eek to bridge the awful
chasm between Dorothy and Chopin. Dinner had been moved up to Milking
Time. Sweetbreads and Artichokes came into the Lives of the Trio thus
favored by Fortune.

One day the busy Thimble-Rigger took his Helpmate into the lonesome
Library and broke the glad Tidings to her.

"I have unloaded all my Cripples," he said. "They have been wished on
a Group of Philanthropists in New England. Sound the glad Tocsin. I
have a Million in my Kick."

So she began packing the huge Saratogas and reading the Folders on
Egypt and the Riviera. He sat in his Den pulling at a long black
Excepcionale. Through the bluish clouds of Smoke came that old
familiar Voice.

"Let the Missus and the Heiress do the European Thing," said Ambition.
"You stick around. Wait for Black Friday. Then get busy at the
Bargain Counter. By and by the new Crop will begin to move, and Money
will creep out of the Yarn Stockings and a few Wise Gazabes will cop
all the Plush. In every Palm Room there are more Millionaires than
Palms. But the Big Round Table over by the Fountain is always reserved
by Oscar for the Lad who can show Ten Millions."

The Ocean Greyhound moved out past Sandy Hook with the Family and all
the Maids on board, but Papa remained behind to sharpen his Tools and
get ready for another Killing.

Every time he was given a Crimp in the Rue de la Paix he caught even by
leading a new Angora up the Chute and into the Shambles.

When the fully matured Goddess and the radiant Heroine of the latest
International Alliance came home with the French Language and two tons
of Glad Raiment, they found themselves reuning with the Magnate at the
big Table over by the Fountain.

Our Hero was now sleeping in a Bed almost twelve feet wide, with a silk
Tent over it. One Morning he found the Companion of many Years sitting
on the edge of the Mattress.

"Again?" asked the Multi-Millionaire. "What next?"

"The Exercises up to this Time have been Preliminary," said Ambition.
"What is the good of a Bank Roll if you cannot garnish it with the
delectable Parsley of Social Eminence? Get a Wiggle on you. Send for
the Boys with the Frock Coats and the Soft Hats and let them dig in to
their Elbows. Tell the Press Agent to organize a typewriting Phalanx.
Assume a few Mortgages on fluttering Newspapers. Lay a Corner-Stone
ever and anon. Be Interviewed."

"What are you leading up to?" asked the Financial Giant, a sickly Fear
cr