artful；　self…sufficient；　clannish；　honorable　within　the
  laws　of　their　race；　holding　in　lenient　contempt　neigh…
  boring　tribes　who　bow　to　the　measure　of　Society's
  tapeline。　　I　refer；　of　course；　to　the　titled　nobility　of
  sportdom。　　There　is　a　class　which　bears　as　a　qualify…
  ing　adjective　the　substantive　belonging　to　a　wind　in…
  strument　made　of　a　cheap　and　base　metal。　　But　the
  tin　mines　of　Cornwall　never　produced　the　material
  for　manufacturing　descriptive　nomenclature　for　〃Big
  Jim〃　Dougherty。
  The　habitat　of　the　sport　is　the　lobby　or　the　outside
  corner　of　certain　…hotels　and　combination　restaurants
  and　cafes。　　They　are　mostly　men　of　different　sizes；
  running　from　small　to　large；　but　they　are　unanimous
  in　the　possession　of　a　recently　shaven；　blue…black
  cheek　and　chin　and　dark　overcoats　（in　season）　with
  black　velvet　collars。
  Of　the　domestic　life　of　the　sport　little　is　known。　　It
  has　been　said　that　Cupid　and　Hymen　sometimes　take
  a　band　in　the　game　and　copper　the　queen　of　hearts　to
  lose。　　Daring　theorists　have　averred　…　not　content
  with　simply　saying　…　that　a　sport　often　contracts　a
  spouse；　and　even　incurs　descendants。　　Sometimes　he。
  sits　in　the　game　of　politics；　and　then　at　chowder
  picnics　there　is　a　revelation　of　a　Mrs。　Sport　and
  little　Sports　in　glazed　hats　with　tin　pails。
  But　mostly　the　sport　is　Oriental。　　He　believes　his
  women…folk　should　not　be　too　patent。　　Somewhere　be…
  bind　grilles　or　flower…ornamented　fire　escapes　they
  await　him。　　There；　no　doubt；　they　tread　on　rugs　from
  Teheran　and　are　diverted　by　the　bulbul　and　play
  upon　the　dulcimer　and　feed　upon　sweetmeats。　　But
  away　from　his　home　the　sport　is　an　integer。　　He　does
  not；　as　men　of　other　races　in　Manhattan　do；　become
  the　convoy　in　his　unoccupied　hours　of　fluttering　laces
  and　high　heels　that　tick　off　delectably　the　happy
  seconds　of　the　evening　parade。　　He　herds　with　his
  own　race　at　corners；　and　delivers　a　commentary　in　his
  Carib　lingo　upon　the　passing　show。
  〃Big　Jim〃　Dougherty　had　a　wife；　but　be　did　not
  wear　a　button　portrait　of　her　upon　his　lapel。　　He　bad
  a　home　in　one　of　those　brown…stone；　iron…railed
  streets　on　the　west　side　that　look　like　a　recently　ex…
  cavated　bowling　alley　of　Pompeii。
  To　this　home　of　his　Mr。　Dougherty　repaired　each
  night　when　the　hour　was　so　late　as　to　promise　no
  further　diversion　in　the　arch　domains　of　sport。　　By
  that　time　the　occupant　of　the　monogamistic　harem
  would　be　in　dreamland；　the　bulbul　silenced　and　the
  hour　propitious　for　slumber。
  〃Big　Jim〃　always　arose　at　twelve；　meridian；　for
  breakfast；　and　soon　afterward　he　would　return　to
  the　rendezvous　of　his　〃crowd。〃
  He　was　always　vaguely　conscious　that　there　was
  a　Mrs。　Dougherty。　　He　would　have　received　without
  denial　the　charge　that　the　quiet；　neat；　comfortable
  little　woman　across　the　table　at　home　was　his　wife。　　In
  fact；　he　remembered　pretty　well　that　they　bad　been
  married　for　nearly　four　years。　　She　would　often　tell
