respectability and regularity. When we get done at night, wrought up by the
afternoon and evening of this gambling with our brains and nerves as the
stake, what is open to us?"

"That is true," said Howard. "There are the all-night saloons and--the
like."

"And if we wish society, what society is open to us? What sort of young
women are waiting to entertain us at one, two, three o'clock in the
morning? Why, I have not made a call in a year. And I have not seen a
respectable girl of my acquaintance in at least that time, except once or
twice when I happened to have assignments that took me near Fifth Avenue in
the afternoon."

"Mr. Kittredge, Mr. Bowring wishes to speak to you," an office boy said and
Kittredge rose. As he went, he put his hand on Howard's shoulder and said:
"No, I am getting out of it as fast as ever I can. I'm writing books."

"Kittredge," thought Howard, "I wonder, is this Henry Jennings Kittredge,
whose stories are on all the news stands?" He saw an envelope on the floor
at his feet. The address was "Henry Jennings Kittredge, Esq."

When Kittredge came back for his coat, Howard said in a tone of frank
admiration: "Why, I didn't know you were the Kittredge that everybody is
talking about. You certainly have no cause for complaint."

Kittredge shrugged his shoulders. "At fifteen cents a copy, I have to sell
ten thousand copies before I get enough to live on for four months. And
you'd be surprised how much reputation and how little money a man can make
out of a book. Don't be distressed because they keep you here with nothing