The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1923-05-06
TheHOuSe thatSteVeBuil

Keene and Molly and Burton together in
one room. But after the financial smash
Burton simply threw his hands over his
head and let himself sink under the water.
He lived at the club almost exclusively, and
his face showed how his time was spent
there. The field was left clear to Keene,
and society merely waited for the day.
Then came the second miracle Burton,
Molly and Keene all disappeared on the
same day. When Burton reappeared he
was new man in every respect, devoted to
his wife and diligent to his business. The
climax came not long afterward when Mr..
and Mrs. Burton moved into the house that
Steve built. This is the story as society
knew it. People used their imaginations to
supply the one missing chapter-the chapter
which contained the show down between the
two men. Needless to say, their imagining
made quite a hero of Hal. Nevertheless,
the truth about those ~ missing hours is
what follows.
little after IL o'clock Jim Crashaw
went up to the table where Fitzpatrick was
lunching at the club, sat down, brushed the
menu away, and, leaning forward, said in a
low voice: "Bill, poor old Hal is at the end
of his rope-the very end'
William Fitzpatrick was dapper little
old world man, who patterned his manners
after those of his father, and trimmed his
beard to the same sharp point. Now he
fixed his rather expressionless eyes upon
Crashaw, who was big and blunt and two
listed saying: "You mean that Molly has
run away with Keene?"
NO." said Crashaw, "but she's going to-"
"My wife, answered Fitzpatrick, "told
me that two months ago, but I trust in
Molly's strength of will She refused me
three times in the old days, you know"
Crashaw said: "She turned me down more
often than that, but this is the truth, Billy.
Pm not guessing"
Better say that over slowly old fell
low"
"Pll say it all again and more Don't be
fool Billy. 1 think more of her little
finger than you do of her whole body. The
proof is that you married and I didn't,
That's also the reason that Pm going to
save her in spite of herself"
Fitzpatrick was thoughtful
1T might be the happy beginning rather
than the sad ending, you know" he said.
After all, you can't blame girl for want
ing to leave thing like that"
He pointed to Hal Burton, who was cross
ing the room with uneven steps. He had
grown somewhat pursy. There were purple
tinted pouches under his eyes, and his mouth
dropped at the corners When he reached
a table he laid his hands on the edge of it,
lowered himself carefully part of the way
toward chair, and then slumped inertly
into it.
When man reaches that stage at noon"
said Fitzpatrick in his small, cold voice.
hes pretty well done for. For nv part.
l think Burton's is not much more than
just so many pounds of meat"
"And your fraternity brother" said
Crashaw quietly.
Fitzpatrick grew white, with spot Of
crimson in either cheek brightly contrast
ing
"That was a little uncalled for Jim. No.
on the whole, guess warranted it. Now.
talk business How do you know-what
you say you know"
at came to me by rather roundabout
route, but you know what queer stuff floats
into brokers' office. l started to work 20
verify the rumor, and l succeeded. It took
me three days of work in the garbage OF
another mans life, but now I have all the
facts"
(Which are?"
AT o'clock tonight Keene is going to
call at Molly's house and take her with him