dred to one I get the best of
it." And so he rattled on and on, never waiting for his questions to
be answered, careless and slangy as ever.

As I turned into Kinsley's I hesitated, as to whether simply to dismiss
him straight, or to give him a dollar and tell him to go and satisfy
his evident hunger. He saw me pause and read my thoughts, but he did
not propose thus to be disposed of.

"Come on," he said, starting quickly ahead and entering the elevator.
"We 're going up to the cafe, ain't we?"

I was greatly minded to turn on my heel and tell him to go to the
deuce, if he chose. But his manner was wholly ingenuous, and "after
all," I said to myself, "I'm tired and he 's amusing. It's something
after 8 o'clock and no one will be here at such an hour." At all
events I disliked a scene, and so I simply acquiesced, and took him to
a quiet corner of the large dining-room, where I seated myself in such
a way as to have my back to whomsoever might come in.

Without consulting the taste of my guest, I ordered a steak with
mushrooms, potatoes, a salad, dessert and a bottle of claret, and began
to read the evening paper.

For perhaps ten minutes we both were silent. I glanced at Checkers
several times as I folded my paper in or out. He seemed to be lost in
a reverie. But at last his thoughts came back to earth, and glancing
up he said very softly, "The last time I took supper here was with my
wife a year ago."

"Your wife," I exclaimed, starting with surprise. "You do n't mean to
tell me you have a wife?"

"I had a wife," he answered sorrowfully, "but----"

"I beg you pardon, Checkers," I said, "I hope I have n't hurt your
feelings."

"No, you have n't hurt them," he replied. "I 've got my feelings
educated. I 've had so many ups and downs I 've learned to take my
medicine. But I 'll bet I 've had the toughest luck of any guy that
ever lived. A' year ago I had money, a wife and friends, and was doing
the Vanderbilt act. In two short weeks I lost them all. I 've been
'on my rollers' ever since.

"But say, you wouldn't have known me if you 'd seen me here with my
wife that time--my glad rags on, a stove-pipe lid, patent leather kicks
and a stone on my front. We came to Chicago to take in the Fair, and
dropped in here to eat, one night.

"We sat at that table over there; I remember it as though it was
yesterday. I ordered all kinds of supper, and at last the waiter
brings in some cheese and crackers.