ave cause for grief when
his two prodigals came roistering home.

Martin could not make out Little Billy's features very distinctly; the
hydrant was beyond the street lamp's circle. But the hunchback's body
was plain enough--the queer body squatted upon the hydrant, legs
dangling, the ridiculous velvet hat rakishly aslant the large head.
The hunchback's eyes were bright and alive.

"I can well believe your mind is care-ridden," bandied Martin, falling
in with the other's mood. "It must be a wearisome and thankless task
to scatter universal knowledge amidst the brainless. Have you still
got your book? That thing you tried to sell to me?"

"Alas, I must confess I have it not," was the blithe response. "I
ditched it, sir. It oppressed me to bear about such a store of wisdom.
The marvel of the ages, the compendium of universal knowledge, reposes
in the dust-bin. Mayhap some aspiring dust-man, in whose mind smolders
untaught genius, will chance upon it. It may prepare some dim soul for
future brilliancy--the arts, the crafts, the sciences, are all
contained in that wonderful volume. Who knows, out of that black
dust-bin may rise a radiant glow of light. The janitor, the collector
of garbage, the industrious people who rake over the dumps--there are
many chances of the right hands grasping that printed jewel.

Full many a gem of purest ray serene,
The dark, unfathomed caves of ocean bear.

"'Tis a pleasant thought, my legal friend. Ah, I am happy in
contemplation. I may not have lived in vain."

Martin grinned.

"You certainly are an optimist," he said. "But why did you cast such a
wonderful gem aside?"

"Alas, the grossness of the commercial classes, the brutality of the
tired business man! We Americans are a rude folk my friend; the
courtesies are absent from our manners. Now, I am a young man with
tender feelings, both mental and--er, physical. And these trousers I
wear have already rendered long and faithful service; they have arrived
at the stage where they require, let us say, humoring. The oft
repeated impact of a number ten boot upon such delicate fabric could
have naught but dire results. I discarded the book, sir, and resigned
my membership in the peripatetic brotherhood, to avert a catastrophe.
Both cloth and nerves were frayed. I am a cheerful youth, but
sensitive, and I require considerate treatment to be happy. Ah, you
are laughing! Never mind, I like people who laugh--like g