disliked him exceedingly on the occasion of his visit to you. It would
be useless for me to try to disguise the fact. I would never dream of
asking him for work on his magazine, which I consider of a very
low grade.

"By some misunderstanding the Parkes sailed sooner than they expected,
and failed to see my play. I have offered it to Charles Frohman. I
should prefer him to any other New York manager.

"The weather here is extremely hot, and I have been working rather hard,
so I am a little knocked out. Will you send me the manuscript of my two
unfinished plays you will find on the table in my study? With regards to
the Professor and yourself. Hastily,

"JARVIS."

Having got this off his mind and into the mailbox, Jarvis went for his
nightly prowl. His steps turned toward the crowded East Side district,
where a new interest was beginning to attract him. Until now "men" were
his only concern. These hot nights, as he tramped along, discouraged
with his own futility, he was beginning to discover "Man."

It seemed to him that all the children in the world were playing in
these crowded streets. He had never turned his attention to children
before. And he began to look at the shrewd, old faces, even to talk to a
group here and there. They made him think of monkeys, clever, nervous
little beasts.

He skirted several mothers' meetings conducted on the sidewalk. He even
went into a saloon to have a look at the men, but the odour of stale
beer and hot bodies was insufferable and drove him out. As he sauntered
along, he passed an unlighted business building. Out of the shadow a
girl stole, and fell in step beside him.

"Hello, kid!" she began, her hand tucked under his arm. Before she could
complete her sentence, a policeman was upon them. He laid hold of the
girl roughly.

"Now I got you! I told you to keep off'n this block," he growled.

"What's the matter with you? What do you want?" Jarvis demanded.

"I want her to come along with me. That's what I want."

"She hasn't done anything."

"You bet she hasn't. I didn't give her time."

"Let go of her! What charge are you taking her on?"

"Don't get fresh, young guy. The charge is s'licitin'."

"That's a lie! She's a friend of mine, and she merely said, 'Good
evening.'"

The copper laughed derisively, and the girl turned a cynical young-old
face to Jarvis.

"Much obliged, kid, but it ain't no use. He's got me spotted."