d changed during the year, and it seemed almost impossible to
dispose of matter which a year before the editors had fought for.

"Why, a year ago," grumbled Perner, "my quatrains used to be legal
tender anywhere on Park Row for a dollar. Now they want to charge me
advertising rates to print them."

"Same with pictures," echoed Van Dorn. "My opinion is that a lot of us
will be back plowing corn next spring."

"It's a good while till spring," reflected Livingstone, gloomily. He was
working on his painting a good deal these days, and perhaps getting
truer feelings into it because of his own despair.

Barrifield came in at this juncture, filled with the usual enthusiasm.
He had learned of a man who was thought to be anxious to invest in just
such an enterprise as the "Whole Family." He was going to see him in the
morning--he would almost certainly come to the rescue. They were
discussing this possibility when Colonel Hazard entered. For the first
time he looked worn and discouraged.

"What's the matter, Colonel?" asked Perner. "You look tired."

"Yes," assented the Colonel; "the landlady's been in again after the
rent. The landlord was there, too, this afternoon. I think I've paid it
in kind words and kisses about as long as I can. They said we'd either
have to pay or give up the rooms."

This statement cast a momentary gloom even over Barrifield.

"And Bates," continued the Colonel, "has been in, too. He came to notify
me that he would quit to-night unless he got his money for last week. We
didn't pay him last week, you know. I should very promptly have told him
to quit had I felt authorized to do so."

"No, no; don't do that!" protested Barrifield, anxiously. "Tell him to
wait till to-morrow. Tell him"--he hesitated a moment, and then added in
all seriousness, "tell him we'll raise his salary."

XIX

A LETTER FROM MR. TRUMAN LIVINGSTONE OF NEW YORK TO MISS DOROTHY CASTLE
OF CLEVELAND

NEW YORK, December 28, 1897.

DEAR, DEAR DORRY: Well, Dorry, it's all over. All our hopes
and dreams have come to nothing. Perny pulled down the sign
in the hall this morning, and the furniture is being taken
out of the rooms below to sell for whatever it will bring to
pay as far as it will go on the rent. Perny said he wouldn't
go into a new year with this hanging over us, nor Van Dorn,
either, and I think it's just as well myself.

"You see, Dorry, it would be no use. Our p