The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1906-11-18

1ivered grimly at the boy this charge.
extraordinary reply had been made
promptly and without change or coun-
tenance, Positively no free seats''
On this the house divided. one party
maintaining that Joe had thus en-
deavored to evade recognition, the
other Ito the enlightenment of Mr.. Arp)
that the reply was distinct admission
of identity and at the same time a re-
fusal to grant any favors on the score
of past acquaintanceship.
Goaded by inquiries, Mr.. Arp. who had
little desire to recall such waste OF sill
yer. admitted more than he had in
tended; that he had purchased ticket
and gone in to see the Spotted Wild
Boy, hating in his description Of the
marvel with this unsatisfactory and
acrid statement that the Wild Boy was
simply spotted" and the stung query,
81 suppose you know what a spot is.
SQuire?" When he came, out of the
tent he had narrowly examined the
ticket seller--who seemed unaware of
his scrutiny. and when not engaged
with his tickets applied himself to a
dirty law-looking book. 1t was Joseph
Louden. reasserted Eskew. little
taller, little paler. incredibly shabby
and miraculously thin. If there were
any doubt left. his forehead was some
what disfgured by the scar of an, old
wound-such as might have been
caused by a blunt instrument in the
nature of poker.
Whats the matter with-you?. Mr..
Arp whirled upon Uncle Joe Davey. who
was enjoying himself by repeating at
intpsvals the unreasonable words,
Couldn't OF ben Joe without any ex-
PLANTATION. why couldn't it?" shouted
Eskew 1T was. Do you think my
eyes are as fur gone as yours? i saw
Louden, run away and sellin' tickets
for a sideshow. He wasn't even the
boss of 1t: the manager was about the
meanest lookin human ] ever saw
and most humans look mighty mean,
accordin' to my way of thinkin! Riff
raft of the riffran are his friends now.
same as they were here. Weeds, and
he's weed always was and always
will be. Him and his kind amt any
more than jinlpsons; overrun every
thing II you give EN- chance Devil
flowers! They have to be hoed out
and scattered--even then. like as not.
they'll come back next year and ruin
your plantin' once more. That boy Joe
II turn up here again some day; you'll
see If he don't. He's a seed of trouble
and iniquity, and anything of that Kind
Mr.. Arp stuck to his prediction for
several months; then he began to WAIVER
and evade. BY the end of the second
year following its first utteranee he had
formed the habit of denying that he
had ever made it at all, and, finally
having come to believe with all his
heart that the prophecy had been de-
liberately foisted upon him and put IN
his mouth by Squire Buckalew, became
<faof
hardest dared not refer to 1t In his
presence
Eskew's story of the ticket seller
was the only news of Joe Louden that
came to Canaan during seven years.
Another citizen of the town encoun-
tered the wandercr. however, but I'M
der circumstances so suceptlpie
to misconception that. In a
moment of illumination. he decided 10
let the matter rest in a golden silence.
This was Mr.. Bantry.
Having elected an elaborate course
in the arts, at the university which was
of his possessions. what more natural
than that Eugene should seek the me-
tropolis for the short Easter vacation
or his senior year, in order that MS PEI
rusal Of the masters should be unin-
terrupted? But 1t was his misfortune
to find the Metropolitan Museum less
interesting than some intricate phases
of the gayety of New Workplaces
very difficult to understand without
elaborate study and series of expert
ments which the discreetly selfish per-
nit others to make for them Briefly,
Eugene found himself dancing one
night with young person in big hat
at the "Straw-Cellar." crowded hall,
down very deep in the town and not at
all the place for Eugene.
- .x<t<~ .4,1s n tllcx
"Straw-Cellar.' and Eugene was the
only one present who was thoroughly
surprised when that of this night ar
rived. though all of the merry ma kers