young collegian's famous collection of pipes that told the history of
smoking from the introduction during the reign of Elizabeth, down to
the present day.

In taking a mental inventory of his household goods, Sanderson's eyes
fell on the photograph of a woman on the mantel-piece. He frowned.
What right had she there, when his mind was full of another? He walked
over to the picture and threw it into the fire. It was not the first
picture to know a similar fate after occupying that place of honor.

The blackened edges of the picture were whirling up the chimney, when
Sanderson's attention was arrested by a knock.

"Come in," he called, and a young man of about his own age entered.
Without being in the least ill-looking, there was something repellent
about the new comer. His eyes were shifty and too close together to be
trustworthy. Otherwise no fault could be found with his appearance.

"Well, Langdon, how are you?" his host asked, but there was no warmth
in his greeting.

"As well as a poor devil like me ever is," began Langdon obsequiously.
He sighed, looked about the comfortable room and finished with: "Lucky
dog."

Sanderson stood on no ceremony with his guest, who was a thoroughly
unscrupulous young man. Once or twice Langdon had helped Sanderson out
of scrapes that would have sent him home from college without his
degree, had they come to the ears of the faculty. In return for this
assistance, Sanderson had lent him large sums of money, which the owner
entertained no hopes of recovering. Sanderson tried to balance matters
by treating Langdon with scant ceremony when they were alone.

"Well, old man," began his host, "I do not flatter myself that I owe
this call to any personal charm. You dropped in to ease a little
financial embarrassment by the request of a loan--am I not right?"

"Right, as usual, Sandy, though I'd hardly call it a loan. You know I
was put to a devil of a lot of trouble about that Newton affair, and it
cost money to secure a shut mouth."

Sanderson frowned. "This is the fifth time I have had the pleasure of
settling for that Newton affair, Langdon. It seems to have become a
sort of continuous performance."

Langdon winced.

"I'll tell you what I'll do, Langdon. You owe me two thousand now, not
counting that poker debt. We'll call it square if you'll attend to a
little matter for me and I'll give you an extra thou. to make it worth
your while."

"You know I am always d