The Dugdale Millions — page 58: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

A 48 THE DUGDALE MILLIONS. sum of money larger than he had hoped for, with brilliant promises of more to be earned as easily, he concluded that, without doing violence to his service to Mr. Mason, he could indulge in the pleasure, now rare to him, of appearing before the barkeeper of the place he affected, and the regular frequenters thereof, as a capitalist, and thus regain some of that respect, which he was forced to admit was lost to him through his inability to buy even his morning cup. Poets may call money dross, and moralists may call it the root of all evii, but nevertheless the average man with a few dollars in his pocket enjoys a sense of dig- nity utterly wanting when his pockets are empty. The ex-ballet-master was an average man, and on this particular day when he entered the drinking-place, there was such dignified independence, almost touch- ing haughtiness in his manner, as he walked across the saloon, that the barkeeper regarded him with aston- ishment, to the old man’s secret delight. He made his way to the rear of the room and seated himself at atable. Two men were already seated at this table, who, by their manner and their neglect in returning his salutation, plainly showed that his companionship was not welcome. But so positive was the ex-ballet- master that he carried with him the charm to open the doors to their favor that he refused to observe their coldness, and having heaved a sigh, indicating that rest after labor was most comfortable, said: ‘‘T have been downtown on business—a long jaunt for an old man. A draft of good old gin would rest me. Will you join?’’ The two men were at no pains to conceal their sur- prise, but it was not so great as to prevent them from promptly accepting the invitation. The Signor— **Teddy,’’ as he was called there—did not resent the openly expressed surprise, which he did not fail to observe, but with the air of a patron summoned the Waiter to receive the orders, Comicbool< C@ 3