The age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1897-1902, 1899-06-04
THAT BEARD
OF THOMPSON'S

Thompson, you look a great dear pet
ter without a beard. You have a clear cut
face tina. ought not to be hidden"
1 know perfectly well that at that mo-
ment my friend Thompson would have
liked to hide his face in something still
more opaque than a dark brown close
cropped beard. That is because 1 know
the history OF Thompsons beard.
1t had two chapters-or two volumes
that history of Thompson's beard. The
first volume is brief and devoid of inter-
est-the beard grew when Thompson was
young and had just reached the age of
beard-groWinS. He liked the idea of a
beard, I suppose, as most boys do. Later
OIL, something-perhaps OTooles idea That
his face was a clear cut gem and should
be exhibited as a thing of beauty-struck
him, and he eleW impatient of his beard.
Now In the course of that earlier volume
of this history, Thompson had become
pretty well known. Not only had he been
photographed for the usual social purposes,
but, having taken a prominent part in va
riors parts in amateur concerts for prom
inent- charities having acted twice as best
man at much reported weddings, and hav-
Ing won a lawn tennis championship for
amateur singles. Thompson's face had APP
peared 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 to be off his
mind. He told me that it was quite worth
worth while to grow a beard just for the
pleasure of getting rid of it and running
your hand ever the smooth surface.
10 Io Df hau IN
let the exuDerance of his animal spirits be-
come mingled with those that inebriate. L
have TO mention this to guard against the
impression that was the least under
the influence of distilled or fermented
liquors when this thing happened that did
happen.
Thompson went out calling that very
evening and it so happened that family
at which his call was aimed had recently
moved. In that family was Amanda Car
son, and she had taken good care that Mr.
Thompson should be informed of their new
address Amanda had no wish to lose sight
of Mr.. Thompson. Thompson had the adj
dress in his little note book which he car
ried in his vest pocket of his everyday
business suit. But before going out that
evening he put on his full dress suit and
looking at himself in the long mirror re-
nected that he did not look so bad in
dress suit ana with a smooth face.
On reaching the street into which the
Carsons had Just moved, he began saying
to himself, 1.-THE number is So, 1 think"
Then he thought 1t would be as well to
take a look at that little note book of
his But when he put his hand to the place
where the note book should have been, be-
hold, there was no note book. Then it
flashed across his mind that he had been
distracted so much as to make him forget
to make him forget to take the note book
from the other vest.
"NeVer mind. ?" Thomson Thought 1T
know it's thirty -five.' Then he thought,
If IL isn't thirty-five it's fifty-three."
Then Nov, l wonder if it's ffty-three
or tbirty-hve?"
While he was thinking these things
Thompson happened to glance to the right
and notice very ewly-done-up-looking
house, the rumber 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. Any
body can see that"
AT the top of the steps, 1t so happened,
the front door stood invitingly open.
Now" thought Thompson, "heres
chance to surprise Amanda I'll close the
door and so and sit down quietly in the
reception room. If she comes in there pres
ehtly-she's sure to-she'll wonder where
I've dropped from. Great idea"
And Thompson, after closing the front
door very gently, stole into the front
room, carrying his hat in his hand and his
evening cane over one arm
The room was rather dark, so 1t did not
strike Thompson that none of the furniture
or decorations were familiar. And he had
very little time to notice anything
"Lliza!' he heard, sounding in a mas
culine voice from the next landing. Eli
"a"
Amanda Carson had no male relatives in
her family except her father, and that was
not old CarSOn'S voice."
"Eliza's gone out, Henry; l sent her to
nail letter. said a female voice.
Then 1 wish she wouldn't leave the
front door open," said the first voice.
come in. Elza!'
No answer
Then the man growled: Its very
strange That door didn't blow to, or 1
would have heard 1t bang
OF course, by this time, Thompson real
lied that, after ALL it was not thirty-fve
that he should have gone to, but fifty
three.
He picked up his hat and cape and
moved quickly towards the door of the
front room, intending to make an explain
alton and an escape-both as rapid as pos
sible.
mo, you don't" said that same mas
culine voice. you stop right where you
are or I'll Shoot
The good man of the house. having, as
he supposed, grasped the fact that bur-
glar had sneaked in at the front door
while Eliza's back was turned, now stood,
with something made of steel in his out
stretched right hand, half way down the
stairs.
"My name is Thompson" the innocent
intruder began.
Il daresay 1t is. Stay right where you
are, Thompson"
1t was a painful situation Nothing
could induce that grim householder to be-
lieve that Thompson was himself, and not
a particularly cunning and enterprising
early evening burglar who worked the
dress suit" racket"
you Mr.. Cyril Thompson, Ell? Well
Mr.. Cyril Thompson had a beard when I
heard him sing IL Mic Aeroro.' Can you
sing?"
Under the circumstances Thompson could
rot sing. Fancy warbling IL Mic Teroro"
in such a predicament. q
The end OF 1t was that Eliza came in and
Immediately went out again to get a DO
liceman.
Thompson lad no better luck with the
policeman than with Mr.. Cameron-that