The Sunday globe., 1901-05-26
CHAPTER III.
DECORATING THE LYCEUAI.

head of the house of the New Grand,
as he stood by my typewriter a NOM
ent the next morning,
YES" he had a number of stock
letters to send to his supporters" re-
piled.
Well" he rejoined, 81 guess there
are lots of worse people in the world
than Judge Barnstable. He came up
through the chairs"
What's that?"
"Oh, its customary in an order to
which l belong to make a man serve
a term in a number Of minor offices
before he is eligible to elevation to the
more important ones-an apprentice
ship, as it were. Now, the Judge, for
instance, was on our school board,
was prosecuting attorney county
Judge, and the like before he could
write M. c. after his name. He's a
good friend Of us hotel people; he
stops at hotel over home at a hotel
in Washington, and here, But l must
be seeing to that meat | ordered" said
the boniface as he left the house,
The second days mail brought a
letter addressed Mrs. Rhoda Roland,
in care Of the New Grand" 1t was
from the Judge very brief; only said
he would speak in our town the fol-
lowing Thursday. The Gazette is out
Tuesday, believe" he concluded.
"See Tibbles."
had no time to lose, so forthwith
departed in the direction Of the groc-
cry of the county chairman. Just after
/ passed the livery stable | met Tony.
Say Mrs. Roland" he began, there
was a fellow over at the station last
night backcapping the Judge to beat
the band"
what did he say, Tony?"
Every thing mean that he could
think of. But | give him the caution
sign
"The caution sign? What's that?"
"Why. when they belong to the lodge
they've got some way when they see
a member doing anything wrong to
put him on his guard. Now, I'm not
member, but ! walked up to this fel-
low and says: Partner, the man you
are roasting wears the same kind OF a
pin on his watch charm that you do.
You ought to have seen the crowd
scatter; I guess they all wore that
kind Of pins"
"Come on, Tony, I'm going to SEE
Captain Tibbles a moment and then go
over to the Gazette Office"
Il suppose the Judge speaks at the
courthouse" / began, when | had
reached the cashiers window, just be-
fore which the Captain was standing.
"No; by an agreement into which
all parties entered nigh eight years
ago. we bind ourselves not to use the
courthouse for political gatherings Of
any kind. He speaks in the hall over
the furniture warerooms."
Have you got the key"
"You don't want the key now the
meeting amt till next week"
"As remember, that hall is a great
barnlille structure-all windows. |
want to see If something couldn't be
done in the way of decorating, II only
to make it look more cheerful
"Your idea is all right, but | don't
know where your decorations are com
ing from. You are welcome to use any
thing you see around here, but lmag-
ing a person looking for decorations
would hardly patronize a grocery
However, you 90 up there 10 the Iur-
niture store and say | wish that you
be given the key. You hang on 10 L
till l call for it; it wont do to Dother
those people every few minutes
Now, | want a couple OF men 10
help me clean the place.
Whose a goin' to pay 'em?'
Il don't know | supposed your com
mittee had funds for that purpose.
"The people that rent us the hall
ought to clean It,"
Admitted. But you know they are
not going to put it in the condition you
would like to see it. Then | want you
TO designate six young men to act az
ushers and give me their names
"Ushersl | guess everybody that
shows up can find their way down the
aisle without a guide
"Ushers don't cost anything. The
boys will be only too glad to pin on
badge and help the cause along. Give
them a chance"
He finally agreed to do so, and
scratched me off a half dozen names
on the back of an envelope.
TONY Lentz is with me, and when J
get the key and look the place over |
will send him back after such things
as / think we will need"
Come to think Of it, perhaps we had
better spruce up a bit / don't think
the hall has heen in use since the com
mencement exercises last summer"
After securing the key, Tony and /
climbed the stairs to the third story
of long warehouse-like structure, the
highest building in the square, from
the windows Of which we could com
mand a good view Of every part Of the
town. Dust covered everything I
sat down in the ticket office while,
Tony strolled toward the stage. This
was the Lyceum, as I found It desig-
mated in a Harry Miners Theatrical
Directory, left at the hotel by a press
agent Of a Hazel Kirk" company
Boniface Gates said. I had thumbed
its pages until ! almose knew them by
heart. I suppose all girls have to pass
the stage-struck period Of their exig.
tenee, and was no exception to the
rule On the death Of Edwin Booth
ground out something after this fasL-
ion:
Held the mirrow up to nature-played
he well the part
Painting each emotion Of the human
heart.
Earned his need of plaudits-lon ] we'd
the Nations pride
All the world claimed kinship when the
actor died.
But, then, don't suppose / was ever
destined TO tread the boards, 20
awoke from my reverie and called.