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kins discoursed droningly of the dinner smells from
the flat across the ball。 The flea…bitten terrier gave
Hopkins a look of disgust； and showed a man…hating
tooth。
Here was neither poverty； love； nor war； but upon
such barren stems may be grafted those essentials of
a complete life。
John Hopkins sought to inject a few raisins of
conversation into the tasteless dough of existence。
〃Putting a new elevator in at the office；〃 he said；
discarding the nominative noun； 〃and the boss has
turned out his whiskers。〃
〃You don't mean it！ commented Mrs。 Hopkins。
〃Mr。 Whipples；〃 continued John； 〃wore his new
spring suit down to…day。 I liked it fine It's a gray
with … 〃 He stopped； suddenly stricken by a need
that made itself known to him。 〃I believe I'll walk
down to the corner and get a five…cent cigar；〃he
concluded。
John Hopkins took his bat aid picked his way
down the musty halls and stairs of the flat…house
The evening air was mild； and the streets shrill
with the careless cries of children playing games con…
trolled by mysterious rhythms and phrases。 Their
elders held the doorways and steps with leisurely pipe
and gossip。 Paradoxically； the fire…escapes sup…
ported lovers in couples who made no attempt to fly
the mounting conflagration they were there to fan。
The corner cigar store aimed at by John Hopkins
was kept by a man named Freshmayer； who looked
upon the earth as a sterile promontory。
Hopkins； unknown in the store； entered and called
genially for his 〃bunch of spinach； car…fare grade。〃
This imputation deepened the pessimism of Fresh…
mayer； but be set out a brand that came perilously
near to filling the order。 Hopkins bit off the roots of
his purchase； and lighted up at the swinging gas
jet。 Feeling in his pockets to make payment； he
found not a penny there。
〃Say； my friend；〃 he explained； frankly； 〃I've
come out without any change。 Hand you that nickel
first time I pass。〃
Joy surged in Freshmayer's heart。 Here was cor…
roboration of his belief that the world was rotten and
man a peripatetic evil。 Without a word he rounded
the end of his counter and made earnest onslaught
upon his customer。 Hopkins was no man to serve as
a punching…bag for a pessimistic tobacconist。 He
quickly bestowed upon Freshmayer a Colorado…
maduro eye in return for the ardent kick that be
received from that dealer in goods for cash only。
The impetus of the enemy's attack forced the
Hopkins line back to the sidewalk。 There the con…
flict raged； the pacific wooden Indian； with his
carven smile； was overturned； and those of the street
who delighted in carnage pressed round to view the
zealous joust。
But then came the inevitable cop and imminent
convenience for both the attacker and attacked。
John Hopkins was a peaceful citizen； who worked at
rebuses of nights in a flat； but be was not without the
fundamental spirit of resistance that comes with the
battle…rage。 He knocked the policeman into a gro…
cer's sidewalk display of goods and gave Freshmayer
a punch that caused him temporarily to regret that
he had not made it a rule to extend a five…cent line
of credit to certain customers。 Then Hopkins took
spiritedly to his heels down the sidewalk； closely fol…
lowed by the cigar…dealer and the policeman； whose
uniform testified to the reason in the grocer's sign
that read： 〃Eggs cheaper than anywhere else in
the city。〃
As Hopkins ran he became aware of a big； low；
red； racing automobile that kept abreast of him in
the street。 This auto steered in to the side of the
sidewalk； and the man guiding it motioned to Hopkins
to jump into it。 He did so without slackening his
speed； and fell into the turkey…red upholstered seat
beside the chauffeur。 The big machine； with a dimin…
uendo cough； flew away like an albatross down the
avenue into which the street emptied。
The driver of the auto sped his machine without a
word。 He was masked beyond guess in the goggles
and diabolic garb of the chauffeur。
〃Much obliged； old man；〃 called Hopkins； grate…
fully。 〃I guess you've got sporting blood in you；
all right； and don't admire the sight of two men
trying to soak one。 Little more and I'd have been
pinched。〃
The chauffeur made no sign that he had heard。
Hopkins shrugged a shoulder and chewed at his
cigar； to which his teeth had clung grimly through…
out the melee。
Ten minutes and the auto turned into the open
carriage entrance of a noble mansion of brown stone；
and stood still。 The chauffeur leaped out； and said：
〃Come quick。 The lady； she will explain。 It is
the great honor you will have； monsieur。 Ah； that
milady could call upon Armand to do this thing！
But； no； I am only one chauffeur。〃
With vehement gestures the chauffeur conducted
Hopkins into the house。 He was ushered into a small
but luxurious reception chamber。 A lady； young； and
possessing the beauty of visions； rose from a chair。
In her eyes smouldered a becoming anger。 Her high…
arched； threadlike brows were ruffled into a delicious
frown。
〃Milady；〃 said the chauffeur； bowing low； 〃I have
the honor to relate to you that I went to the house of
Monsieur Long and found him to be not at home。 As
I came back I see this gentleman in combat against
bow you say … greatest odds。 He is fighting with
five … ten … thirty men … gendarmes； aussi。 Yes；
milady； he what you call 'swat' one … three … eight
policemans。 If that Monsieur Long is out I say to
myself this Gentleman be will serve milady so well； and
I bring him here。〃
〃Very well； Armand；〃 said the lady； 〃you may
go。〃 She turned to Hopkins。
〃I sent my chauffeur；〃 she said； 〃to bring my
cousin； Walter Long。 There is a man in this house
who has treated me with insult and abuse。 I have
complained to my aunt； and she laughs at me。 Ar…
mand says you are brave。 In these prosaic days men
who are both brave and chivalrous are few。 May I
count upon your assistance？〃
John Hopkins thrust the remains of his cigar into
his coat pocket。 He looked upon this winning
creature and felt his first thrill of romance。 It was a
knightly love； and contained no disloyalty to the flat
with the flea…bitten terrier and the lady of his choice。
He bad married her after a picnic of the Lady Label
Stickers' Union； Lodge No。 2； on a dare and a bet of
new hats and chowder all around with his friend； Billy
McManus。 This angel who was begging him to
come to her rescue was something too heavenly for
chowder； and as for hats … golden； jewelled crowns
for her！
〃Say；〃 said John Hopkins； 〃just show me the guy
that you've got the grouch at。 I've neglected my
talents as a scrapper heretofore； but this is my busy
night。〃
〃He is in there；〃 said the lady； pointing to a
closed door。 〃Come。 Are you sure that you do not
falter or fear？〃
〃Me？〃 said John Hopkins。 〃