ery awkward position."

"I agree with you. Suppose you seek to show that to the city in half a
column."

Queed bowed. "I may, perhaps, remind you, Colonel, of the meeting in New
York to-morrow to prepare for the celebration of the Darwin centennial.
If you desired I should be glad to prepare, apropos of this, a brief
monograph telling in a light, popular way what Darwin did for the
world."

"And what did Darwin do for the world?"

The grave young man made a large grave gesture which indicated the
immensity of Darwin's doings for the world.

"Which topic do you prefer to handle--Folsom on Hannigan, or what Darwin
did for the world?"

"I think," said Queed, "that I should prefer to handle both."

"Ten people will read Hannigan to one who reads Darwin."

"Don't you think that it is the _Post's_ business to reduce that
proportion?"

"Take them both," said the Colonel presently. "But always remember this:
the great People are more interested in a cat-fight at the corner of
Seventh and Centre Streets than they are in the greatest exploit of the
greatest scientific theorist that ever lived."

"I will remember what you say, Colonel."

"I want you," resumed Colonel Cowles, "to take supper with me at the
club. Not to-night--I'm engaged. Shall we say to-morrow night, at
seven?"

Queed accepted without perceptible hesitation. Some time had passed
since he became aware that the Colonel had somehow insinuated himself
into that list of friends which had halted so long at Tim and Murphy
Queed. Besides, he had a genuine, unscientific desire to see what a real
club looked like inside. So far, his knowledge of clubs was absolutely
confined to the Mercury Athletic Association, B. Klinker, President.

The months of May, June, July, and August had risen and died since
Queed, threshing out great questions through the still watches of the
night, had resolved to give a modified scheme of life a tentative and
experimental trial. He had kept this resolution, according to his wont.
Probably his first liking for Colonel Cowles dated back to the very
beginning of this period. It might be traced to the day when the
precariously-placed assistant had submitted his initial article on the
thesis his friend Buck had given him--the first article in all his life
that the little Doctor had ever dipped warm out of human life. This
momentous composition he had brought and laid upon the Colonel's desk,
as usual; but he did not follow his ancien