Evening journal., 1899-08-18

IT WAS just Like that terrible O'Toole
to come out in his laundering way
with: Thompson, you'd look a great
deal better without beard. You have
a clear-cpt face that ought not to be
hidden"
l know perfectly well that at that
moment my friend Thompson would
have liked to hide his face in something
still mora opaque than a dark brown,
close-cropped beard. That is because
/ know ths history Of Thompson's
beard.
1t had two chapters-or two volumes
that liistsry Of Thompson's beard.
The1frst volume is brief and devoid of
interest--the beard grew VIXEN Thomp-
son was young and had just reached
the'age Of hearH-growing. He liked the
idea Of board, / suppose, as most boys
do. Later on, something - ferhaps
O'Toole's idea that his face was a ciear-
cut gem and should be exhibited as a
thing OF beeuty-struck kim. and he
grew impatient of his beard.
Now, in this course Of that earlier vol
ume of this history, Thompson had be-
come pretty well known. Not Only had
he been photographed for the usual so
eial purposes, but. having taken a
prominent part in various amateur con
certs for prominent charities, having
acted twice az best man at much-reportS
ed weddings and having won a lawn
tennis championship for amateur
singles, Thompson's fase had appeared
in the papers more often than falls to
the lot of most plain citizens. Hence
the mischief
The day he had that beard removed
Thompson was Like a boy just freed
from school. A weight seemed 10 be
off his mind. He told me that it was
quite w0rth while to grow a beard just
for the pleasure Of getting rid of it and
running your hand over the smooth
surface.
He was not the sort Of a man. how
ever, TO let the exuberance OF his animal
spirits become mingled with these that
inebriate. l have to mention this to
guard against the impression that he
was in the least under the influence
of distilled OF fermented liquors when
this thing happened that did happen.
Thompson went out calling that very
evening, and II so happened that the
family at which his call was aimed had
recently moved. In thai family was
Amanda Carson. and she had taken
good care that Mr.. Thompson should be
informed Of their new address-Aman-
da had no wish to lose sight Of Mr..
Thompson. Thompson had the address
in his little notebook, which he carried
in his vest pocket of his everyday bust
ness suit. Bat befere going out that
evening he put on his. full dress suit,
and. lool1ingsat himself in the long mir
ror, reflected that in ADDRESS suit and
smooth face he looked very well.
On reaching the street into which
the Carsons had just moved, he began
saying to himself: "The number is 35,
1 think"
Then he thought it would be as well
to take look at that little notebook os
his But when he put his hand to the
place where the notebook should have
I DtGuf DGu1lQ tANAt was IO uOAtbbbtN'
Then il flashed on him that his mind
had been distracted so much as to make
him forget to take the notebook from
the other vest.
''Never mind" Thompson thought
''I know it's So" Then hethought: III
it isn't IS it's So" Then: "Now.
wonder whether it Is 50 or 35?"
While he was thinking these things
Thompson happened to glance 10 the
right and notice a very newly-donenp-
looking house, the number on the fan
light of which was very distinctly
mo. 35."
'Of course that's it." said Thompson
to himself as he tripped lightly up the
fight of stone steps. ''This is the
house. Anybody can see that"
At the top Of the steps, it so hap
pened. the front door stood invitingly
open.
"Now," thought Thompson, ~here's a
chance to surprise Amanda. I'll clos,
the door and go and sit down quietly in
her receptions room. If she comes In
there presently-5she's sure to--she'l