A Man and His Money

cluding the nomadic piano and the now empty jug. The contents of the last the composer-publisher took care to put beyond reach of his many creditors

wreck and disaster, stepped a tall dark man, with a closely cropped beard, who spoke English with an accent a

man here who sings on the street like the minstr

sh. "He has just 'jumped the cou

eak the language as I understand it?" he said. And the other did, for there was that in the caller's man

had concluded. "He is gone; it is well; I have fulfilled my mission." And walkin

nd-a-half appetite." An untidy place where they displayed a bargain assortment of creature comforts attracted his gaze. He thought of meals in the past-of caviar, a la Russe, three dollars and a half a portion; peaches Melba, three francs each at the Café de Paris; truff

recklessly to casual gastronomic allurements, so he stepped on again quickly, averting his head from shop

, on his way. It is these little victories that count; at that moment Mr. Heatherbloom marched on like a knight of old for steadfastness of purpose. His lips veiled a covert smile, as if behind the hard mask of life he saw something a little odd and whimsical, appealing to some secret sense of humor that even hunger could not wholly annihilate. The lock of hair se

h, here was one advertisement without the "trained"; he devoured it eagerly. The item, like an oasis in the desert of his general incapacity and uselessness, exercised an odd fascination for him in spite of the absolute impossibility of his professing to possess a

ront steps. But with a short laugh he came suddenly to a halt half-way up; looked over the stone balustrade down at the other

He had done a good deal of going this way and that, and then stopping, during the last few m

side of the street. It wasn't different from any other of the entrances of the kind but it held his gaze. Then he walked across the street again and went in-or down. It

nding there in the shadow, and tried to assume a nonchalant bearing. He wondered just what bearing was proper under the circumstances; he cherished indistinct recollections of having heard or read that the butcher's boy is usually favored with a br

the conversation by natural and easy stages to the purport of his visit? He rehearsed a few sentences, then straightway forg

ok, then, who acted as door tender of these regions subterranean. He feared by her expression that he had interrupted her in the preparation of some escul

landly. With which cheering assurance she consigned him to some one else-a maid with a ti

or in cabinets-and the caller's appearance was against him. He would bear watching; he had the impudence-Just fancy his sitting there in a chair! He was leaning back now as if he enjoyed that atmosphere of luxury; surveying, too, the paintings and the bronzes with interest. But for no good reason, thought the maid; then gave a start of surprise. The hand of the suspicious-looking caller had lif

satin or brocade and with bristling iron-gray hair! He noticed, howeve

ghtful odor of gasolene.

nt: "What a frightful odor! Salts, Jane, salts!" And as they barked in many keys, but always fortissimo, they ran frantically this way and t

y! Curly! Naughty!"

not beautiful; while as for Naughty (all yellow bows and black curls)

What sha

" ventured Jane, "and they'

be-ribboned pets showed signs o

dy anxiously. "How wet the

poor dears, ma'am

. "You can go." And then to Mr. Heatherbloom: "What bro

a start; he retired a few paces, observing in a mild explanatory tone something about spots on his garments and t

tisement then, I suppose?" the lady

oss-examiner for the prosecution; Mr. Heatherbloom did not seem to enjoy the grilling. A number of queries he answered frankly; others he evaded. He seemed-ominous circumstance!

unt of damaged crockery. He had essayed the r?le of waiter but had lasted only through the first courses; down to the entrées, he thought; certainly not much past the pottage.

said the la

a dummy completed the descent and got smashed on the sidewalk. He was a little doubtful about their intercepting him at the fifth and that he, instead of the dummy-But he didn't seem to mind taking the risk-reflectively. They said he was a great success fal

bout?" The lady's back

ude you are"-he bowed-"beholding me. I went once; it seemed funny. I hardly recognized myself in the part. I certainly

table-what were those you have kept so carefully concealed? For example, where were you and what were you doing four-five-six-years a

with their eyes. Accusingly? Not all of them. Naughty's glan

dy sharply. Naughty ga

ss, more to herself than the o

dam?" he

m takes to strangers, shoul

scent of the gasol

the gasolene," she

or the assistant rector's shapely calves. But after that gentleman's elopement with a lady of the choir and his desertion of wife and children, Naughty's erstwhile disrespect for the cloth, which Miss Van Rolsen had grieved over, became illumined with force

ds," she said half to herself, "but," with su

Mr. Heatherbloom. "The a

e the darlings ever

ave added was interrupted by a light footstep in the hall and

now, Aunt,"

d he could see but the rim of a wonderful hat. He gazed at a few waving roses, fitting

were whisked back; the voice-musical as silver bells-receded, and the front door closed. Mr. Heather

ges," said a voice-not

suitable-" he began in somewh

of the door. Mr. Heatherbloom listened; perhaps he would have liked to retreat then and there from that house; but it was too late! Fate had precipitated him here. A mad tragic jest! He did not catch the amoun