Belding banner. (Belding, Mich.) 1889-1918, 1909-07-22


smoked and watched the play. Such
funny things as they said and did on
the tiny stage. Butler laughed and
laughed. What fine figures these girls
had. who sang and danced, and how
well they were displayed. Some OF
them came to his table and talked
with him. How delightfully."- uncon-
ventional and friendly they were.
Why did the boys laugh at him and
say. Hell do. He'll do? or course
he would do Were they poking fun
at him? After time he became Of
Tended. and left them with some ex-
cuse. promising to return. But he did
not. He wandered out into the street
and found, to his surprise, that he
could not walk very well. Perhaps
he was smoking too much. Yes, un-
doubtedly that was the cause OF this
dizzy feeling. He threw down his
half-smoked cigar and steadied him
self against lamp-post. Everywhere
were lights-thousands of Pickering,
twinkling lights. He walked along,
unsteadily, for little way, saluting
passersby in a friendly manner and
listening to the torrent of music, the
merry clink of glasses, the hilarious
voices that issued from every door.
A policeman stopped him and advised
him to go home. Home! Why, he
was just beginning to enjoy himself.
How absurd! He did not like the
thought of hame, anyhow. 1t was a
AIl nla IL
that he would ever go home. He
would like to stay here, forever.
A large electric sign, reading
Dance Hail." caught his attention.
He entered. This was something
different from the other places he had
seen. Many couples were waltzing.
None of the men wore evening
clothes. Some of them even kept
on their hats while dancing. And
what engaging manners the women
had. No frigid formality for them.
They made the stranger instantly at
home.
One of these charming young
women approached Butler. laid hand
on his arm and looked into his eyes,
smiling.
Don't you want to dance with me?"
|. she asked.
Delighted, I'm s-sure," replied But
ler He found it rather difficult to ar
ticulate clearly, which surprised him,
momentarily.
Come on, then" said the girl, as
the orchestra began new tune.
Where sh1l put hat n ov'coat?"
asked Butler. Cant (hic) dance in
ov'coat n hat, M dear madam"
The girl laughed. She saw that But
Ter was more drunk than he seemed
and saw that he was gentleman
that even liquor could not make him
otherwise, for he had treated her with
entire respect. She doubted his abil-
ity to dance, and, moreover, she did
not wish to share him with the other
girls. She wanted him all to herself.
He was such nice, clean, wholesome
young fellow, despite his intoxication,
and he might come to harm. She
wanted him to call her his dear
madam" and treat Der as If she
werewolf, what she used to be. She
met so few men in these places who
were far above the beast--even when
they were sober.
Lets sit out this Dance" she sug-
gested, forsaking the jargon of her
surroundings, barking back to times,
when she spoke a different tongue.
I'm tired. I've danced a good deal.
There's a table over here in the cor
ner, where we can falkland have a
drink. You have to buy drinks in
these places, you know"
II understan,'" said Butler with a
comical assumption of wisdom that
made her smile. Queensland per-
fcly." He signaled to the waiter.
"Whatll you have?"
'1ll take a small beer" said the
girl, land I'm going to order for you,
too" She gave his hand a little pat.
MAY II" The words sounded strange
in her own ears. May II"
Butler smiled across the table at
her. Highly honored," he returned.
with (hic) pleasure. Highly hon
OIeu, Ill utdI udu III ne WdNtu HE
hand with a gesture of largesse, and
the waiter, expecting an order for
champagne, winked at the girl, ap-
proyingly.
She looked him squarely in the eyes.
Bring him a bromo-seltzer," she
said.
Butler made wry face as he
drained the frothing mixture in his
tall glass. "B-r-r-r!" he said, and
reached for a handkerchief to wipe
his lips. With it came a doubly fold.
ed sheet of paper. 1t was the letter
which, unwittingly, he had stuffed
into his pocket as he was leaving the
office. Butler looked at it, DULY.
whats that?" asked the girl.
Then. quite suddenly, Buffers brain
began to clear. The powerful stimu.
liant was dispelling the roseate illu.
sicns of intoxication, and awakened
memory rushed into the void Every
thing changed before his eyes. The
charming, newly found bohemianism
which had delighted him so became a
scene of sordid, bestial vice. He was
/ obonkad ctartlad uttarlv unnarvad