Chapter I: Front Matter

THE PRETENDER

In deference to the opinion of the publishers the Author has consented to certain alterations being made in his work.

THE PRETENDER

A Story of the Latin Quarter

BY
ROBERT W. SERVICE

AUTHOR OF “SONGS OF A SOURDOUGH,” “TRAIL
OF ’98,” ETC.

NEW YORK
DODD, MEAD & COMPANY
1914

COPYRIGHT, CANADA, 1914
BY ROBERT W. SERVICE

VAIL-BALLOU COMPANY
BINGHAMTON AND NEW YORK

THE PRETENDER

“Of Books and Scribes there are no end:
This Plague--and who can doubt it?
Dismays me so, I’ve sadly penned
_Another_ book about it.”

CONTENTS

CHAPTER PAGE

BOOK I--THE CHALLENGE

I THE HAPPIEST YOUNG MAN IN MANHATTAN 1

II THE SHEEP AND THE GOATS 10

III GRILLED KIDNEY AND BACON 20

IV AN UNINTENTIONAL PHILANDERER 28

V A SEASICK SENTIMENTALIST 40

VI AN INVOLUNTARY FIANCÉ 48

VII A BATTLE OF INK 61

VIII THE GIRL WHO LOOKED INTERESTING 69

IX THE CHEWING GUM OF DESTINY 78

X THE YOUNG MAN WHO MAKES GOOD 89

BOOK II--THE STRUGGLE

I THE NEWLY-WEDS 101

II THAT MUDDLE-HEADED SANTA CLAUS 114

III THE CITY OF LIGHT 123

IV THE CITY OF LAUGHTER 133

V THE CITY OF LOVE 145

VI GETTING DOWN TO CASES 156

VII THE MERRY MONTH OF MAY 166

VIII “TOM, DICK AND HARRY” 181

IX AN UNEXPECTED DEVELOPMENT 193

X THE LIFE AND DEATH OF DOROTHY MADDEN 204

BOOK III--THE AWAKENING

I THE STRESS OF THE STRUGGLE 215

II THE DARKEST HOUR 231

III THE DAWN 241

IV A CHAPTER THAT BEGINS WELL AND ENDS BADLY 258

V THE GREAT QUIETUS 271

VI THE SHADOW OF SUCCESS 286

VII THE FATE OF FAME 298

VIII THE MANUFACTURE OF A VILLAIN 308

IX A CHEQUE AND A CHECK 317

X PRINCE OF DREAMERS 333