  him　about　the　cute　tricks　of　Spot；　the　canary；　and
  the　light…haired　lady　that　lived　in　the　window　of　the
  flat　across　the　street。
  〃Big　Jim〃　Dougherty　even　listened　to　this　con…
  versation　of　hers　sometimes。　　He　knew　that　she　would
  have　a　nice　dinner　ready　for　him　every　evening　at
  seven　when　he　came　for　it。　　She　sometimes　went　to
  matinees；　and　she　bad　a　talking　machine　with　six
  dozen　records。　　Once　when　her　Uncle　Amos　blew　in　on
  a　wind　from　up…state；　she　went　with　him　to　the　Eden
  Musee。　　Surely　these　things　were　diversions　enough
  for　any　woman。
  One　afternoon　Mr。　Dougherty　finished　his　break…
  fast；　put　on　his　bat　and　got　away　fairly　for　the　door。
  When　his　hand　was　on　the　knob　be　heard　his　wife's
  voice。
  〃Jim；〃　she　said；　firmly；　〃I　wish　you　would　take
  me　out　to　dinner　this　evening。　　It　has　been　three　years
  since　you　have　been　outside　the　door　with　me。〃
  〃Big　Jim〃　was　astounded。　　She　bad　never　asked
  anything　like　this　before。　It　had　the　flavor　of　a
  totally　new　proposition。　　But　he　was　a　game　sport。
  〃All　right；〃　be　said。　〃You　be　ready　when　I　come
  at　seven。　　None　of　this　'wait　two　minutes　till　I　primp
  an　hour　or　two'　kind　of　business；　now；　Dele。〃
  〃I'll　be　ready；〃　said　his　wife；　calmly。
  At　seven　she　descended　the　stone　steps　in　the　Pom…
  peian　bowling　alley　at　the　side　of　〃Big　Jim〃　Dough…
  erty。　　She　wore　a　dinner　gown　made　of　a　stuff　that
  the　spiders　must　have　woven；　and　of　a　color　that　a
  twilight　sky　must　have　contributed。　　A　light　coat　with
  many　admirably　unnecessary　capes　and　adorably
  inutile　ribbons　floated　downward　from　her　shoulders。
  Fine　feathers　do　make　fine　birds；　and　the　only　re…
  proach　in　the　saying　is　for　the　man　who　refuses　to
  give　up　his　earnings　to　the　ostrich…tip　industry。
  〃Big　Jim〃　Dougherty　was　troubled。　　There　was
  a　being　at　his　side　whom　be　did　not　know。　He
  thought　of　the　sober…hued　plumage　that　this　bird　of
  paradise　was　accustomed　to　wear　in　her　cage；　and
  this　winged　revelation　puzzled　him。　　In　some　way　she
  reminded　him　of　the　Delia　Cullen　that　be　had　married
  four　years　before。　　Shyly　and　rather　awkwardly　he
  stalked　at　her　right　band。
  〃After　dinner　I'll　take　you　back　home；　Dele；〃　said
  Mr。　Dougherty；　〃and　then　I'll　drop　back　up　to　Selt…
  zer's　with　the　boys。　　You　can　have　swell　chuck　to…
  night　if　you　want　it。　　I　made　a　winning　on　Anaconda
  yesterday；　so　you　can　go　as　far　as　you　like。〃
  Mr。　Dougherty　had　intended　to　make　the　outing
  with　his　unwonted　wife　an　inconspicuous　one。　Uxori…
  ousness　was　a　weakness　that　the　precepts　of　the
  Caribs　did　not　countenance。　　If　any　of　his　friends　of
  the　track；　the　billiard　cloth　or　the　square　circle　had
  wives　they　had　never　complained　of　the　fact　in　public。
  There　were　a　number　of　table　d'hote　places　on　the
  cross　streets　near　the　broad　and　shining　way；　and　to
  one　of　these　he　had　purposed　to　escort　her；　so　that　the
  bushel　might　not　be　removed　from　the　light　of　his
  domesticity。
