e Boodle, 'here's my cheque for the
first month.' That's how Reggie gets his Newport villa, his servants,
his horses, yacht, automobiles and coaches. Then he invites the De
Boodles up to visit him. They accept, and the fun begins. First it's a
little dinner to meet my friends Mr. and Mrs. De Boodle, of Nevada.
Everybody there, hungry, dinner from Sherrys, best wines in the market.
De Boodles covered with diamonds, a great success, especially old John
De Boodle, who tells racy stories over the _demi-tasse_ when the ladies
have gone into the drawing-room. De Boodle voted a character. Next
thing, Bridge Whist party. Everybody there. Society a good winner. The
De Boodles magnificent losers. Popularity cinched. Next, yachting
party. Everybody on board. De Boodle on deck in fine shape. Champagne
flows like Niagara. Poker game in main cabin. Food everywhere. De
Boodles much easier. Stiffness wearing off, and so on and so on until
finally Miss De Boodle's portrait is printed in nineteen Sunday
newspapers all over the country. They're launched, and Reggie comes into
his own with a profit for the season in a cash balance of $50,000. He's
had a bully time all summer, entertained like a Prince, and comes to the
rainy season with a tidy little umbrella to keep him out of the wet."

"And can he count on that as a permanent business?" asked Mr.
Whitechoker.

"My dear sir, the Rock of Gibraltar is no solider and no more
permanent," said the Idiot. "For as long as there is a 400 in existence
human nature is such that there will also be a million who will want to
get into it."

"At such a cost?" demanded the Bibliomaniac.

"At any cost," replied the Idiot. "Even people who know they can not
swim want to get in it."

COLUMBIA AND THE COWBOY

BY ALICE MACGOWAN

"When the circus come to town,
Mighty me! Mighty me!
Jest one wink from that ol' clown,
When he's struttin' up an' down
To the music Bim--bam--bee!
Oh, sich sights, sich sights to see,
When the circus come to town!"

Blowout was on a boom.

The railroad from above was coming through, and Blowout was to be a city
with that mysterious and rather disconcerting abruptness with which tiny
Western villages do become cities in these circumstances.

It had been hoped that the railroad would be through by the Fourth of
July, when the less important celebration of the nation's birthday might
be combined with the proper marking of that event. But tho