Custer weekly chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, S.D.) 1890-1931, 1900-09-15

interview with the old associate of
bis boyhood under Judge Peyton's
guardianship would divert his mind.
Yet lie let no trace Of his doubts nor
OF his past gloom show in his face as
he entered the room.
Mr., Hooker was apparently examiii-
ing the elegant furniture and iuxuri-
GUS accommodations with his usual
iesehtfui ehvioushess. Ciarehee had
BOT a soft .thing.'' That IL was more
or less the result of his "artfulness.a
and that he was hnduly pulled up"
by IT, were in Hooker's characteristic
reasoning equally clear.
As his host smilingly advanced with
outstfetched hand, Mr.. Hooker's ct
forts to assume ii proper abstraction
OF manner and cohtemptuous ihdiffcr-
ence to Clareiice's Surroundings,
which should wound his vanity, end.
ed In his loHing back at full length
in the chair with his eyes on the cell.
ing. But, remembering suddenly that
he was really the bearer of d message
to Clarence, it struck him that his SD
pine position was, from a theatrical
view point, infelicitousl
In his experience of the stage he
had never delivered q message in that
way. He rose awkwardly to his feet.
ut was so good of you to watt"
said Clarence tourteously.
"Saw Son in the theater," said
Hooker, brusquely. "Third row in
rarquct. Susy said IL was you and
had suthin' TO say to ycn. Suthin'
you ought to Know he continued,
with a slight return of his old mys-
terry of manner, which Clarence so
well remembered. "You saw her-she
fetched the house with that flag BUSH
hess, Ell? She knows which way the
cat is eoin' to jump-you bet. I tell
you, for all the blowing Of these Sc
ccssionists, the unions goin' to pay!
Yes. sirl" lie stopped, glanced
around the handsome room and add.
ed, darby: "Mebbe better than this"
With the memory of Rockers char.
hcteristic fondness for mystery still
in his mind, Clarence overlooked the
innucrdo, and said, smiling:
"Why didn't you bring Mrs. Hooker
here? l should have been honored
with her company"
Mr.. Hooker frowned slightly ut this
seeming levity. "Never goes out aft
u "a DNi III INtINOub tNudll
ton. Left her at cur rooms I'm Mar
ket street. We can drive there in ten
minutes. That's why ! asked the car.
riage to wait"
Clarence hesitated. Without caring
in the least 10 renew the acquaintance
of his old playmate and sweetheart, d
meeting that night in some vague
way suggested to him Il ~providential
diversion. Nor was he deceived by
any gravity in the message; with his
remembrance 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.
mo"
Clarence led the way to the ear.
riage. If Mr.. Hooker expected him
during the Journey to try to divine
the pufport of Susy's message he was
disappointed. His companion did not
allude to it, possibly looking upon it
as n combined theatrical performance.
Clarence preferred to 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, 1T drew up at q m~iddle-clasB res
taurant, on whose still lit and steam
ing windows were some o"stentatious-
~ public apartments, accessible from
a side entrance.
AS they assembled the staircase to.
gether it 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 nj n descending
visitor, grunted audibly at a waiter
in the passage, and stopped before a
door where a recently deposited tray
displayed the h~alf-eaten carcass of a
fowl, an empty champagne bottle, two
half-tilled glasses and n faded bou-
quet. The whole passage was redolent
with n singular blending of damp
cooking, stale cigarette smoke and
patchouli.
Putting the tray aside with his foot,
Mr.. Hooker opened the door hesitat-
ingly and pcered into the room, NUT
tered n few indistinct words, which
were followed by a rapid rustling OF
skirts, and then, with his hand still
on the door knob, turning to Clarence
who had discreetly halted in the
threshold, flung the door open theat,
rically 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 apartments
with a quick glance. Its furniture
had the frayed and discolored splen.
doris of a public parlor which had
been privately used and maltreated;
there were stains in the large metal.
lined carpet, the gilded veneer had
been Clipped from a heavy center Ia
bic, showing the rough, white dea,
beneath, which gave it the appear,
ance of a stage property" the walls
paneled with gilt-framed mirrors re
tlected every domestic detail or pri
vate relaxation with shameless pub
Lefty.
A damp waterproof shawl and opeI
newspaper were lying across the once
brilliant sofa; d powder puff, a plate
of fruit and a play book were OH the
center table, and at the marble topped
sideboard was Mrs. Hooker's second
best hat, with a soiled collar, evident
ly but lately exchanged for the one
be had on, peeping owe it's brim.
The whole apartment seemed tC
mingle the furtive disclosures of tn,
dressing room with the open ostenta
tons of the stage, with even a slight
suggestion of the auditorium in q few
scattered programs on the floor anC
chairs.
The inner door opened again will
a slight theatrical start, and Susy il
an elaborate dressing gown moved
languidly into the room.
She apparently had not had time tt
change her undcrskirt, for there wa
the dust of the stage on it's delicat,
lace edging as she threw herself into
an armchair and crossed her pretty