  But　while　on　the　way　Mr。　Dougherty　altered　those
  intentions。　　He　had　been　casting　stealthy　glances　at
  his　attractive　companion　and　he　was　seized　with　the
  conviction　that　she　was　no　selling　plater。　　He　re…
  solved　to　parade　with　his　wife　past　Seltzer's　cafe；
  where　at　this　time　a　number　of　his　tribe　would　be
  gathered　to　view　the　daily　evening　procession。　　Yes；
  and　he　would　take　her　to　dine　at　Hoogley's；　the　swell…
  est　slow…lunch　warehouse　on　the　line；　he　said　to
  himself。
  The　congregation　of　smooth…faced　tribal　gentle…
  men　were　on　watch　at　Seltzer's。　　As　Mr。　Dougherty
  and　his　reorganized　Delia　passed　they　stared；　mo…
  mentarily　petrified；　and　then　removed　their　hats　…　a
  performance　as　unusual　to　them　as　was　the　astonish…
  ing　innovation　presented　to　their　gaze　by　〃Big　Jim〃。
  On　the　latter　gentleman's　impassive　face　there　ap…
  peared　a　slight　flicker　of　triumph　…　a　faint　flicker；
  no　more　to　be　observed　than　the　expression　called
  there　by　the　draft　of　little　casino　to　a　four…card　spade
  flush。
  Hoogley's　was　animated。　　Electric　lights　shone
  as；　indeed；　they　were　expected　to　do。　　And　the　napery；
  the　glassware　and　the　flowers　also　meritoriously　per…
  formed　the　spectacular　duties　required　of　them。　　The
  guests　were　numerous；　well…dressed　and　gay。
  A　waiter　…　not　necessarily　obsequious　…　conducted
  〃Big　Jim〃　Dougherty　and　his　wife　to　a　table。
  〃Play　that　menu　straight　across　for　what　you　like；
  Dele；〃　said　〃Big　Jim。〃　〃It's　you　for　a　trough　of
  the　gilded　oats　to…night。　　It　strikes　me　that　maybe
  we've　been　sticking　too　fast　to　home　fodder。〃
  〃Big　Jim's〃　wife　gave　her　order。　　He　looked　at
  her　with　respect。　　She　had　mentioned　truffles；　and　be
  bad　not　known　that　she　knew　what　truffles　were。　　From
  the　wine　list　she　designated　an　appropriate　and　de…
  sirable　brand。　He　looked　at　her　with　some　admiration。
  She　was　beaming　with　the　innocent　excitement　that
  woman　derives　from　the　exercise　of　her　gregarious…
  ness。　　She　was　talking　to　him　about　a　hundred　things
  with　animation　and　delight。　　And　as　the　meal　pro…
  gressed　her　cheeks；　colorless　from　a　life　indoors；　took
  on　a　delicate　flush。　　〃Big　Jim〃　looked　around　the
  room　and　saw　that　none　of　the　women　there　had　her
  charm。　　And　then　he　thought　of　the　three　years　she
  had　suffered　immurement；　uncomplaining；　and　a　flush
  of　shame　warmed　him；　for　he　carried　fair　play　as　an
  item　in　his　creed。
  But　when　the　Honorable　Patrick　Corrigan；　leader
  in　Dougherty's　district　and　a　friend　of　his；　saw　them
  and　came　over　to　the　table；　matters　got　to　the　three…
  quarter　stretch。　　The　Honorable　Patrick　was　a　gal…
  lant　man；　both　in　deeds　and　words。　　As　for　the　Blar…
  ney　stone；　his　previous　actions　toward　it　must　have
  been　pronounced。　　Heavy　damages　for　breach　of
  promise　could　surely　have　been　obtained　had　the
  Blarney　stone　seen　fit　to　sue　the　Honorable　Patrick。
  〃Jimmy；　old　man！〃　he　called；　he　clapped　Dough…
  erty　on　the　back；　be　shone　like　a　midday　sun　upon
  Delia。
  〃Honorabl