A Poor Wise Man

t thing," said Miss Boyd, irrita

meron. "I do it becaus

ounter, where a mirror was pasted to a card above a box of chewing gum,

eron glan

profession writes with its feet, apparently. I've done everything to this but dip it in acid. I've had it pinned to the wall, and tried glancing

awful, ar

passed compelling doctors to use typewriters. Take this now. Read upside down,

you haven't got

Also that his eyes were somewhat sunken in his head. Which might, of course, have been due to too much political economy and history, and th

ies some night?" she said. "I like the

the sack suit who comes in to see you every day were three inch

a self-conscious smile. "I'm thr

y. "Does he know you are through with him? Because that's important,

me?" Willy Cameron's chivalrous soul was suddenly sh

o have a nice girl go with me to the movies, or anywhere else. We'll make it to-night, if that

f Miss Boyd in the candy and fancy goods. At the noon and dinner hours, and four evenings a week, he was relieved by the owner, Mr. Davis, a tired little man with large projecting ears and worried, child-like ey

st stuff down, Mr. Cameron," he wo

shelves, eyes upturned, sear

mes, candy and fancy soaps, and in the intervals surveyed the world that

say. Or, "The people in 42 have got a Ford. They haven't got ro

ism, as Willy Cameron discovered the night they first went to a moving picture theater together. She frankly wept and joyously laugh

, and it's a private wire to the gang." She was rather quiet after that particular speech. Then she added: "I know a place

long ago, when he might have reciprocated her little advance in the spirit in which it was offered, might have taken the hand and held it, out of the sheer joy of youth and proximity. But there was nothing of the philanderer in the Wi

rd her home. The girl was chattering happily. She adored Douglas Fairbanks. She knew a girl who had written for his pic

the telephone I could tell what he was saying by-Look here, what did y

only ta

ss with a secret telepho

don't mean." He was a little puzzled and

d you get to

u I was on

ulate about them; what life meant to them, in work and love and play; to what they

so?" he demanded,

because they've got to get up

about the homes th

Most of them have to move f

explained, patiently. "I m

et it

ou know all about people, who they live with, and all t

tarted an unpleasant train of thought in her mind. She was

sack suit, you know. If he jumps me, just yell for the

'd let me f

will he?" But he saw that

again. It's been migh

to ask me, th

ver first, just so they'll know that I don't customarily steal the

just-

t that. Something like that pup that has adopted m

nely long." She g

cheeri

aguely. "That crowd that drops into the shop on the evenings yo

ose I've been oratin

m something to think about when they go

ntly. "A Scot is always a reformer and a preacher, in his heart. I used to orate to my mother, b

speeches. I di

f he had been didactic to Lily Cardew. He had aired his opinions to her at length, he knew. He groaned as he took off his coat i

ed the seat of his one comfortable

l have to be the audience." He took his dressing gown from a nail behind the door

an't help thinking, with all this town to pick from, you migh

h its "Please Keep Out" sign, fussing with bottles and occasionally whistling to himself. O

the habit of thinking to the

be think

Up dreary and sordid by-paths her mind wandered; she was facing ugly facts for the first time, and a little shudder of disgust shook her. He wanted to meet her family. He was a gentleman and he wanted to meet her family. Well, he could meet them all right, and maybe he would understand then that she had never had a chance. In

all this time?" And she h

resolved. "It wasn't any fun an

and taking pad and pencil started forward. But Miss Boyd

ot.... Look here, Lou

ou might as well have it straight, Lou. I'm through.... No, I'm

mediate instinct was to help any troubled creature, and it had dawned on him that this composed young lady who manicured her nails out of a pasteboard box du

ke, stop," she said

what's wrong. Here's a chair. Now sit down and talk

with me. And if the boss c

cry. He was frightfully distressed. He poured some aromatic ammonia into

hat," he

ook he

" she said. "I

aid anything over

ked up

lly dabbed her eyes. "Heavens, I must be a sight. Now don't you get to thinking things, Mr. C

above the chewing gum, carefully rubbing her cheeks with a small red pad. After

ough without all

wn business," sh