The San Angelo press. (San Angelo, Tex.) 1897-1907, 1904-02-11
The Trouble With Dan

night, deceptive TO the eye and bring
ing woe to those unguarded souls who
bravcd its seeming mildncsS scorning
umbrella or maCkinlOsh
In the house of fiuch MacOmbcr all
was hospitality and cheer The volume
Of many cordial voices mingling with
the strains Of the City's choicest OrChcs.
ira poured out into the gloom as the
doors UpruCd to admit well covered
figures whose sOlnbcr wrnppings gave
little hint of the rich apparel bcncnth
She who half hour ago was Jus
tina MncUmbcr. now to be- known as
Mrs Amun IInrtwcll, stood. bright
eyed aud smiling, 10y her husband,
side. Her hand acltod front many fer
vent grasps. her round checks bushed
from many kisses. welcome aud other
wis.," She luug"d TOR the mOmcn,
when escape would bc hers, aud with
Almuu'S arm about her they might
hear the shutting of another earring"
door aud speed away upon Iire's happy
Journey
The man Ut the door wls still busy
allhuugh that lull had com" between
general arrival aud departure. ~ lirst
his brOud. clrun shav"n face had born"
grin Of polite welcome Sow II was
grave aud worried, and hr glanced fr"
purntly over his shoulder to sean the
throng crowding the rooms behind
Many knew the old family indoor
man aud nodded at him ramiliarly.
wondering at his pcrturbrd look Then
his mistress camc up
what's the trouble, Dan! Tired
OUT"
mo, mum"
Anything 20 wr0ngT
mo. mum. hut there's n.many people
here. Most of 'cm I know. Some Of
'em don't i'o frcttn' lest you may
have somcthin' stole. mum"
Mrs. Macombcr Chuckicd There
isn't the slightest danger. Dan. What
with an officer watching the presents
and detective keeping his eye on
things, we needn't worry. I guess.
why don't you go now and get bit to
eat and cup OF coffee You haven't
snt down siucc morning. I'll tell Mary
to take your place"
NO mum Not til they're all gone,
mum"
you're foolish." said the lady and
moved away
Maybe" muttrrcd tho old man.
leaning one thick shoulder against the
wnll "'rlc bobby's n weary hoy he's
told mo. Thrcc nights now aud not
slonpin' well. Dan he says to me
this noon, I dread the cvonin'. Ills
hard for one pair of eyes to cover n
mob Two of Ms Is one too fcw says
he. but Mr.. Macombcr gives me the
grand laugh, and III have To tend bar
alone And IFS so.
"Thc detective? A needle in a hay.
stack oh. well. thcrc'll prOb'ly be
nOthin' happen All, but TO think Of
Miss Tina a-laviu' us. And to stop and
kiss old Dan goodby when she starts
for the church. all in her wcddin gown
like the angel she Is \ baby when
first come twenty year ago tn work on
thr bosses Liked me, she did, and
twas Dan, Dan" till | was like Il nurse
gal and in the house hclpin'. And me,
three months after ring fight Twas
time | quit; too old, too old Lucky
I'VE been to get where | am ana no
one suspcCtin'. Still, twas an honest
trade, and Ouly now and then Id meet
II man \ waiter n COnchman, a train.
or, fighter, hostlcr, Il nurse gal-hc
90 hc--aud now II nice respectable old
butler man mindin' the door and every
thing else Sure, It's Il curious round,
n blOOmin' queer one Father Il Yam
kcc, mother English. me born in Aus.
trnIia, brought up in Frisco, TT in Kan.
sas- city and now for twenty year Il
New York"r decent and layln' up coin.
Dan, you're not II bad sort to do SO well
by your cray hairs"
ThrS" reflections. Cut short 10y "A
burst Of shouting mirth n rush of feet
n shower Of rice ana flying slipper
To swift attention, Dan closed
the portal after the llCCing couple ana
tn" scattering 10 the dressing
rooms, FOR the exodus was at hand.
The crowd began to thin with Dams
rapid dispositions. \ heavy set man,
with his oyercont collar high turned to
HIS 'ilIH' lll''NN'u 'lbN' NI'll wv H''l'
OF the Druyton party, There was Il
sudden stoppng", Dams watchiul eye
sharply. The old servants
hand stole cautiously up the back of
the ovcTcoat beside him to touch the
hair and lift it slightly with an unfelt
finger.
"Wig," he growed to himself, land
cropped! BY
Right along" sounded his pleasant
call, and with the movement his foot
went out. The gentleman beside him
and clicked his teeth with
an exclamation.
beg pardon" said the butler and
caught him gently around the body.
but with hands that ran searchingly
and pressed on curious hard knobs
go on, please" cntreated Dan calm,
ly, dropping his right arm and slipping
to the left and forward. mot hurt sir,
! hope"
A mumbed NO." with shake OF
the lowered head.
do move OUT" cried the butler. ~
want room, He's tainted"
No one had seen that heavy, paraIyz.
ing heart blow nor heard the gasp as