War-time Silhouettes

sively but arranged without taste, and it completely lacks home atmosphere. Mr. Reiss's room is, like himself, uncomfortable. The walls are covered with pictures, but their effect is

ings if bought judiciously have been known to increase in value in the most extraordinary manner, and as this generally happens long a

he suffers from chronic indigestion. He is one of those peopl

he says, "Bah! He hasn't a penny." Below this level every one is "a pauper"; now he rather envies such pitiable people because "they've got nothing to lose." His philosophy of life is simple to grasp, and he can never understand why so many people refuse to accept it. If they did, he thinks that the world would not be su

ously go in approval of any one; he thus eulogizes those who live within their means and have never been known to be hard up. People who are hard up are "wasters." No one has any business to be hard up; "respectable" men live on what they've got

Reiss's servant announc

the paper and hides behind it. From long experience he has discovered the utili

nto the room, observes the newspape

!" It's a fre

ers the paper and gazes at t

u. When did

out. I thought I'd look you up at

-wh

king people repeat their remarks. This is deliberate and its pur

down rather uncomfor

ered out,

ow. How could I?

his defence with the

l yesterday. They don't gi

ey-

subs are being taken from the third. We've got to join the day after to-morrow. Bit of a rush. An

n extravagant rate." Mr. Reiss never ceases denouncing the extravagance of the Government. He now adjust

l-we

Staples, our capta

Then, "

ngaged, y

ell?" i

uncle, if you don'

her

girl a ring before he went back. He hadn't

up from his chair, and stands be

no business to-and if Captain Whatever's-his-name were a respectable man, he wou

o, un

my life has disappeared. I'm a poor man. I spend nothing on myself. I've given up my car. I've put down everything. I'm trying to dispose of my pictures and to sell the lease of this place. You don't seem to understand what this infernal war m

nce. I shall need another fifty to make me

Very well. You shall have your hundred pounds. But I solemnly warn you that it's the last

o the roots of hi

in the regiment. I can't allow you-Look here-never mind t

slowly to the writing-table and sits down. Taking a blank cheque from a pocket-

king it, uncle.

oes not even grunt. He knows that there are times when

ain sitting alone, gazing into the fire.

theory takes the place of affection or not, its application in the case of Mr. Reiss resulted in his migration at an early age to England, where he soon found a market for his German industry, his German thrift

n intact as long as possible. Some of his schemes for insuring the safety of his capital, for the resettlement of the greater part of the income by t

's all over with money-making. The most he can hope for is to keep "the little that is left." If only Percy had been older and

his life. Surely after all his self-sacrifice and self-denial he is not to be robbed of the one satisf

anxiously. His one preoccupati

tification always seems to him to be evidence of moral superiority and to confirm his right to special grievances. He is

UNCLE

Our Brigadier had sent in his name for a V.C. I'll tell you all about it when I see you. But what I wanted to say is that it's all right about the money. I've got lots in the bank now, and

ectionat

ame as nearest relative in cas

-reads the letter. Somehow or other he does not want Percy to pay him

tes a moment before beginning the letter. Was there anything he could say that would please Percy? He has a curious and at the same time a strong desire to do something now-at once. He has never felt lik

pink paper un

ret to inf

o read farther, and now he has