Argosy and Railroad Man's Magazine, Vol. 107 No. 3 — page 134: what you’re looking at

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

476 background. What is it? Copper, or— no, it’s deeper, richer than gold, yet not red. I know—copper with gold in it!” He drew a deep sign of content as he sketched rapidly. Where a vain, small-minded girl would have blushed, simpered, and obtruded self under such undisguised admiration, Esther felt conscious only of gladness that she was satisfactory. Philip, sprawled on a big divan, looked on, well pleased. ‘“-Can you come to me about eleven every morning?”’ Paul asked her when they were through. “ You shall lunch with me here in the studio, and I'll let you off at three.” “Only four hours’ work a day for a hundred dollars!” she cried, rising rather stiffly. pose.” “ Esther!” exclaimed Philip from the other side of the room. ‘“ You mustn’t say things like that. Don’t let the man think you are exercised over his measly little hundred per. Why, he’s been praising you so that I was thinking of demanding more, and you’ve spoiled it all. Ah, mon Dteu!” She dined again that evening with the two men, who delighted in the admiration she excited. After the Hippodrome, which filled her with such breathless delight and wonder that all thought of self was crowded out, Philip called a taxi and they turned toward her hotel. One of the first things she must learn, he” told her, was how to live. Refined sur- roundings, comfort, breed a refinement all their own. There was another important thing to which she must give full value; that the true definition of Broadway is “bluff.” When she asked a man to hand out a hundred good iron men every week, for her services, she must look like it and act like it and live like it. “Tf he sees you eating your breakfast at Bectan’s, your dinner at the Claymore, clothed in expensive simplicity and a smile of prosperity, he will feel cheap that he can pay you no more,” smiled the Frenchman. ‘“‘ Philip, why are you interested in me?” laughing at his first, “‘ lesson.” “Youre a novelty to me. You please \ “You'll find that quite long enough to. ARGOSY AND RAILROAD MAN’S MAGAZINE. my eye and interest my mind. You’re much better fhan a book. You ave a book that I am writing; and I don’t know how it’s going to come out.” He stretched lazily back in his seat. “T’ll bore you soon, perhaps.” Esther sat more upright. She had not yet learned to take ease in a cab. “Perhaps. But you’re anterésting now. Also, I want to watch the buds of learning unfold in a fertile brain. It must be in- teresting. Then there’s always that ele- ment of suspense, of wonder. Shall I fall in love with you? Or you with me? Or what if we should fall in love with each other?” “Oh, Philip, laughed Esther. “ Then, there’s Paul,” he went on gaily. ‘““'We may be able to wring a thrill out of him.” “But you think I'm not quite so safe with you?” He was charming, undoubt- edly. ‘“‘ That’s the fascinating Suspense! Are you? You see, in the beginning of this book you are—” He hesitated. ‘In love -with another man,” she sup- plied. “* Exactly; and I with another woman.” ‘Do you believe one can truly love more than once?” she asked. “‘ My dear child! How young you are! Why, I’ve been in love dozens of times.” ““ How could your” “ That’s the beauty of the Bbrench tem- perament. We love madly while the sweet- ness lasts; at the first hint of bitter, we cease. It saves one such a lot of pain.” The car came to a stop. “T wish I could do that,” Esther replied seriously as the cabman got out to open the door. ‘“‘ That may be included with the French and English lessons. We must fix a time and stick to it. How would nine to ten thirty suit you?” a “Very well.” “Splendid. Good night. Don’t fall in love with me too soon, Esther. The book might lost interest if the suspense were ended. And you want to squeeze me dry first!” you are too absurd,” COMICEDOO S (C(O) inn