The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1904-07-21

time Of year the Old Boy himself
wouldn't care 20 stay in Washington.
They say somebody found his tracks in
asfelt one night last week. nnd inter
viewed him, and he said he was goin'
back home to cool off. But don't you
git the notion it never does freeze up
here, cause that amt So"
Nicholas Green. veteran plumber. took
his pipe out of his mouth and looked up
where the soft rings of smoke were
climbing to the following. sun-6aked
foliage of the balm-of-Gilead trees.
Round the corner squawked a graphic
phone. insistently;
"He eertn'y was good to me-"
In the street chain of scantily clad
little girls chanted.
London Bridge is falling down
Failing down-falling down,
London Bridge is falling down,
MY fair lady"
Then they scattered. hastily before
the advancing OF the huge, slow-mOv-
ing, street-sweeper,> and the scr-rape
of the shoyels came distinctly through
the dusk. All along the block. men and
women crowded the docrsteps, painting
and tanning In various deshabille. and
the young folk in the careful apparel of
the counting period. tried to ignore the
heat in their demeanor as in their
clothes. The thermometer at the drug
store stood at 81, and the place vas
crammed and noisy with a thirsty.
sticky crowd The asphalt. hotter than
ever under the yellow glare of the gas
jets, wavered uncertainty in the blue
radiance of the electric lights. and shad-
ows danced and capered on it's uneven
surface. It was a hot night
Il should like 10 have little freeze
tonight" ventured young Hazard. the
new Government clerk. who was be-
ginning at $50. and had a furnished
room over Nicholas Green's little shop.
You'll see enough cold weather fore
you've been here a year. Course there
amt no drifts like they have in the
North; snow don't lay here any time at
all; like as not ii turns TO rain when it's
comm down. But when a freeze does
come sudden and lSetch folks UMPIRE
pared. it makes a sight of trouble"
business for you. 1 suppose?" said
Hazard. watching the moths that hum
med round the light. and wondering
when he would begin to have friends in
the big, strange town.
'MCre'n I want sometimes. There was
family right round that corner that
got into the worst scrape you ever
heard of In one Of them sudden freezes
Bannister their name was"
Hazard looked interested
Let's hear about it," ne said
IT'S good cool story. anyhow. for n
night like this. They lived in one Of
them two wooden houses on Tenth
Street; the old gentleman built EN- both,
and he lives in one and rents the other.
They amt much to look at. but they're
right pretty and comfortable inside"
Not Mr.. Reuben Bannister?" asked
young Hazard
Yes; know him."
I've heard of MIN. What about the
freeze?
We'll. the whole family went away
one Christmas. couple o. years ago. TO
see his folks in New York, and Mrs.
Bannister she stopped off in Philadelphia
to see an aunt OF ner'n. Fred. the oldest
boy. he was In college. and he was TO
meet 'em IN New York, the old gentle
man and the two girls and the kid.
They hadn't been gone no more'n about
four days when there come one them
quick freezes l been tellin' you about.
Business got purity lively and I worked
overtime. I was goin' by the house one
morning when I see water runnin' out
| under the front door; You see it had
thawed a little; don't never stay froZe
up here but few days. Thinks I. that
funny; 1 wonder Is there anything
wrong? Just then Mr.. Wakeman thai
lived next door came along. and I asked
him.
He said they had noticed ii and
thought the Bannisters ought to know.
so Mrs. Wakeman she'd written Miss
Ethel and told her about it. That was
all anybody could do. for. of course,
the house was locked. and locked good.
and the shutters closed and loehed; tho
old gentleman was one them oranks on
that topic. and more especially 81 since