The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1899-05-28
THAT BEARD OF THOMpSOA'S.

come out in his laundering way with
II thompson you'd look a great deal better
that ought not to be hidden.
know perfectly well that at that moment
my friend Thompson would have liked to
hide his face in something still more Opaque
than dark brown close-cropped beard.
That is because 1 know the history of
Thompson's beard.
1t had two chapters-or two volumes-that
history of Thompsons beard. The first vol
ume is brief and devoid of interest-the beard
grew when Thompson was young and had
just reached the age of beard growing. He
liked the idea of beard, L suppose, as most
boys do. Later on. something-perhaps
ORIOLES idea that his face was clear-cut
gem and should be exhibited as thing Of
beauty-struck him, and he grew impatient
of his beard.
Now, in the course of that earlier volume
OF this history, Thompson had become pretty
welt known. Not only had he been photo
graphed for the usual social purposes, but,
having taken a prominent part in various
amateur concerts for prominent charities,
having acted twice best man at much re-
ported weddings, and having won a lawn
tennis championship for amateur singles,
Thompsons face had appeared in the pa
pers more often than falls to the lot of most
plain citizens. Hence the mischief.
The day he had that beard removed Thomp-
son was like boy lust freed from school.
A weight seemed to be off his mind. He told
me that it was quite worth while to grow
of it and running your hand over the smooth
surface.
He not the sort of man, however, to
let the exuberance of his animal spirits be-
come mingled with those that inebriate. I
have to mention this to guard against the
impression that he was in the least under
the influence of distilled or fermented liquors
when this thing happened that did happen.
Thompson went out calling that very even
ing and it so happened that the family at
which his call was aimed had recently
moved. In that family was Amanda Carson,
and she had taken good care that Mr. Thomp-
son should be Informed of their new ad
dresS-Amanda had no wish to lose sight Of
Mr.. Thompson. Thompson had the address
in his little note book, which he carried 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, reflected that. in dress
suit and smooth face he looked very well.
On reaching the street into which the Car
sons had just moved, he began saying to
himself 1.-The number is thirty fiVe, think"
Then he thought it would be we'll to
take look at that little note book of his
But when he put his hand to the place where
the note book should have been, behold there
was no note book. Then it flashed. on him
that his mind had been distracted much
as to make him forget to take the note book
from the other vest.
Never mind" Thompson thought 'T know
it's thirty-five." Then he thought, eff it isn't
wonder whether it is fftythree or thirty
five?"
While he was thinking these things Thomp-
son happened to glance to the right and no
tice very newly-done -up-looking house, the
number 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 happened, the
front door stood invitingly open.
Now" thought Thompson, heres a
door and go and sit down quietly in her re-
ception room If she comes in there pres
ently-she's sure to-shell wonder where I've
dropped from Great ideal"
And Thompson, after closing the front door
very gently, stole into the front ROOM car
rying his hat in his hand and his evening
cape over one arm.
The room was rather dark, so it did not
strike Thompson that none of the furniture
or, decorations were familiar. And he had
very little time to notice anything.
''Elza!' he heard, sounding in masculine
voice from the next landing, "Eliza!'
Amanda Carson had no male relatives in
her family except her father, and that was
not old Carson's voice.
ELIAS gone out Henry" said female
voice. 81 sent her to mail letter.
Then I wish she wouldn't leave the front
door open,' said the first voice. "Hello It's
closed now. She must have come in Eliza!"
No answer.
Then the man growled: Its very strange.
That door didn't blow to, or I would have
heard it bang"
Of course, by this time Thompson realized
that after all, it was not thirty-fve that he
should have gone to, but ffty-three.
He picked up his hat and cape and moved
quickly towards the door of the front room,
intended to make explanation and an es-
cspe-both as rapid as possible.
mo, you don't" sad that same masculine
voice "You stop right where you are or I'll