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I saw Jackson not an hour ago。 He's starting for the Klondike to…morrow；
and he's agreed to send a weekly letter and photos。 I wouldn't let him get
away till he promised。 And the beauty of it is； that it doesn't cost us
anything。〃
The next Kit heard of the Klondike was when he dropped into the club
that afternoon； and； in an alcove off the library； encountered his uncle。
〃Hello； avuncular relative；〃 Kit greeted； sliding into a leather chair and
spreading out his legs。 〃Won't you join me？〃
He ordered a cocktail； but the uncle contented himself with the thin
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Smoke Bellew
native claret he invariably drank。 He glanced with irritated disapproval
at the cocktail； and on to his nephew's face。 Kit saw a lecture gathering。
〃I've only a minute；〃 he announced hastily。 〃I've got to run and take
in that Keith exhibition at Ellery's and do half a column on it。〃
〃What's the matter with you？〃 the other demanded。 〃You're pale。
You're a wreck。〃
Kit's only answer was a groan。
〃I'll have the pleasure of burying you； I can see that。〃
Kit shook his head sadly。
〃No destroying worm； thank you。 Cremation for mine。〃
John Bellew came of the old hard and hardy stock that had crossed the
plains by ox…team in the fifties； and in him was this same hardness and the
hardness of a childhood spent in the conquering of a new land。
〃You're not living right； Christopher。 I'm ashamed of you。〃
〃Primrose path； eh？〃 Kit chuckled。
The older man shrugged his shoulders。
〃Shake not your gory locks at me； avuncular。 I wish it were the
primrose path。 But that's all cut out。 I have no time。〃
〃Then what in…？〃
〃Overwork。〃
John Bellew laughed harshly and incredulously。
〃Honest？〃
Again came the laughter。
〃Men are the products of their environment；〃 Kit proclaimed； pointing
at the other's glass。 〃Your mirth is thin and bitter as your drink。〃
〃Overwork！〃 was the sneer。 〃You never earned a cent in your life。〃
〃You bet I haveonly I never got it。 I'm earning five hundred a week
right now； and doing four men's work。〃
〃Pictures that won't sell？ Orerfancy work of some sort？ Can
you swim？〃
〃I used to。〃
〃Sit a horse？〃
〃I have essayed that adventure。〃
John Bellew snorted his disgust。
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Smoke Bellew
〃I'm glad your father didn't live to see you in all the glory of your
gracelessness；〃 he said。 〃Your father was a man； every inch of him。 Do
you get it？ A Man。 I think he'd have whaled all this musical and artistic
tomfoolery out of you。〃
〃Alas！ these degenerate days；〃 Kit sighed。
〃I could understand it； and tolerate it；〃 the other went on savagely； 〃if
you succeeded at it。 You've never earned a cent in your life； nor done a
tap of man's work。〃
〃Etchings； and pictures； and fans；〃 Kit contributed unsoothingly。
〃You're a dabbler and a failure。 What pictures have you painted？
Dinky water…colours and nightmare posters。 You've never had one
exhibited； even here in San Francisco…〃
〃Ah； you forget。 There is one in the jinks room of this very club。〃
〃A gross cartoon。 Music？ Your dear fool of a mother spent
hundreds on lessons。 You've dabbled and failed。 You've never even
earned a five…dollar piece by accompanying some one at a concert。 Your
songs？rag…time rot that's never printed and that's sung only by a pack of
fake Bohemians。〃
〃I had a book published oncethose sonnets； you remember；〃 Kit
interposed meekly。
〃What did it cost you？〃
〃Only a couple of hundred。〃
〃Any other achievements？〃
〃I had a forest play acted at the summer jinks。〃
〃What did you get for it？〃
〃Glory。〃
〃And you used to swim； and you have essayed to sit a horse！〃 John
Bellew set his glass down with unnecessary violence。 〃What earthly
good are you anyway？ You were well put up； yet even at university you
didn't play football。 You didn't row。 You didn't…〃 〃I boxed and
fencedsome。〃
〃When did you last box？〃
〃Not since； but I was considered an excellent judge of time and
distance； only I waser…〃
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Smoke Bellew
〃Go on。〃
〃Considered desultory。〃
〃Lazy； you mean。〃
〃I always imagined it was an euphemism。〃
〃My father； sir； your grandfather； old Isaac Bellew； killed a man with a
blow of his fist when he was sixty…nine years old。〃
〃The man？〃
〃No； youryou graceless scamp！ But you'll never kill a mosquito at
sixty…nine。〃
〃The times have changed； oh； my avuncular。 They send men to state
prisons for homicide now。〃
〃Your father rode one hundred and eighty…five miles； without sleeping；
and killed three horses。〃
〃Had he lived to…day； he'd have snored over the course in a Pullman。〃
The older man was on the verge of choking with wrath； but swallowed
it down and managed to articulate：
〃How old are you？〃
〃I have reason to believe…〃
〃I know。 Twenty…seven。 You finished college at twenty…two。
You've dabbled and played and frilled for five years。 Before God and
man； of what use are you？ When I was your age I had one suit of
underclothes。 I was riding with the cattle in Colusa。 I was hard as
rocks； and I could sleep on a rock。 I lived on jerked beef and bear…meat。
I am a better man physically right now than you are。 You weigh about one
hundred and sixty…five。 I can throw you right now； or thrash you with my
fists。〃
〃It doesn't take a physical prodigy to mop up cocktails or pink tea；〃 Kit
murmured deprecatingly。 〃Don't you see； my avuncular； the times have
changed。 Besides； I wasn't brought up right。 My dear fool of a mother…
〃
John Bellew started angrily。
〃…As you described her； was too good to me； kept me in cotton wool
and all the rest。 Now； if when I was a youngster I had taken