Evening star., 1925-09-13

4 agent, HOunQeIcu doSdi. wiz SSS
him. / will get him to paint your
fathers shop"
"See hinl-him? I did not know
that you were a friend of his"
"Oh,-I know him quite well. He
will do whatever l ask, l am assured. :
Perhaps it was the look of JOY that
came over Madeleine's face. Perhaps
ii was the trust he saw in her eyes
There is intoxication in such things,
most surely.
! lie threw all caution to the winds
Furthermore, he cried dramatically,
| Furthermore, I will see that those
rents are not raised.
| MY Pascal"
"Madeleine"'
my father will receive you with
open arms.
Tears of happiness were in her eyes
''Our future is assured" he said as
he kissed them away.
BY the time the happy artist had
! traced his steps to his latest studio in
Orleans street he came to realize what
he had gotten himself in for. His
companion Livaudais, sharer of his
studio and his misfortunes. found him
groaning in bed an hour later
What cried the excellent Livau
dais. did you eat too much for
lunch?"
My friend" moaned Peret, Il have
ruined myself"
| 1T is not the first time" Livaudais
| lighted a Picayune. But let's hear
about it. Is it gambling or love-"
49, Both. | have gambled with my
happiness and love is the stake
Whereupon he told the story of his
insanity. Livaudais whistled.
And you do not know this rental
AGENT"
Il do not know even his name or
where he makes Office groaned the
stricken fellow.
His friend blew careful ring of
smoke.
1t would make a very melodramatic
story, my dear Pascal But | do not
see what the denouement could be-"
Don't make a joke. 1t is too
serious. You must help me-"
Il do not see that any help is pos
sible. However, you will find some
aspirins in the second drawer there"
Pascal sighed lugubriously. He toss
ed upon the bed. He beat his brow.
But. of a sudden. he jumped to his
feet, his face lighting up.
Have you an engagement tonight,
Livaudais?" he demanded.
Knowing the state of my finances,
how can you ask? However, if you
wish to arrange spread with proper
entertainment l am, agreeable.
NO such luck" replied Pascal but
l have an idea
Il have never liked ideas
Listen. Since there is no chance
of getting that rental agent TO paint
that bakery I will paint her myself"
IF you are crazy that is no affair
of mine.'
And you will help me-" continued
Pascal.
What? Am an artist or a house
painter"
II have heard you make certain ad-
mittances along that line" Pascal
smiled. But listen. We will do it at
night. No one will see you Your
reputation will not be harmed"
4 "At night"
This very night. What do you
say?"
pASCAL was not to be dismissed.
I'VE will paint a nocturnal canvas
that will surprise this old baker out of
himself and which will melt his heart.
| We will paint 1t in bright colors which
will attract people into that shop His
! business will jump. He will be able
to pay higher rents. 1t is a glorious
enterprise.
Il refuse" broke in the other
This night painting always gives
me a cold. | cannot do my best when
l must sneeze between each movement
of the brush
Il will lend you my heavy jacket
If YOU find these Summer nights so
cold
1T is total foolishness," remon
strated Livaudais. Have you ever
tried to paint a building at night?
Have you ever done that"
DO not cast reflections upon my
ability" said Pascal Peret. II remind
you that both conceived and com
pleted my nocturssi masterpiece,
River at Night in less than six
hours
And it looked it," retorted Livau.
dais.
However, after another hours
argument Pascal had prevailed upon
Livaud The latter suddenly gave
in.
'AlI right" he agreed But 1t is
understood that you Will carry the
ladder
Pascal arranged for the necessary
materials at once. He borrowed de-
crepit ladder from a cabinet maker
in Chartres street. He arranged for
the paints at cost price by agreeing
to paint a portrait of the clerks wife
on the next Sunday morning. Choos-
ing the paints was n more difficult
matter. The, clerk suggested a, muddy
brown. But the artists esthetic
nature won out. He took a dark. lus-
trous green for the body Of the build
ing, and for the trimmings chose a
bright salmon pink. which the clerk
assured was 1.-The very latest thing in
an exterior touch"
Livaudais howled when he saw 1t.
"Shhh," replied Peret 1T has al
ways been a theory of mine that house
painters do not use sufficient original
ity. And anyway, we will use this