rience in my business.

"At the boarding-house I do have a little excitement now and then. The
second night after my installation a man walked into my room without
knocking,--that is, he opened the door.

"'Gee, the old lady wasn't bluffing,' he said, in a tone of surprise.

"It was early in the evening and he was properly dressed and looked
harmless, so I wasn't frightened.

"'Good evening,' I said in my reserved way.

"'Gave you my room, did she?' he asked.

"'She gave me this one,--for a consideration.'

"'Yes, it is mine,' he said sadly. 'She has threatened to do it, lo,
these many years, but I never believed she would. Faith in fickle
human nature,--ah, how futile.'

"'Yes?'

"'Yes. You see now and then I go off with the boys, and spend my money
instead of paying my board, and when I come back I expect my room to be
awaiting me. It always has been. The old lady said she would rent it
the next time, but she had said it so many times! Well, well, well.
Broke, too. It is a sad world, isn't it? Did you ever pray for death?'

"'No, I did not. And if you will excuse me, I think perhaps you had
better fight it out with the landlady. I have paid a month's rent in
advance.'

"'A month's rent!' He advanced and shook hands with me warmly before I
knew what he was doing. 'A month in advance. It is an honor to touch
your hand. Alas, how many moons have waned since I came in personal
contact with one who could pay a month in advance.'

"'The landlady--'

"'Oh, I am going. No room is big enough for two. Lots of fellows room
together to save money, but it is too multum in too parvum; I think I
prefer to spend the money. I have never resorted to it, even in my
brokest days. I didn't leave my pipe here, did I?'

"'I haven't seen it,' I said very coldly.

"'Well, all right. Don't get cross about it. Out into the dark and
cold, out into the wintry night, without a cent to have and hold, but
landladies are always right.'

"He smiled appealingly but I frowned at him with my most ministerial
air.

"'I am a poet,' he said apologetically. 'I can't help going off like
that. It isn't a mental aberration. I do it for a living.'

"I had nothing to say.

"'My card.' He handed it to me with a flourish, a neatly engraved one,
with the word 'advertisement' in the corner. I should have haughtily
spurned it, but I was too curious to know his name. It was William
Canfield Brewer.

"'Well, good nig