The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1909-01-16

/
- wo good-looking young men came from
the card room of the Argots Club into
che deserted library.
Billy Meredith, the elder of the two,
held out his hand.
II guess we'd better say good-by here. Jimmy
He spoke in a low tone.
The man addressed-Jimmy Grant-did not
ply. His boyish face very pale and stolid. like
that Of . man who has been through tragedy too
deep for him to understand.
''For Heavens sake, don't look like that" Mere
dith went on. with a shudder: "ths is better than
for both Of to clear out. I'm sorry It's me, but
I'm mighty glad 1t isn't you. You stay. Jimmy
and have good time, boy"
Grant spoke. His voice was harsh and unnatural.
~Where are you going?" he asked.
/ "Oh, I don't know" Meredith answered. "Ill
hide somewhere. Don't you worry"
i He put out his hand again, and seized that of
Grant In powerful grasp
"Good-by. Jimmy" he said bravely; "don't let
them be too hard on me. We were in it together,
boy"
He walked to the door opening into the hall, and
turned the light Of his great friendship shining in
his eyes.
''Good-by Jimmy" he repeated. He disappeared.
Grant stood looking after him, his lips parted Once
he took a step though to follow Meredith. But
finally he turned. and walked softly back into
the card room.
It was warm spring evening. and a breeze.
born seemingly in far-on fields. swept gayly
Through the streets Crowds hurried to and fro;
from afar came the crash of the elevated: occa-
sionally was heard the roll of wheels over the
smooth asphalt. In the distance a reluctant
street piano ground out tune to Meredith.
but ancient to the ennuied policeman who bal
anced himself nearby curb. Suburban
pies bound from the trains to the bright street of
the theaters passed chattering gayly Of home af-
fairs Hundreds of advertising lamps intermit-
tently pasted lurid legends against starlit sky.
Here was life as Meredith had pictured it
through the years of exile; in these very colors
had he painted his brilliant paradise. while he
waiting for Heaven knew what in a forgotten
tropic town. dreary surf had pounded eternal
" at It's shore green palms waved forever against
the steel gray background Of the mountains
There had been impossible hotel, the hot
balcony Of which Meredith had lolled life away
in haze Of smoke, lighting each cigarette At the
glowing stump Of It's predecessor. There he had
drunk bitter brandy with wrecks that had
been men. and amidst Gods forgotten he had
waited and wondered. in town that knew neither
hope. nor happiness. nor treaty Of extradition.
very dirty newspaper, much bethumbed once
IN q long while reached him with its home
sage. But Meredith and the other eager exiles
cleaned from these chance messengers little news
save that home sweet, and far And when
AFTER long time. ne dared write to the man Who
like himself. was guilty. his letters were
answered. The others-those who had believed
trusted-he had not had the heart to inform of
his whereabouts. Then came the day when the
drink turned btterer than usual in his throat
when the cigarettes sickened and he left forever
the balcony whereon he had lived ten years of
life. He came north obscure steamer, to
ind himself this pleasant night In spring, in the
city Of his unfortunate youth
It was the memory of that youth walking with
him In the streets. that kept his step slow and
In the shadow. As he stood in the entrance to
the park he fancied he saw approaching a man he
had once known. and he drew tremblingly farther
back into the darkness. The man passed by,
stranger. Meredith came forth and started on his
way. ashamed Of the cowardice which was by no
means physical, but the result Of an over-sensi-
tfveness which had damned him from boyhood.
His aimless way carried him at length into a
desolate street which he had known in other days
as boy knows his own dooryard. After few
PAGES. he stood, with sort of sob in his throat,
looking up at the Argots Club House.
There it stood, the club OF his father and grand
father. grim and stately his staid ancestors
themselves. in the half light But two or three
Of its windows were aglow. Often, in the years
just passed. he had pictured himself. head up,
shoulders back. marching into the Argots as of
DID, and handing his coat to the servant who
had met his father at that door. He remembered
the club was small and. at that hour. usually de-
serted. Summoning all his courage. he walked
boldly up the steps.
Henry greeted him at the door. He detected
In the old mans wrinkled face surprise no
excitement. With his accustomed countenance
Of sphinx. the servant took his coat When he
returned with the check. an uncomfortable i'm
pulse to talk seized Meredith. He wanted to sit
with Henry on his bench beside the door. and In
quire for Jimmy Grant. for Doc Griggs. for Shire
MAXWELL and the others. to ask II they still came
and went 40 Of old. II they were happy and pros
PerouA Almost he had his hand On HAnx1's axu.