they fell
ultimately before his impregnable silence.

As it happened, he had not been brooding upon his friend's mysterious
absence at all. He had been concerned with himself. Once in a while he
seemed to perceive certain futilities and lapsed them immediately into a
state of voiceless dejection. These moods were not frequent.

An unexplained thing in his mind, however, was greatly enlightened by
the words of the gossip. He turned then from his harrowing scrutiny of
the amount of pleasure he achieved from living, and settled into a
comfortable reflection upon the state of his comrade, the other Kid.

Perhaps it could be indicated in this fashion: "Went to Comique, I
suppose. Saw girl. Secondary part, probably. Thought her rather natural.
Went to Comique again. Went again. One time happened to meet omnipotent
and good-natured friend. Broached subject to him with great caution.
Friend said--'Why, certainly, my boy, come round to-night, and I'll take
you in back. Remember, it's against all rules, but I think that in your
case, etc.' Kid went. Chorus girls winked same old wink. 'Here's another
dude on the prowl.' Kid aware of this, swearing under his breath and
looking very stiff. Meets girl. Knew beforehand that the footlights
might have sold him, but finds her very charming. Does not say single
thing to her which she naturally expected to hear. Makes no reference to
her beauty nor her voice--if she has any. Perhaps takes it for granted
that she knows. Girl don't exactly love this attitude, but then feels
admiration, because after all she can't tell whether he thinks her nice
or whether he don't. New scheme this. Worked by occasional guys in Rome
and Egypt, but still, new scheme. Kid goes away. Girl thinks. Later,
nails omnipotent and good-natured friend. 'Who was that you brought
back?' 'Oh, him? Why, he--' Describes the Kid's wealth, feats, and
virtues--virtues of disposition. Girl propounds clever question--'Why
did he wish to meet me?' Omnipotent person says, 'Damned if I know.'"

Later, Kid asks girl to supper. Not wildly anxious, but very evident
that he asks her because he likes her. Girl accepts; goes to supper. Kid
very good comrade and kind. Girl begins to think that here at last is a
man who understands her. Details ambitions--long, wonderful ambitions.
Explains her points of superiority over the other girls of stage. Says
their lives disgust her. She wants to work and study and make something
of herself. Kid