White Bluffs spokesman. [volume] (White Bluffs, Wash.) 1907-1938, 1927-06-17
CHAPTER II-Continued

beSlue yOuTSelI IHeTo Will De, i
trust, Neeland Barnes, formerly an in
ternational polo player and owner of
race horses, and Floyd Malet, who.
when he seemed about to take his
place in the world as great sculptor,
suffered an unfortunate eclipse"
Bradney went to the library and
opened the New York directory. Sure
enough, Peter Milman was recorded as
living on Lower Fifth avenue. Tho
thing, then, was not a foolish prac-
teal Joke.
Putting at big pipe, Fleming Brad
ney sat on his little balcony and gazed
at Manhattan lights. This strange
letter had awakened old hopes and
ambitions that he had thought for ever
dead. OF course, there could be no
practical Joke which expended hun
dred dollars on its fultilment. Brad
ney read the letter again. The phrase,
Perhaps at this dinner you may be
offered the opportunity" took his
fancy strangely. Opportunity! Did
any exist for man who had been dis
graced and was now forgotten? I'm
til this letter came Bradney had be-
lieved his career finished He went
Into his bedroom and dlsinterred
suit Of full evening dress from its
mothball tomb. He had not worn 1t
for dozen years.
Peter Milman's letter reached Nee
land Barnes at q moment when that
eminent sportsman was engaged In
STAYING off his most persistent cred
ltor, the landlord Lippsky.
Barnes was tall, finely made man
who had run through several fortunes
by his love for horses and his inabil-
lty to Judge of their chances in races
After his wife had died, his relatives
had shrugged their shoulders and
abandoned him. The many schemes
for his rehabilitation had failed. He
disappeared from fashionable resorts.
His only daughter was being brought
up in England by rich relations. He
had drifted about the world until, at
the end of all resources, he had taken
little house on the outskirts of
Peekskill.
Here he was engaged In what he
explained as an attempt ito stage a
comeback" He was trying to become
physically fit, and he was succeeding
the noble stream brought no grist to
the mill.
"Mr. Barnes, you are loafer,"
Lippsky cried when the sportsman had
announced his inability to pay rent
long overdue This seemed cruelty I'M
just to man who had just returned
from a twentymile walk.
"Some day, If you keep on annoying
me-" said Neeland Barnes, II shall
kill you"
"You don't have to kill me-" Lippsky
cried shrilly. "You just pay my rent.
Sell your swell clothes and. get over
ells." He waved Peter Milman's let
ter. "Get some of your swell friends
to lend you money!"
Neeland Barnes looked at the letter,
puzzled. He did not recognize the
writing, but the stationery was reas-
surfing.
"When what you term my swell
friends know I am living In howell
like this, they will advance me the
money. / shall not ask them until ]
have finished my training. am about
to begin. If hit you, it's your look
out"
Barnes began his shadow-boxing
exercises. Dimly Lippsky perceived
that his debtor was getting nearer and
nearer. He went out muttering
"Loafer." 1t was word which did
much to appease him.
Barnes boxed no more when his
landlord had disappeared. He read
the astonishing letter dozen times
and secreted the money-order at once,
Alone of the three who had received
somewhat similar communications, he
knew of Milman and his family. Very
distantly they were connected by mar.
riage. Barnes had no idea that the
Brewer failure had brought Peter Mil.
man to penury. One sentence he
found strangely intriguing: IF, as
believe, you feel yourself unfairly
IlCotCu ny NhC WoIIu IhuI was yOuAS
I may be able to offer you the oppor.
tunity to take your place again in
society"
Neeland Barnes longed above all
things for the comfortable life that
had once been his. He had never per.
mitted himself to become shabby
Never had he sunk to such state
that former friends would hesitate to
recognize him. He chung to the idea
that when once he ceased to shave anG
wear clean linen the descent to hell
would have begun.
He rolled cigarette and INDUCED
In pleasing reveries. Good dinners
were not given idly nor were hundred
dollar bills expended for nothing
Peter Milman wanted him to do some
thing. Well, .Neeland Barnes was his
man. Perhaps after all these years
the man who had run away with Mrs
NIilman was back In America. Per.
haps Peter Milinan desired him to be
chastised publicly He would find
Neeland Barnes devoid Of fear and In