The Man on the Box

York City. Thus, when he left the train at the Baltimore and Potomac station, he hadn't the slightest idea where Scott Circle was. He looked around in vain for the sm

and hailed jovially. Our hero (as the good novelists of the past generation would say, taking

h?" asked th

that old nag's bones in trying t

nd absurdity of its architectural structures, the handsomest thoroughfare in America. (Some day I am going to carry a bill into C

oceeded along soberly, even leisurely, as if they knew what the day's work was and the rewards attendant, and were content. Trucks, those formidable engines of commerce, neither rumbled nor thundered along the pavements, nor congested the thoroughfares. Nobody hurried into the shops, nobody hurried out. There were no scampering, y

to his left, loomed the Washington monument, glittering like a shaft of opals. Some orderlies dashed by on handsome bays. How splendid they looked, with their blue trousers and broad yellow s

pirit of the times were the cables, and doubtless these would have gone slower but for the invisible and immutable power which propelled them. On arriving in New York, one's first thought is of riches; in Washington, of glory.

Building, round past the Executive Mansion with its spotl

aven't seen this pla

uldn' y' like t' live in dat hou

It takes four years to get used to it; and then, when y

o eroun' Lafayette, er do yuh wa

now, uncle;

rcle she

h it came to a stand in front of a beautiful house, Warburton evinced his surprise openly. He knew

uncle, that thi

, an' yuh can see de n

h do I o

fifty cents 'l

hire here and in New York. He grasped his case and leaped up the steps

urton live here?" h

s,

and standing in the hall of his brother's househ

r, her face expressing the utmost

" she

t, my dear," h

wondering whethe

you old henpecke

, studious-looking gentleman, rather plai

in a moment they were pumping hands at a great rate.

t, come and see who'

would have understood, but no man on earth, and who was dressed

sed him heartily, held him away at arm's length, and hugged and

man in all the world (and I am always ready to back this statement with abundant proof

an

ot a line in two months!-How could you!-You might have be

of this tie of mine!" But for all his jesting tone, Mr. Rober

" asked the humane a

ldn't mind anoth

ow the clear women fussed over him, pressed this upon him and that; fondled and car

e reached over and patted Nancy on the cheek, and pressed the young wife'

"and we haven't had a glimp

ing three lumps of sugar into his coffee because

enty-eight," said Kit,

twenty-four, Nan

. I've a sneaking idea that she was thinking of me when she

etting married," observed the prodigal. "What's the mat

d the table, but Mr. Robert mi

table. "Now," said he, "wher

a, which is a synonym,

e and laughed; but Mrs.

ant by

l Sherman," Jack replied. "And I am surprised that a brother-in

hrough the inquisition later, sh

e when it rains;

ing about it till the thing was

men?" Robert demanded. "You would

the newspapers," said Jack. "Come, gi

,"-and the prodigal

o!" cried Mrs. Jack

. "He was probably star-gazing or he woul

her John," Robert ac

Nancy," Mrs. Jack added, with

wife could not have adored him more openly had he been the twin to Adonis. But, there you are; a man always wants something he can not

iling, his face admirably set with nonchalance, "do you know of a family named Annesley-Colon

o ago. A fine strategist; knows every in and out of the coast defenses, and

man. A war

ar, and was transferred to the Department. He was a widower, if

n evident in this syllable. "Do y

omewhere in Virginia. But he's bee

nd dropped the spoon. "Pah! I must have put in

my room-mate at Smith one year. She was in my graduating class. I'll show you her picture

oss them c

n't she just the loveli

. But hang my luck, I never came

n't get away?" John threw up his hands as a

when I approached him,

see," said

e w

; your cigar

gar and puffed like a t

rd Nancy. "Shall

ppose he'll have to

sked the third

r is about to bring

have heard this

ok so hurt. You don't want me

eve I can tell you why. Every brother knows that no man is good enough for a good woman. "When did it

t we

e a blow of some sort which can not be warded off, and asked: "

Henderson

ing less than an English duke, let loose

(Oh, Mr. Robert, Mr. Robert; a

e world, and I love him with all my heart!" (How do you like that, Mr. Robert? Bravo, Nancy! I may be a duffer, true enough, but I rather object to its being

oving him

it; but I've been dreaming of your marrying a prince or an ambassador, and Henderson comes like a jolt. Besides, Chuck will never

oved him, Bob. And he wan

all I do after that?" he wailed. "You're the only person I can

asked Mrs. Warburton. "With your looks you

only brother. What am I good for but ordering rookies about? I've no

ctionately across the table. He loved this gay lad opposite, loved him for his own self and because he could always see the mother's eyes and lips. "You have reached the age of discretion. Yo

'll think it

O

t turned wonderingl

e matter?"

otten to show

s the first time I've heard anything about a baby,

t you failed to mention the fact in any of y

ntion it?" asked th

ert got up. "Now, where is this

greatest

admit that, as regarded a three-months-old, this was the handsomest little colt

hold him?"

that infant across her young breast was a true revelation to the pro

'll see to it that the only bachelor in the W

on

your furlough

the baby resembles?

time! The baby at present

plomat!" cried J

s for several year

ry was general a

k and ruin. I am a plain citizen of the United St

choed Jack, moc

Mrs. John, putting the baby in the cradle, turned to her

and I'm going to see a lot of fine

account," supp

my bank

t passage out West," went on

anything particularly funny, but because there was a

the British embassy toni

aid Robert. "Re

r," said Mrs. John;

f intermittent fever. And if I d

all right," said John,

knees. No, I shall stay at home. I couldn't stand it to see a

ll you do he

ead; make myself at home. You s

"-dub

ome in so long that it will take more than one night for the novelty to wear off. B

from bo

to look at he

nses to go over with an inventor of a new carriage-gun. Will you go with me, while

rip. It will be a sensati

ix

dsome wife, a bouncing boy, and

nd one to act as groom. I'm off. I've a cracking good hunter, if you'd li

om, deplored the lack of a McClelland saddle, admired the English curbs, and complimented the men on the cleanliness of the stables. The men exchanged

well," he said, patting t

beat him at the bars last winter in New York. It was Mr. Warburton's fault that he did not take fir

(not to say young and salad) idea. It appealed to him as be

tely inquir

w; rather at an idea which just occurred to me. In

at way

with

on into the yard, A conver

ir. I couldn't do it, sir," declared

will not discharge you. He likes a joke as well as I do. You are

no harm will come of it. But I am

tide th

returned to the stables, shaking his head

men were vastly puzzled over their brother's

t do you see that is s

, my dears; o

ager that you are up to some mischief, M

t, you might make it miscarry; and that wouldn't do at all. Have a litt

re could they

d it lacking neither amusement nor denouement. Already I have put forth the casual observatio