Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1909-12-08
"a C}apterEY
~ 8 -

"a s 81
ssY THINK III go see Jane Hubbard
this evening"" Orde remarked to
his mother as he arose from the
table.
Every Sunday Jane Hubbard offered
to all who came Sunday night
lunch" and the refreshments were
served by the guests themselves.
Orde found about the usual crowd
gathered. Jane herself, tall, deliberate
In movement and in speech, kindly
and thoughtful, talked in corner
with Ernest Colburn, who was just
out Of college and who worked in
bank. Orde, standing in the doorway,
looked upon quite the usual thing,
only he missed the Incubus. Search
ing the room with his eyes. he at
length discovered that tncoherent, des-
iiccated, but persistent youth vis-a-vis
with stranger. Orde made out the
white Of her gown in the shadows, the
willowy outline Of her small and slen-
der figure and the gracious forward
bend Of her head.
$50 you're back at last, are you,
JACKIE" drawied Jane In her lazy. good
natured way, "Come and meet Miss
Bishop. Carroll, I want to present Mr..
iOrde."
Orde bowed tremendously. The girl
inclined gracefully her small head
with the glossy hair. The Incubus,
his sallow face twisted In a wry
smile, held to the edge Of his chair
with characteristic perttnacity.
'Well, Walter" Orde addressed him
lgenially. "are you having q good
timer
"Yes, indeed!"
His chair was planted squarely to
exclude all others. Orde surveyed the
situation with good humor.
"Going to keep the other fellow from
getting chance, See"
Eyes, indeed!'
Orde bent over and. with great ease,
lifted Incubus, chair and all, and set
him facing Mignonne Smith and the
lcroquet ball.
Here. Mignonne." said he. 1--WE
brought you another assistant"
He returned to the lamp to find the
Igirl, her dark eyes alight with amuse-
Iment, watching him intently.
walter is very bright man In his
own 5ine." said Orae. swinging for
ward chair. "but he mustn't be al.
lowed any monopolies,"
"How do you know want him 90
summarily remoyedr the girl asked
him.
"we'l," argued Orde. IT got him to
say all he ever says to any girl, Yes.
indeedr 50 you couldn't have any more
conversation from him. Besides, l
want to talk to you myself"
do you always get what you wantY'
inquired the girl.
Orde laughed.
ANY one can get anything he wants
Il only he wants it bad enough" he
asserted.
Some people," she amended. Glow
ever, I forgive you. will even fat
ter You by saying am glad you came.
You look to have reached the age of
discretion. venture to say that these
boys idea Of lively evening is to
throw bread about the table,"
Orde flushed a little. The last time
he had supped at Jane Hubbard's that
was exactly what they did do.
'.They are young. OF course" he said,
..and you and are very old and wise.''
Nov, tell me, what do you do?"
"What do / doc" asked Orde. puz-
Fled.
eyes. Everybody does something
out west here"
"I'm river driver just now"
"a river driver" she repeated
'sWhy, I've just been hearing great
deal about you from Mrs. Baggs."
"Ohw said Orde. "Then you know
what drunken, swearing. worthless
lot Of toughs we are, don't you"
There is Helrs Half Mile" she re-
minded him.
"Oh, yes" said Orde bitterly, "there's
Helrs Half Milel Whose fault Is that
My rivermen's-my boys? Look here
suppose you couldn't understand it II
you tEleU u mOQIu. DuC suppose you
were working out In the woods nine
months OF the year. Suppose you SLEPT
In rough blankets on the ground or II
hunks. ate rough food. never saw 8
woman or a book, undertook work tt
scare your city men up tree, <risked
your Life dozen times week in {
tangle Of logs. with the big river roar
ing behind just waiting to swallow
you; saw nothing out wools and rs..--ee..
were cold and hungry ana wet and 81
tired you couldn't wiggle. And thel
suppose you hit town, where Their,
were all the things you hadn't had
and the first thing you struck wa.
Helrs Half Mile. Say, you've seen wa
ter behind a jam, haven't you? Waite
powers good thing in a mill course
where It has wheels to turn, but be
hind . jam It just rips things. oh
what's the use talking? A girl doesn'
know what It means. She couldn't IN
derstand."
az . sSsa