The Lexington intelligencer. [volume] (Lexington, Mo.) 1901-1949, 1908-09-12

10Y li"'- W crazy TO see II.
Whatl About 80 It takes nearly
bali an hour down on the Clark street
cable. Slowest old thing ever. An
right. Goodey." Then she hung up the
receiver and turned upon Eddie, who
stood aghast near the desk. "Ob, 1
thought you'd gone"
Say, what was that you were say
ing over the phone? Didn't l ask
you
I'm going to the theater with Mr..
Kempshall. Why?7
"Whyl Why, you know l asked
you to-
"You didn't specify, Eddie, that's
all. Ill go some other night with you.
Goodby." Clackety clack went the
machine, throwing insult into his very
face, as it were. He tramped out Of
the Office in high dudgeon.
"Confound this detective business
anyhow he might have been heard to
remark. Three nights later, however,
he took Rosie 10 the play, and on the
fourth night he was Droom's guest
again in the rooms across the river.
He was well prepared to begin the
campaign Of |insinuation which was to
affect Bansemer in the end. Sitting
stiff and uncomfortable in the dlngy
living room overlooking Wells street,
he watched with awe the master Of
the place at work on the finishing
touches Of a new invention" the uses
Of which he did not offer to explain.
He was without a coat, and his shirt
sleeves were rolled far above the ell
bows, displaying long, sinewy arms,
hairy and not unlike those of the
orang outang Eddie had seer In Lin
coin park
I've got a new way Of inficting the
death penalty" the gaunt old man
said, slipping into a heavy, quilted
dressing gown. These rascals don't
mind hanging or the %penitentiary. But
Il they thought their bodies would be
everlastingly destroyed by qulcklime
they'd hesitate before killing their fell
low men"
"But they already bury them In
%quicklime in England" said Eddie
loftily.
"Yes, but not until after they're
dead" said broom, with q cackle.
He grinned broadly at the sight of the
youths horror struck face. Go ahead
and smoke, my boy. I'll light my pipe.
Make yourself at home. | keep the
window closed to keep out the sound
of those Wells street cars. It's good
Of you to come over here and cheer up
an old mans evenings. rm-Tm not
used to It," be said, with a wistful
touch which was lost to Eddie.
You ought to have a wife and a lot
Of children, Mr.. Droom," said Eddie,
with characteristic thoughtlessness.
broom stirred the fire and seowled.
Were you ever marriedT"
mo, l don't believe in marriage"
said broom ~sullenly. II saw the girl
today that young Graydon Bansemer
is to marry-Miss Cable"
Say, she's swell, isn't she?7 said
Eddie. The old man skunk into his
chair.
She's very pretty. Mr., Graydon in
PRODUCED me to her"
"Gee!" was all Eddie could say.
"They were crossing Wells street
down below here on the way home
from a nickel plater's in Indiana street.
saw her years ago, but she didn't re-
member me. l didn't expect it. how
ever"
"I-how could she have forgotten
YOU"
"0h, she'd have forgotten her moth
er at that age. She was but three
months old. l don't think she liked
me today. I'm not what you call a
ladies' man." grinned Elias, putting at
his pipe as he picked up the volumes
on Napoleon. Eddie laughed politely,
but uncomfortably.
How old are you, Mr.. DroomY'
Al as NAh uc RiGNuusGluu
Jaw, go wayT
when he was a boy" laughed Elias,
enjoying his quip immensely. Miss
Cable seems to be very fond Of Gray
don. That viii last for a couple of
years, and then she'll probably be like
%two-thirds Of the rest of 'em. Other
men viii be paying attention to her
and she looking for admiration every
where. You'd be surprised to know
how much Of that is going on in Chi
cago. Women can't seem to be salts.
fed with one husband. They must
have another n or two-usuaIly some
body else's,"
you talk like a society man, Mr..
broom"
"Well, I've met a few society men
professionally. And women, too. for
that matter. Look out for a sensa-
tonal divorce case within the next
few weeks. It's bound to come unless
things change a good deal. Terribly
nasty affair"
is Mr., Bansemer interested?' asked
Eddie, holding tight to his chair.
"oh, no. We don't go in for that sort
Of thing"
Il wonder If Mr.. Bansemer knows
about the mistake that came near han.