y I should have wakened up to-day, but a walk I took last night at
midnight stirred something in me. And a futile attempt to see Miss
Harper to-day did the rest. You saw clearly, as you so often do. This is
my fight, right here and now. I must make somebody believe in this play
and produce it. It may take a long time--months, perhaps--but I must
stay and face it out.

"I wanted you sorely to-night, Miss Mite, to talk it over with me. I am
always coming upon things I want to talk over with you, these days. You
have such a decided way of seeing things.

"I shall not be needing any more money, because I am about to make
something, on the side, for myself. Keep the Black Maria, and when the
play goes we will have a mighty reckoning. I am not going to say thanks
for what you and the Professor have done for me. I am going to
act thanks.

"I shall read the scenario of the third act to Miss Harper to-morrow, the
gods and the lady permitting. This is the _third_ third act. I trust it
will be 'three and out,' or, rather, three and on. My regards to the
Professor and you. It is very hot here, and I relax by thinking myself
in the arithmetical garden. It seems years ago since I was there. Has
the Professor laid out any new figures? I think the 'X' bed ought to be
wild orchids. He will understand."

He took the letter out to mail, and went for another walk. The night
crowds began to interest him. He planned to take a different walk every
night, and learn something of this city which he was setting out
to conquer.

The next morning he went from one newspaper office to another trying to
get a job. His lack of experience handicapped him everywhere. Cub
reporters were as thick as summer flies. He walked, to save carfare.

At three he gained admittance to Miss Harper and read her the new
scenario. She decided that she liked the second one better. He arranged
to go to work on it at once, so that she might have Mr. Parke read it
before she sailed. The siren Hope sang a happy song to Jarvis as he
swung down the drive. He had the golden apple in his grasp this time.

"I'm coming, oh, you people," he apostrophized them with his old
assurance. "You'll hear from me soon!"

He celebrated his coming fortune with a fifty-cent table d'hote, to
which he did full justice. Up in the hot hall bedroom he took stock of
ammunition. If he went light on food, he could afford to keep right at
the play until he finished it. He estimated just what amo