Belding banner. (Belding, Mich.) 1889-1918, 1908-10-08

4
from San Antonio. Sherman Garre,
was ooacoiols Of tie molo,onov
ranora ra. Of the Ribbon Of laad ant
the III bon Of sA3. 4 definite fact wa
the siltonette IL the girl in gay
He fr1t had seen her at San Al
tonic II company with DR.. Pary'n b.
had been studyins TIC sleepy missions
and tie sleeper gambling dens. ba
| tering at the curiosity shops ri1il
shaggy ponies in clouds CT white du-i
and orramenting the facade of tn
hotel, when one morning. Ike tho al
vent OF radiant to-day, she lcomed il
the arch Of the Alamo.
Il wonder who she is?" exclaimcC
Parvin. Anyone having acquaintance
with Parvin weld have expected hin
to wonder who she was. Looks
bored"
And lonesome" added Garrett.
feelingly.
Just then the girl was Joined by
| three men. with whom she presently
sauntered toward the hotel
Company. and varied company"
laughed Parvin. One of the men evi-
IDENTIFY was close upon So rudy, pre-
maturely stopped. His companions
were young, one of them spare, sharp
in feature, staggering in gait, the
other fat, smooth, expressionless.
Before night Parvin reported that
the thin young man was the old fell
| lows son. He tries hard to be devil
ish, said Parvin. Smokes cigarettes.
drinks Martins, and sprinkles tips all
day"
THE Prodigal Son." unused Garrett.
II can't make out the other object
that hangs around with him.
The Fatted Calf" suggested Gar
rett.
Parvin grinned through ring of
cigar smoke. They both have the
impertinence TO show occasional at
tention to that girl
she should know better" protested
| Garrett.
On the following day Parvin report
ed that she had called the elderly
man father" And So" said Parvin
I'VE have another character in the
dramatis personae-the Fond Father"
I'm shocked" declared Garrett,
that you, a man of science. shouldn't
have found visible proofs of the re-
lationship long ago
They enjoyed so much these specu-
lations over the group as 10 avoid, or
at least to neglect. practical measures
for better information. When the doc
tor started south to Laredo. and Gar
rctt took an early train north on his
| trip TO Dallas and Little Rock. they
had formed the habit of calling her
Miss Alamo" in recollection of the
day she had dawned upon them in the
| crumbling frame OF the Mexican door
way.
And now she sat there, on the other
side Of the car, her expressive profile
against the flowing lines of the Texas
country. She wore the gray gown in
which Garrett first had seen her. Dur
ing the early part Of the journey she
| had been accompanied by the Fond
Father. and had received visits from
| the Prodigal Son and the Fatted Calf
who finally carried the Fond Father
off with them TO the forward car,
which was divided between negro pas
sengers and white smokers
She talked gayly with the men. yet
gave no sign of regretting their de-
! parture.
1t was very warm. Miss Alamo
| famed herself with folded time
table. Then she sought to raise her
window. Thanks to an official ingenuity
which has regard TO the necessity for
due and proper sociability among
passengers, the window would not
bulge. Miss Alamo's right glove
split squarely across the palm as Gar
rett sprang forward TO help her.
Sorry | wasn't quicker" Garrett
said. Il might have saved the glove"
She laughed without any apparent
resentment for this unnecessary sup
plement to the incident. and for the
first time glanced at his face. "My
punishment for having them too
SMALL
II remained for Garrett to pick up
pamphlet describing the sights of San
Antonio which she had brushed from
the seat. As he rose he jostled some
one in the aisle. II was the Prodigal
Son, with the Fatted Calf at his elbow.
II beg your pardon" said Garrett.
Don't mention it," said the Prodi.
gal Son, who added: "Eh-didn't /
see you at the Menger?"
Yes" admitted Garrett, divided be-
tween a feeling of resentment that
the Prodigal Son should have seen
him anywhere, and acceptance of an
excuse for proximity to Miss Alamo.
Il thought so, Joined in the Fatted
Calf, in an impersonal way. as If IL
didn't make any difference to him.
The Prodigal Son wrenched fever
ishly at a sickly mustache. which had
the appearance of utter exhaustion un
der persistent effort to make IL curl
up at the ends. II got awfully tired OF
that place, he said.
Did you?" asked Garrett. color
lessly.
The Fatted Calf sat tentatively on
the arm of one of the seats.