Owingsville outlook. [volume] (Owingsville, Ky.) 1879-192?, 1896-10-22

Vet as he turned toward the library
he was 10y no means certain that an in.
tcrNicw with the old associate of his
hoy hood under Judge Pcytnn'S guard
ihnship would divert his mind. Vet he
let no trace of his doubts nor of his past
gloom show in his face as he entered
the room.
Mr.. Hooker wa; apparently rNamin,
ing the elegant furniture and luxurious
accommodations with his usual resent
ul enNiousncss. clarence had got a
soft thing" That il WINS more or less
the result of his "nrtfulnrss." and that
hc MAS unduly pulled up 10y it. were
in IInnhrr's characteristic reasoning
equally clear
AS his host smilinCly advanced with
ouistr.tched hand, Mr.. Ilnokcr's efforts
TO ass umc proper abstraction Of man
ner and contcmptuous indifference Ia
Clarcncc's surroundings. which should
wound his vanity. ended in his lulliug
back AT full length in the chair with his
eyes on the ceiling. But. remembering
suddenly that he Was really the bearer
of a message To Clarence. il struck him
that his supinc position was. from a
theatrical view point. iufclicitous.
In his experience of the stage he had
never delivered II message in that way.
lie rose awkwardly Ia his feet.
ut Was 81 good of you to watt" said
| Clarence courtcouSly.
''Saw YOU in the thcatcr." said Hook
cr. hrusquely. Third row in par
quct. Susy said it was YOU and had
{ Suthin' To say To YOU. Suthin' Won
ought to know" hr continued. with a
slight return of his old mystery oi
( manner. which Clarence Dwell rcmcm-
bercd. you saw her--shr fetched the
house with that flag business, ch? She
knows which way the cat is goin' Ia
jump-you bet. | tell you. for all the
! blowing of these scccsSionists. 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 Rockers char
acteristic fondness for mystery still in
his mind Clarence overlooked the in
! nucndo, and said. smiling:
why didn't YOU bring Mrs. Hooker
here? ! should have been honored with
her company"
Mr.. Hooker frowned slightly at this
seeming levity. "Never goes out after
a 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
! wait"
Clarence hesitated. Without caring
in the least To renew the acquaintance
OF his old playmate and sweetheart. Il
meeting that night in some vague way
suggested to him n providential diver
sion. Nor was he deceived by any
gravity in the message: with his re-
membrance of Susy's theatrical 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 Ia divine the purport
of Susy's message he was disappointed.
! His companion did not allude to it.,
| possibly looking upon il as a combined
/ theatrical performance. Clarence pre-
ferred 10 wait for Susy as the better
| actor
The carriage rolled rapidly through
the now deserted streets and. at last,
under the directions of Mr. Hooker,
who was leaning half out of the win
dow, il drew up at a middlc-class res
taurant. on whose still lit and steam
ing windows were some oStentatious-
ly public apartments. accessible from
side entrance.
AS they assembled the staircase to-
getber il 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 a descending
visitor, grunted audibly at "A waiter in
the passage, ard stopped b, fore a door
where n recently deposited tray dis
played the half-eaten carcass of fowl,
AN empty champagne bottle. two half
filled glasses and faded bouquet. The
whole passage was redolent with a
singular blending of damp cooking,
stale cigarette smoke and patchouli.
Putting the tray aside with his foot.
Mr.. Hooker opened the door hesitating-
ly and peered into the room, muttered
a few indistinct words, which were fol-
lowed by rapid rustling of skirts. and
Ia
knob, turning to Clarence. who had dis
creetly halted on the threshold, flung
the door open theatrically and babe
him enter.
'She is somewhere in the suite" he
added, with a large wave of the hand
towards a 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 splcndSrs 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 a
heavy center table. showing the rough,
white deal beneath, which gave it the
oPlN"iohNc VI u SNdSt properly, the
walls paneled with gilt-framed mir
rors reflected every domestic detail or
private relaxation with shameless pub
licity.
A damp waterproof shawl and open
newspaper were lying across the once
brilliant sofa: powder Puff, a plate
of fruit and play book were on the CEN
ter table, and at the marble topped
sideboard was Mrs. Hooker's second
best hat, with n soiled collar, evidently
but lately exchanged for the one he
had on, peeping over its brim.
The whole apartment seemed to min
gle the furtive disclosures of the dress
ing-room with the open destinations of
the stage, with even n slight suggcs-
ton OF the auditorium in a few scat
tered programmes on the floor and
cnairs.
The inner door opened again 18th a
slight theatrical start, and SaSv in an
elaborate dressing gown moved lam
guidly into the room.