The Kinsley graphic. [volume] (Kinsley, Kan.) 1890-1940, 1896-09-25

MIR. Hooker. he sad was TO say
Jim Hooker
The momentary annoyance in Clar-
ence's face changed to a look of re-
Elective curiosity.
He said he knew you were at the
theater, and he would wait until you
came home," continued the man, dubi-
ously watching his masters face. HE
don't know you've come in, strand
ana 1 can easily get rid of him."
'No matter now. I'll see him-and,"
added Clarence with faint smile, ''let
the carriage wait"
Yet as he turned toward the library
he was by no means certain that an in
terview with the old associate of his
boyhood under Judge Peyton's guard
ianship would divert his mind. Yet he
let no trace of his doubts nor of his past
gloom show in his face as he entered
the room.
Mr.. Hooker was apparently examin-
ing the elegant furniture and luxurious
accommodations with his usual resent
full enviousness. Clarence had got a
'"soft thing" That it was more or less
the result of his "artfulness," and that
he was unduly ''puffed up by it, were
in Hooker's characteristic reasoning
equally clear
AS his host smilingly advanced with
outstretched hand, Mr.. Hool>er's efforts
| to assume a proper abstraction of man.
ner and contemptuous Indifference to
| Clarence's surroundings, which should
wound his vanity, ended in his lolling
| f,,l 1n, in, no oh y h c
| eyes on the ceiling. But, remembering
suddenly that he was really the bearer
of message to Clarence, it struck. him
that his supine position was, from a
theatrical view point. infelicitous.
In his experience of the stage he had
never delivered a message in halfway.
He rose awkwardly to his feet.
"It'was so good of you to watt said
| Clarence courteously.
Saw you in the theater,' said Hook
er, brusquely. Third row in par
quet Susy said it was you and had
suthin' to say to you. Suthin' you
ought to know" he continued, with a
slight return of his old mystery Of
manner, which Clarence so we'll remem-
bered. You saw her-she fetched the
house with that flag business, eh? She
knows which way the cat is goiD' to
jump-you bet. 1 tell you, for all'the
blowing of these secessionists, the
unions goin' to pay! Yes, sir!'' He
, stopped, glanced around the handsome
room and added, darkly: ''Mebbe bet
ter than this
With the memory of Hooker's char
| fOn6neSc for u,vSfarv still in
| his mind, Clarence overlooked the in
nuendo, and said, smiling:
why. didn't you bring Mrs. Hooker
| here? I should have been honored with
her company"
Mr.. Hooker frowned slightly at this
| seeming levity. ''Never goes out after
| q performance. Nervous exhaustion.
| Left her at our rooms in Market street.
We can drive there in ten minutes.
That's why i asked the carriage to
| watt
Clarence lhesitated. Without caring
in the least to renew the acquaintance
of his old playmate and sweetheart,
meeting that night IN some vague way
suggested to him a providential diver
sion. Nor was he deceived by any
gravity in the message: with his re-
membrance of Susy's the3 trical ten
denotes, he was quite prepared for any
capricious futile extravaganza.
You are sure we will not disturb
her?' he said, politely.
NO.
Clarence led the way to the carriage.
If Mr.. Hooker expected him during the
journey to try to divine the purport
of Susys message he was disappointed.
His companion did not allude to it,
possibly looking upon it as a combined
theatrical performance. Clarence pre-
ferred to wait for 'Susy as the better
actor.
The carriage rolled rapidly through
the now deserted streets and, at last,
lander the directions of Mr.. Hooker,
wno was leaning half out of the win
dow, it drew up at a middle-elass res
ta1Gant, on whose still lit and steam
ing windows were some ostentatious-
ly public apartments, accessible from
side entrance.
AS they assembled the staircase to-
getlter it became evident that Mr..
Hooker was scarcely more at his ease
in the character Of host than he had
been as guest.
He stared gloomily at descending
visitor. grclnted audibly at a waiter in
the passage. and stopped before door
where a recently deposited tray dis
played the Aalf-eaten carcass Of a fowl, !
an empty champagne bottle, two half
filled glasses and a faded bouquet. The
whole passage was redolent with
singular blending of damp cooking,
stale cigarette smoke and patchouli.
Putting the tray aside with his foot.
Mr.. Hooker opened the door hesitating
~ and peered into the room. muttered
a feiv indistinct words, which were fol- |
lowed by a rapid rustling of skirts, and |
then. with his hand still on the door |
knob. turning to Clarence, who had dis |
creetly halted on the threshold, flung |
the door open Electrically and babe
him enter.
She is somewhere in the suite,' he |
added, with a large wave of the hand |
towards door that was still oscillat- |
ing. BE here in a mint"
Clarence took in the apartment with |
a quick glance. Its furniture had the |
frayed and discolored splcndors of a
public parlor which had been privately
used and maltreated; there were stains
in the large medallioned carpet, the
gilded. veneer had been Clipped from
heavy center table showing the rouoh.