Barbour County index. [volume] (Medicine Lodge, Kan.) 1880-current, 1907-03-13
CHAPTER xxI-continued.

ed himself without bothering to take
of his clothes. At-the sound of my
voice, Ball peered out of his private
smokingroom, at the far end of the
hall. He started forward; then, see
ing how l was accompanied, stopped
with mouth ajar. He had on ragged
smoking-jacket, pair of shapeless old
Romeo slippers, his ordinary business
waiStcoat and trousers. He was wear
ing neither tie nor collar, and short,
black pipe was between his fingers.
hold stripped of Tugs" and sunk in
the down-to-the-heel slovenliness
which is called comfort Joe was
crimson with confusion, and was
using his free hand to stroke, alter
nately, his shiny bald head and his
heavy brown mustache. He got him.
self together sufficiently, after a few
seconds, to disappear into his den.
When he came out again, pipe and
ragged jacket were gone, and he
rushed for us in a gorgeous velvet
jacket with dark red facings, and a
snowy pair of slippers.
Glad to see you, Mr.. Blackjack
in his own home he always addressed
every man as Mister, just as Mrs.
B." always called him Mister Ball."
and he called her Mrs. Ball. before
company" Come right into the
front parlor. Billy, turn on the cleo
trio lights"
Anita had been standing with her
head down. She now looked round
with shame and terror in those ex-
pressive blue-gray eyes of hers; her
delicate nostrils were quivering. l
fastened to introduce Ball to her
Her impulse to fly passed; her life
long training in doing the conven-
tional thing asserted itself. She low
cred her head again, murmured an in
audible acknowledgment of Joes
greeting.
Your wife is at homer" said l. II
one was at home in the evening, the
other was also, and both were always
there, unless they were at some the
ater-except on Sunday night, when
they dined at Sherry's, because many
fashionable people did it. They had
no friends and few acquaintance. In
their humber and happy days they
had had many friends, but had lost
them when they moved away from
Brooklyn and went to live, like I'M
easy, out-of-place visitors, in their
grand house, pretending to be what
they longed to be, longing to be what
thew nrptQn6nd n no
tented as they deserved
"Oh, yes, Mrs. BIS at home" Joe
answered. 81 guess she and Alva
were about to go to bed" Alva was
their one child. She had been chris
tened Malvina, after Joes mother;
but when the Balls "blossomed out"
they renamed her Alva, which they
somehow had got the impression was
smarter"
AT Joe's laundering confession that
the females of the family were in no
condition to receive, Anita said to me
In low voice; Let us CO."
l pretended not to hear. "Rout 'em
out, said l to Joe. Then, take my
electric and bring the nearest parson.
There's going to be a wedding right
here. And l looked round the long
salon, with everything draped for the
summer departure. Joe whisked the
cover off one chair, his man took off
another. I'll have the women-folk
down in two minutes" he cried Then
TO the man: Get a move on you.
Billy, Stir EN- up in the kitchen. Do
the best you can about supper-and
put lot of champagne on the ice
That's the main thing at a wedding"
Anita had seated herself IstlessIv
In one of the uncovered chairs. The
wrap slipped back from her shoulders
and-how proud l was of her, .Joe
gazed, took advantage of her moi look.
Ing up to slap me on the back and to
jerk his head in enthusiastic approval
Then he, too, disappeared.
A few minutes of silence. and there
was rustling on the stairs. She
started up, trembling, looked round
as If seeking some way to escape or
some place to hide. Joe was in the
doorway holding aside one of the cur
tains. There entered in a beribboned
and behounced tea-gown, a pretty. if
rather ordinary, woman of forty. with
petulant baby face She was irving
to look reserved and severe. She
hardly glanced at me before fastening
sharp, suspicious eyes on Anita.
Mrs. Ball." said 1. "this is Miss
Ellersly"
Miss Ellersly." she exclaimed. her
face changing. And she advanced and
took both Anita's hands. ..Mr. Ball is
30 stupid" she went. on, with that
amusingly affected accent which is
the Sunday clothes" of speech.
Il didn't catch the name, my dear ;,
Joe stammered
BE of" said l, aside, to him. Get
the nearest preacher and hustle him
here with his tools"
/ had one eye on Anita all the time.
and / saw her gaze follow Joe as he
hurried out; aad her expression made
my heart ache. ] heard him saying