The Coming of Bill

to look at in the earlystages of his career, having a dough-like face almost entirely devoidof nose, a lack-lustre eye, and the general appearance of a poachedegg. His immediate circle

ling over withan absurd pride for which it was not easy to find an outlet. Hitherto arather reserved man, he was conscious now of a desire to accost perfectstrangers in the street and inform the

d not missed the old brigade ofthe studio before, but now the humblest of them would have beenwelcome, pr

many long talks with Steve on the question ofWilliam's future. Steve, as the infant's godfat

r stepped into the ring. He was the real White Hope. Headvised Kirk to direct William's education on the lines which wouldinsure his being, when the time

y short of hair, predicted a lessrobust and more intellectual future for him. Something more on thelines o

sador who took a few weeks off every now and then in order todefend

the bar, and business. Butevery one was agr

urs of the morning; and onthese occasions he would almost invariably begin again after he hadbeen officially pron

teristics, he was of rat

on. He wanted what he

is thumb, he assigned the drudgery oflife to his dependants. Their duties were to see that he got up

or white-haired and motherly,passed the studio doors. Life was far too interesting for work. Thecanvas which mi

find how strong the pate

ctbaby. The result had always been to fill him with a firm convictionthat the most persuasive of wild horses should not drag him from his

ed him by. He avoided croup, and even whooping-cough paidhim but a flying visit hardly worth mentioning. His first tooth gavehim a little trouble, but th

e the exhibition of hisextraordinary qualities to so small an audience. Ruth felt the same;and it was for this

a cause of trouble to her; but withWilliam Bannister becoming every day more amazing the desire came toher to try and heal the breach. Her father had so ordered his life inhis r

Steve's state visit to JohnBannister-

to the Fifth Avenue house, for John Bannister was stillobeying his doctor's orders an

n thatRuth in any way regretted the step she had taken, to give the idea thatit was a matter of complete indifference to her whether s

ng the interests of hiscountry as ambassador at so

uments. It seemed to Ruth that for her father toresist William when he saw him was an imposs

a roughneck, and that the job inquestion was one which no roughneck, however gifted in the matter ofleft h

when he was beginning totalk a little and wal

the key to it. But nobody could have denied that hiswalk, though staggery, was a genu

said: "Gwa-wah," afterhis custom. For, as a conversationalist, perhaps the best descriptionof him is to say that h

iately intelligible was thefault of his a

his box of bricks, and his particular favourite,the dying pig, which you blew out and then allowed to collapse with apleasing noise. These properties had stru

grandfather'shouse. He was a great favourite below sta

y parts. It was his chief relaxation tolook in at Broadway hotels while some big fight was in progress outWest to watch the ticker and assure himself that the man

ums by backing Steve, and the latter was always givento understand that, as far as the l

m and suggested a cigar in thepantry bef

n--for goodness' sake, who's this?"He had caught sight of William Bannist

," said St

--"Steve

ndson."Keggs' so

nd worse--he'll fire you as soon as look at you.""Can't be helped. I've got me instructions.""You always were game," said Keggs admiringly. "I used to see thatquick enough before you

ium, then there would be a step outside andthe old man would enter. The beauty of this, to Steve's mind, was thathe himself would be "discovered," as the stage term is

difficulty expelled began to return to Steve. This wasexactly like having to wait in

liamBannister, who had been working in a pre-occupied way at the dying pig,threw his head back and howled, and would not be com

o have come, when Keggs arrived with the news that Mr. Bannisterwas too busy

retire, for the old man was one of the few people whoinspired in him anything resemb

te. Say it is important."Keggs' eye rested

him. It's what you mightcall courting disaster.""Gee! Do you think I _want_ to do it? I've just got to. That's al

move on."So in the end it was Mr. Bannister who was discovered and Steve whomade th

inhis manner, as if he and Mr. Bannister were the nucleus of an Old Ho

sions when he suffered from it,

d the dying pig, and trailing William in his wake. William'sgrandfather was s

dglance and guessed the latter's identity in an instant. He had expecte

what surprised that the vi

rayed no

d turned to the secretary again. Af

nthe floor, the box of bricks on the wheelbarrow, and the dying pig onth

f the eighth--'" said Mr. Bann

d by the incisive c

be quiet, Dingle,"

was st

my son, squire,"

d his dictation. Steve wiped his forehead and lookedhelplessly at the White H

primitiveexhibition of emotions, having moved in circles

n an exaggerated politeness was outo

r, he did not come immediately to Steve. Heremained for a few moments writing, with his back t

riumphant cryfrom the direction of the open window stopped him. T

xplained over

ourlittle nephew appears to have dropped his bricks into Fifth Av

ck up some wooden bricks which he will find there. Dingle'slittle brother has let some

kid ain't anything to dowith me. Why, say, how

d at William, now engaged in running the wheelbarrowup and down the room, emitting the while a curious sound,

!" he

amped, but re

issRuth would be tickled to death if you would. Can the rough stuff,colonel. I know you think you've been given a raw deal, Kirk chippingin like that and copping off Miss Ruth, but for the love of Mike, whatdoes it matter? You seen for yourself what a dandy kid this is. Wel

nce--""That's the talk, colonel," cried Steve joyfully. "I know y

Mr. Bannister, as

Mr. Bannister resumed his writing, while Steve, gathering up thewheelbarrow,

ated Ruth's attempts t

Meeting him on the street, she fairly kidnapped him, drivinghim into a ta

on with all the strength of powerful lungs. In theend he had to be removed, hiccupping, and Bailey, after lingering a fewuneasy moments making conversa

udio with a rather heavy he

t had happened was onlywhat she had expected. Sh