enu towards him and studied it with interest. Setting it down he

ind O. K.?" he i

being unable to answer a q

id, doubtfully. "I'm afrai

and to some acquaintance

the modest sum of eighteenpence, which is the cheapest way to feed, if it's decent

old the waiter to bring me the ordinary lu

it. Henri. Come

the waiter, who treate

rned again

to eat alone. It is a whim of mine. If I eat alone I read, and if

the newcomer

aid. "I have nothing to

ky m

king that every one here seems to be in the same state. Some one once told me

is eyeglass and looked de

e West-Enders who carry the burdens of wealth and the obligation of position, who have earned for

with the air of a connoisseu

laughe

what about me? I pawned my watch because

hed and stuck his

watch for a year, and I've only ninepence in my pocket. They give

looked at his neat clothes and the f

means of making mo

a measure it is true-but such a small measure. A cold-blooded and unappreciative editor apprises my services at the miserabl

, then?" Douglas

work, as you would bones to a dog. It is not dignified, but one must eat and drink-not to mention smoking. Permit

th flushed cheeks. The I

the staff of the

ther

ou. My own impression is, that without me the Ibex would not exist

I sent a story to the Ibex, and it was accepted.

ttle eyes twi

as the

.' Douglas Jess

as's glass with Chianti f

I remember your story, for I put the blue chalk on it myself and took it up to Drexley.

out upon life with terrified eyes, tempted even to self-destruction, suddenly in touch once more with the things that were dear to him, realising for the first time some of the dreams whi

e?" his new friend aske

n for

answered, smiling, "for I hav

iced that the postmark of your parcel was Feldwick in the Hills, somewhere

o his cheeks, faded slowly away. The pleasant hum of voices, the keen joy of living, which, a moment before,

to do during the last few

bout the mu

es

sed his cigarette case across t

"did you know the man

shook

ived some distance away, and t

rest me. This one did. Why? I don't know. I hate to have reasons for everyth

s, who sat with white face and averted eyes, struggling hard for compo

ing that the police were a little hasty i

ials," Douglas said, looking up, "besides the card. He was known

We will talk of something else, or rather I must talk of nothing else, for my tim

time to catch hi

"Come along with me, and I will show y

hateful fears-that fainting sense of terror! Douglas Guest was dea

st drink with me once. W

, lifting his glass,

bad chap, although

gs-but he drank to a different toast