Holzen, turning to the door and taking a jug of milk from the hand of a
child waiting there.

"And the change," he said sharply.

The child laughed cunningly, and held out two small copper coins of the
value of half a cent.

Von Holzen filled the tumbler and handed it to the sick man, who a
moment later held it out empty.

"You may have as much as you like," said Von Holzen, kindly.

"Will it keep me alive?"

"Nothing can do that, my friend," answered Von Holzen. He looked down
at the yellow face peering at him from the darkness. It seemed to be
the face of a very aged man, with eyes wide open and blood-shot. A
thickness of speech was accounted for by the absence of teeth.

The man laughed gleefully. "All the same, I have lived longer than any
of them," he said. How many of us pride ourselves upon possessing an
advantage which others never covet!

"Yes," answered Von Holzen, gravely. "How old are you?"

"Nearly thirty-five," was the answer.

Von Holzen nodded, and, turning on his heel, looked thoughtfully out of
the window. The light fell full on his face, which would have been a