The Bossier banner. [volume] (Bellevue, Bossier Parish, La.) 1859-1952, 1904-07-14

IN stage Whisper. PsuJ ucoA anu
dumb. Let her In. I'll pretend not to
know she's here"
Time for argument there was none.
80 Sir Arthur grabbed book and sat
down by the window with bis back to
the door. But she who was ushered
into the hermitage by the grinning
Brady was a person other than the ex-
pected Mary from Buffalo.
"Beller' exclaimed Mac. you?
Where did you come fromr'
"Now, that Is what call q real
brotherly greeting" Belle Is one OF
those young women whose lips pout
from habit, and just then they were
particularly aggressive. where do
you suppose l came from. Mac3 !
didn't drop from the clouds. I climbed
about a mile of stairs to be kept walt
ing outside your door until you were
pleased to let me in. And now you act
as though I were some kind of curl
osity instead of your own dear little
sister that you haven't seen for months
Aren't you going to kiss me7 Oh.
didn't notice.
"Never mind him." said Mac hastily.
That's only Sir Arthur, as we call
him. Haven't written you about him
deaf and dumb-talented poet-sad
| caseT'
Now, as a matter OF fact Mac had
| written - and forgotten - not about
deaf aud dumb Sir Arthur. Of course,
but of one who can sing On the Road
to Mandalay' so that 1t makes you
homesick for India, even II you hardly
know where it is on the map"
"Oh, indeed! Deaf and dumb. did
you say? And since when, pleaseT'
There was a curious infection to
Bellies queries which should have
| warned Mac, but did not.
Hes been the way he is now ever
since I've known him." said Mac In
genuously. but hold on. Belle. I'll
get my coat on, and We'll so for q
walk Tits SO stuffy in hero"
'Of all the inhospitable creatures.
Maci I've come to take luncheon with
you. l want to see how you live-and
I'm half starved" Whereat Belle
calmly proceeded to pull or her gloves.
"Rut. Belle began Mac. with sig
nificant glance at Sir Arthur.
"Oh, shall not mind Sir Dummy in
the least You can write US an intro
duct1on, or do you talk to him on your
f1ngers7 I should love to see you do It
A deaf and dumb poet! What a relief!
shan't have to say things l don't
mean, and If he can't talk l shall not
know how silly he Is. What curly
hair! Does he do It up on kids over
nightT'
Sir Arthur might have been seen to
squirm.
Belle. Belle! say. now. you
mustn't
"But where's the harm. Mac2 YOU
say he's deaf and dumb"
"Ye-e-es, but l don't know just how
deaf he really is, and II he should hear
you know
HE would only hear the truth. Il
might do him good. I'm sure he's con
ceited. even II he Is a dummy. Why
whatever are you doingr'
Just what Mac was doing was this
| u
the incautious Kid, who in the fullnes
OF his Joy and prompted by an unfeel
, ing desire to catch glimpse Of ST.
Arthur's face had parted the wardrob'
curtains.
|, notwithstanding at ALL"
Belle eyed him shrewdly for an un
I comfortable moment Then, after re
. lection, she asked: "And where's you
other chum, the one YOU call the Kid
Is he deaf and dumb or blind2'
ITS too bad" said Mac. with an e1
fort at sincerity, but you'll not NEE
the Kid this time. He-he goes abou
seeing the art editors a good deal. yo
know"
+ Does he? Well, did hope to sc
him. He is the one, you wrote. VIII
raved over my picture. Isn't that
photograph of him stuck up there o
the WALTZ
There was no denying this. for It ha
been plainly labeled 1.-The Kid"
Hes little fellow with brown eyes
isn't he7 And didn't you say he wa
bashfulr' asked Belle. studying th
picture. ibid he draw all these sketch
es? How cleverl Especially that ON
Of row of red packing boxes"
Packing boxes, Belle! That Is a
impressionistic study Of lower Broad
way at sunset"
| Really? Well. never should hav
| guessed. But that smoking lamp res
| Ing on blue table cover Il effective"
| Smoking f1ddlesttcks! Belle, 20
| know nothing at oil about art. An
| one can see that's a night scene in tt
| harbor. I'll not have you poking fu
| at my friends behind their backs"
| why. Mac. wouldn't do that II
| the world! But look! What is the ma
| ter with Sir DUMMY He's shaking a
| over. Perhaps he's having a chill or
J At"
The heaving shoulders Of Sir Arth.
= were suddenly stilied. There! He
=, :, over It." continued Belle. How cur
- Gus! Why doesn't he turn his headl
!. should like to zee what he looks lik
:. I'm going to peek"
- II say, Belle. behave, can't you,
pleaded Mac.