River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1899-06-15

-
II WAS just like that terrible O'Toole
to come out in his laundering way
with: Thompson, you'd look great
deal better without beard. You have
clear-cut 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 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 Thompson's beard.
The first volume is brief and devoid of
interest-the beard grew when Thomp-
son was young and had just reached
the age of beard-growing. He liked the
idea of a beard, suppose, as most boys
do. Later on, something - perhaps
0'Toole's idea that his face was clear
cut gem and should be exhibited as a
thing of beauty-struck him, and he
grew impatient of his beard.
Now, in the 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
cial purposes, but, having taken
prominent part in various amateur con-
certs for prominent charities, having
acted twice as best man at much-report-
ed weddings, and having won lawn
tennis championship for amateur
4
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 boy just freed
from school. A weight seemed to be
off his mind. He told me that it was
quite worth while TO grow 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 those that
inebriate. l 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
evening, 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.. Thompson should be
informed of their new address-Aman-
da had no wish to lose sight of Mr..
IL. 4 IL IA
in his little notebook, which he carried
in his vest pocket of his everyday bust
ness suit. But before going out that
evening he put on his full dress suit,
and, looking at himself in the long mir
ror, reflected that in a dress 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,
j think"
Then he thought it would be as well
to take a look at that little notebook of
his. But when he put his hand to the
place where the notebook should have
been, behold there was no notebook.
Then it flashed on him that his mind
had been distracted so much as to make
him forget to take the notebook from
the other We.
Never mind" Thompson thought.
81 know it's 35." Then he thought: IF
it isn't IS it's 3d." Then: Now, |
wonder whether it is SO or 35?'
While he was thinking these things
Thompson happened to glance TO the
right and notice very newly-done-up-
- f.
light of which was very distinctly
mo. 35."
"Of course that's ii" said Thompson
to himself as he tripped lightly up the
flight of stone steps. This is the
house. Anybody can see that
At the top of the steps, il so hap
pened, the front door stood invitingly
open.
Now" thought Thompson, heres a
chance to surprise Amanda. I'll close
the door and go and sit down quietly in
her reception room. If she comes in
there presently--she's sure to-she'll
wonder where I've dropped from,
Great ideal"
And Thompson, after closing the
front door very gently, stole into the
front room, carrying his hat in his
hand and his evening cape over one
arm.
The room was rather dark, so il did
not strike Thompson that none of the
furniture or decorations were familiar.
And he had very little time to notice
anything.
"Ehza!" he heard, sounding in mas
culine voice from the next landing.
"Eliza!"
Amanda Carson had no male rela-
tives in her family except her father,
and that was not old Carson's voice.
ELIAS gone out, Henry" said a fe-
male voice. 81 sent her to mail let
ter
Then l wish she wouldn't leave the
front door OPEN" said the first voice.
Hello! Its closed now. She must have
come in. Ehzal"
No answer.
Then the man growled: Its very
strange. That door didn't blow to, or
l would have heard il bang"
OF course, by this time, Thompson re-
allied that, after all, il was not IS that
he should have gone to, but 50.
He picked up his hat and cape and
moved quickly toward the door of the
front room, intending to make an ex-
PLANTATION and an escape-both as rapid
as possible.
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
a burglar had sneaked in at the front
door while ELIAS back was turned now
stood, with something made of steel in
his outstretched right hand halfway
down the stairs.
"My name is Thompson" the limo
cent intruoer began.