Los Angeles herald., 1905-04-09


strap their apparatus.
why would believe it was 24,00C
miles around this earth?-to meet you
of all men, at Lakemere! What is the
trouble? Is the scenery played out in
Europe?"
The dwarf stood aside while Thorne
met the intruder eagerly grasping his
hand.
What trouble brings you here,
Pearse? Surely not a search after
scenery" laughed Thorne Butler, you
have heard me speak of my friend
Pearse of Omaha"
The two men shook hands.
"Thorne," said the hunchback, "if 1
miss my landscape before noon it will
be gone. So 1 will move on a bit. Glad
to meet you, Mr.. Pearse. Drop in on
us this evening. We are not half bad
by candlelight," and he trudged off
with his shambling gait.
We'll, it was you feeding the ami
mails in the yard?" asked Pearse. Il
thought I recognized a familiar touch
about the trick"
Thorne smiled.
Il heard of your Quxotism away out
in Omaha, Richard" gazed af-
ter the retreating dwarf-"but
heavens man, couldn't imagine such
a twisted little chap as that. How do
you stand him? Why, the very sight of
him must offend your artistic eye"
Il never see IT, Besides, he is a
splendid fellow when you get to know
him! And then think of the fight he
puts up! You, Pearse, with all your
advantages that nature means a man
to possess-you can't understand his
hell No matter in what crowd, he is
always a lonely mani"
You are the same old Thorne!" af-
fectionately clapping his shoulder.
Forever playing fairy godmother to
some poor devil in distresslIt is habit
that sticks to you like cookie burrs!"
picking one from his coat sleeve. Come
with me for a row on the lake-I want
to introduce Miss Lathrop and her
aunt, Miss Dudley, and l may not have
another chance before l leave tomor-
row. They are both charming and are
going to be here at their cottage for
the rest of the season."
("Ah-I see-Miss Lathrop is respon-
sible for your appearance
Not yet. but am trying to persuade
her to undertake the case permanent
ly"-
"It seems your habits also stick like
burrs, Pearse. I hoped that Coke and
Blackstone would help knock some of
that old nonsense into shape"
"shape-well, if hers isn't the proper
type it will take the whole line of
venuses from Milo to Medica to go her
one better!"
This is your latest perfection"-
This is the first, last and only
my dear boy, there is something so
precious familiar about that sentiment
that it convinces me we only parted
yesterday on the college campus"
"'Time cannot wither nor custom
stale my infinite monotony. I forgive
you, Thorne, because you artist fellows
with your heads in the clouds know
nothing of real life
Pardon me, the only real life is the
ideal life and we artists
"In a struggle with paradox I yield
the point, old man. Let's go down to
the lake and find the ladies. When I
am gone I want you to do the decent
thing by Miss Lathrop."
A few moments later they Joined
Pearse's friends waiting for him at the
beach.
That same evening, which happened
to be Halloween, the dwarf with his
dog Gypsy left Thorne and Pearse deep
over the past as they smoked an after
supper pipe and went down to the lake
to fasten on his memory the weird eff
fects of the water under the starlight.
Absorbed in his great passion Butler
strolled on unconscious of his neigh
borhood until the dog. usually the most
courteous and self-effacing comrade.
gave warning that the world was still
alive.
Butler soothed him and waited to ex-
anime the cause of his disquiet. They
had wandered as far as the grounds
of the Dudley cottage. and were near
the miniature wharf built some dis
tance beyond shallow water for the
convenience of the larger boats and
launches. From this point the dwarf
detected a light wabbling in eccentric
lurches along the path by the haw-
thorn hedge from the house to the
landing. No will-o'-the-w -wisp ever be-
haved more erratically, and he hastily
hid himself in the shadow of one Of
the piles to watch developments.
At last a girl in white cloak whom
he recognized on nearer approach as
Rose Lathrop appeared, swinging a
lantern as she made straight for the
lake. She came along at a half run.
and once on the wharf began a series
Of operations entertaining and initia-
tive to the hunchback.
She had brought tiny birch bark
canoe with wax candle and a box of
matches. Lighting the candle, she held
II I'm every quarter to make sure there