Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-06-07

kissed the photograph OF the girl ne
was to have married. waved a grace
full farewell to his comfortable sitting
ROOM grasped his revolver firmly and
put the barrel to his head.
In the brief pause that followed his
funeral song rended by trolley In the
street. line that he had been sentenced to
write 5000 times at school, and had never
thought about since, came back into his mind.
Life hath more awe than death" And having
looked at it with startling clearneSS OF one
who was on the verge Of taking it at the age
OF &C. he said aloud. MY friend, last look
round"
He put the gun among his pipes and stalked
across to his desk. Even in that fantastic
dressing gown and rather grotesque pyjamas
he managed to retain the wiry, muscular APP
pcarance. In spite Of his open-work shoes, too,
which were all the 60 at Newport, his clean
cut face with amusing bore the stamp
OF his efforts to reduce his golf handicap. For
the rest his color was chocolate which proved
that he had possessed Of leisure and the money
to pay for it. Or friends who put him up. He
was a very popular man.
The letters to his lawyers and his recent
fancee he then proceeded to seal. They looked
more formal like that CHANGING at the clock
with more than q touch of impotence, he
strained his toward the door, heard ap-
preaching footsteps returned to his favorite
chair and put the gun to his brain. Yes, he
had brain
TEN minutes before he had opened the door
] of his apartment. He didn't desire to be
disturbed by a ringing bell while in the act
of departing the only journey for which It
is impossible to obtain q ticket to return. He
held his position until Alan McCrombie his
wealthy friend. entered the stting-room with
q sort of reluctant haste. Whereupon Gilbert
put his revolver where it simply had to be seem
He annoyed in being caught in what after
all. is very private act. He said, toning
down his anger in what under the circum-
stances was a surprisingly friendly voice.
whats the great idea?"
McCrombie had seen the revolver He re-
fused, however, to believe the evidence Of his
eyes.~ He had danced all night in a jazz haunt
and considered that he had the right to Gee
non-existent things-hoating yellow spd6,
sudden snudgeS Of cloud, curious little dark
things which moved about rapidly looking for
holes in the wall All previous calls by Gilbert
had resolved themselves into immediate
touches" for cash. He was fully persuaded
that he had now been brought to the presence
of this graceful and charming sportsman for
that purpose once again. But when he APP
preached the table he was bound to believe
that what he had seen was gun in very truth.
Horror thickened his voice. Were you 1.
Is it possible that you OF all men, you :"
II don't suppose you know" said Gilbert
you, who have much money, how difficult 1t
is in these days of unjustifed panic to screw
oneself up to moment OF such high courage
as this. AS you have broken in upon me one
minute too I'll confess quite frankly that
I about to remove myself 1 hoped that
you would arrive to find not too messy a sight
Hence this dressing gown bought-or rather
owed for-especially for the event."
AIcCrombie had tender heart and Sympa-
tlletic soul 1t has been said that he had al
ready lent Gilbert various Jumps of cash. One
way another they totted up to about SIS, 900.
In return he had received, of course the usual
l. Q. US but although he was proud of being
seen in public with a sportsman so well known,
he had been through moments of severe pain
at the too long withdrawal of this useful sum
from his Az per cents. 1t was true that Gil
berT heir to real money, but this was still
being enjoyed by his last remaining aunt. This
dear old lady was not only a vegetarian who
took regular exercise, but she was also a vibra-
zionist who permitted herself to tune into only
those thoughts which are philosophical and
sweet In her Seventy-seventh year it went
almost without saying that she would reach
at least 80 with the greatest ease.
4 AcCROMBIE had made up his mind not to
wi be touched" again. But, good heavens,
imagine being followed through life with
the CHASTITY weight his conscience of having