be known as an easy mark;
Horses, farobank, roulette. needy
shorus girlsi Pretty low stuff for a
man of your kidney. 1t isn't as
though YOU We're a weak CHA
less fool: there's a man somewhere
under yobr skin. 1t shows in the
fact that you've kept astonishingly
tlean and decent for one who travels
with the riffraff you do. You call
Roger pigheaded Seems to me II
runs in the family. The moment he
opposed your mode of living. you
flared up and went at ii double
speed. Well, you see it hasn't paid.
He had the legal right TO cut off
your allowance And give him credit
for this much: It is only to jack YOU
UP and teach you a lesson. How
much do YOU want to borrow" con-
cluded the artist, his handsome
mouth widening amusedly in a know
ing smile.
what | love about you, Mort S
the absolute gift of your friendship:
never any strings to it. never any
hedging. l sent for you because l
reed five thousand the worst kind
of way. | am honestly desperate. 1
am at the end of my rope
Forbes nodded, Five thousand.
though
Refuse More Money
I'm in at least twenty thousand
with those everlasting note-brokers.
and they refuse me another penny.
!, ~