Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1908-06-24
THE CASE OF
/ FUSS ELL
eertaln DIVERGENT viows Of tho
sByaxEnNETT HARRls ,,

| 4 Polcar pressed the button at his
SlbOw three times. A moment or two
later there was soft rap at the Il.
ibrary door.
Come" called Policar.
1 The door opened gently and rather
bulky person with decorous side whis'
kers and white necktie glided In and
stood rigldly before the master OF the
household.
Did you ring. SIR" asked the
bulky person in an expression!ess
| voice.
Policar looked at him. The mans
face was almost as expressionless as
! his voice. but not quite. POlicar
J thought he read thereon calm con-
seriousness Of superiority. a thinly dis
guised scorn.
Yes. rang" said the master Of the
house at last. Il want to ask II you
have any reason to be dissatisfied
| with your treatment since you have
been here. How about it,"
"Oh. dear. no. sir. replied RUSSELL
mo. sir, indeed. have no reason to
| complain, sir"
so far as the establishment Is con-
cerned. you have no criticisms to Of
fer, Ell? II Is conducted upon scale
that meets the requirements OF your
selfrespect?"
BEG y pardon. SIR"
THE furnishings. for instance. the
draperies, the kitchen equipment and
all that sort of thing: are they good
enough for you? Do you approve OF
them? Are they about as tidy and
complete as what you have been &C.
customed to-"
Quite 80, thank you. sir" replied
Fusscll.
Il hope the rugs don't strike you as
being In bad taste? One or two Ct
them are a little bizarre, know, but
have been assured that they have
rugs Of that sort in the very best
houses.
Not at all, sir Quite so. sir"
"M-m-m." said POlicar. Il can't al
low myself to suppose that it's Mrs.
PolIcar or my daughters. so | fear 1t
must he as ! suspected I must be the
cause OF 1t. l was afraid so from the
first. Now. look here. RUSSELL. You
must try to make allowances. | know
that ] have many. many shortcomings,
but you would overlook them. I'm
sure. IL you knew me better. ] got my
money honestly, Russell: at least l
have always been careful to avoid any
statutory crime. l never committed
murder arson or bigamy, so far AS l
am aware 1~think l could run for a
political Office and not have anything
very startling to good morals dragged
up out Of my past. Please believe
this. RUSSELL. Will you believe it,
Yes, sir. certainly. sir replied the
butler.
Your words are kind. but I fear you
said policar with sieth We will let
this pass. then. for the present and I
will ask you to crafty little curiosity
that ! have. Do you ever indulge in
any form OF active amusement: Do
YOU ever relax at ali? How about
roller skating?"
Il have never INDUCED. sir ans
vered RUSSELL No. sir. Thank you.
sir"
Then I will ask you to be so oblig-
ing as to pick up that package in the
corner and hand it to me" said Poll
car. Cut the string. please. Here.
YOU see, Is a pair of roller skates.
think they are Just about your size.
Would you mind holding up your foot?
Thanks Yes. just the size. Now. l
know that what you need Is exercise
You are getting to be a trifle too thick
At the waist line and there is rigidity
about you generally that ought to be
overcome. You just follow me and
we'll see how these skates work.
About an hour later Mrs. Policar re-
turned. accompanied by her daughters.
She looked at the maid who opened
the door In some surprise
where's F,,ssell?" she inquired.
The maid hesitated. Il believe he's |
in the dancing room with Mr.. PoiicaT,"
she replied with a slight giggle.
In the dancing ROOM repeated
Mrs. Policar. In amazement. What"
A sound like TIE rumble from 4 /
bowling alley. accompanied by Wig |
orous hand ciapping. came from the
little ballroom. Mrs. Policer walked
swiftly down the passage and threw ,
open the door inst as there followed 4
yelp and the thud Of a violent c"ncus !
SIGN. The dignjfied RUSSELL. his coat
on, his waisfcoaf split up the baeSt
and his white tie under one ear. vas
sitting In a most rndignified attitude
in the middle OF the floor. Policar vas