The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1910-02-21

Spaghetti" said Molly. "Giva-da-monE- -bznanns .
 I embraced plumber who sat next to me The barber turned yelowish and tried to snile
 "Butter-cakes ready, fve!" shrlled the Head Wait ress from the window. And the incident closed. Still, of course, Molly had made bad mistake. The Barber had doubtless read in the Sunday papers that hate is closely akin to love. He gained by her open antagonism He showed certain real courage in facing rebuff And Molly tired of retort, hating herself vaguely for having consented to hate him One day the Barber tied cheap bracelet into his napkin Molly left it at the desk Bu in her blindness she only half lied It was the Barber who had forgotten the thing accidentally He of course, discaired own- ership. So Molly smarted under the imputaton of q vulgar trick to gain his acquaintance The Head Watt res knew well enough that this charge 6imsy and absurd but she admired the Barber hersef-ciutch- ing1y He young and man, and gave heT tho great gift of notice Let in justice that he as obviously clean and graceful a cat When hs ate onons he always nbbled Sen Sen afterwasd The frus- tfate rank1ed in the Head Waitress and shs used her opportunity. The Barber repeated his naneuyre from time time and Molly took the trash She gave k away when she could, to the other giris-which futile. I fail to understand why she had nok, long before told the Policeman the whole story, bat thers may have been twenty reasons. Molly was not wise. but she was probably enough to know how strangely worship and suspicion are nterwoven among the young tendrls of mans love Al any rate. shs endured in reckless silence, and the situation grew acute
 It was on Saturday evening that Frank cams wisa me to Youngs' Because it after seven. and . half holiday the place nearly empty: and sEs nearest the door for the cool
 The Barber, at table fve twisting hs must.rhs and smiling When he smiled the overripe lips asttened into wide, straight band and the lines from
 lip to nostril curved and grew deep. Molly brought him his supper and he spoke to her. She turned sway quickly He called her back and amended his order. As she passed I noticed one small, sharp tooth catching over the of her underlp. Frank was glowerng at the Barber and made certain observs~ ton for which it is enough to say that honor him
 Molly returned bearing tall glass of iced eofeeL As she leaned oyer to set it his right. the Barber caught her free hand pulled her down, and half whis- pered something into her
 think said that Molly was Irish. She straightened her sturdy back and for part of second stood. shivering and grnned her abomnation-the fighting smile of her terrible Then, the artist of tho soda fountain curves the long between glass and shaker, the brown stream of cold coffee curved scattering upon the Barbers elaborate head The cracked ice tinkled onto the tiled floor. With swift sweep Molly tucked the dripping head firmly under her while with the other hand she snatehed the yellow slab of butter from beneath it's iceblock in the center of the table And the small boy. domn- ant irnp1acabe, scrubs with the weeping face of his overborne antagonist, did this woman of Erin with the butter undo her enemy-and more also
 It was over before you could push back your chair. The Barber, released, toppled sideong among tho wreckage In the paralyzed instant that follows csia ity Molly stood asonished, her buttery hands st her tumbling hair Then the rrepressble Irish sense of humor broke forth She gurgled across the hush;
 "Hot towel sir ?"
 After that, the Deluge I am sorry that do nos understand spoken Italian. The Barber made sort of blind rush, and was collared by Frank and me-n which virtuous act ruined clothes. The wait resses screamed and scuttled hen1ike the Manager, Cashier, Head Waitress and Grddle-Cake Man rushed canorous from the front and the mysterious regions to the rear beched forth large hot people and clouds of culinary steam. Molly lifted up her voice and wept-the heartbroken wondering cry of hurt child And through the din of complex recrminations eiove the blue figure of Roundsman A1oysius OKearney.
 "What the devils goin here1" he roared, aceu- initiating me and the Barber and sn1ting our heads together with energy.
 The ensuing cloudburst of poyphonlc explanztion was not enlightening.
 "Assaulted ve. did she, ye frog-eatin Dagof Phwas for ?" His eve turned from Molly, who had stopped crying. to the Head Waitress and Manager. "Yerc both witnesses?" I'll take your names He was thinking hard I squirrned gently and with preoccu- pied recognition, he released me Then he reached for his night-stick. The Lagos orunk, anyway.
 Babel broke out afresh.
 "I'1l rim veg in" announced the officer to Molly. "Ye1I come with quietly understand" He touched her shoulder turned and shook the splueng Italian into limp mass. "Ill run yer both in Nav. I don't want no hurry-up wagon. know my ousiness Kim out of that I understand, I understand-ye can tell all that the Justice, in the morning Out Q the road therei Slddool
 He shouldered through the crowd at the door and down the street, protecting Molly with one arm and half dragging the now wholly frantic Barber. Molly wore demurely expectant expression as the threa turned into dark side street which does not lead in tho direction of the station house.
 Next day, meeting the Policeman, by good forfunes I yenturcd to innuire after thc Barber. 1
 "They held what was left of him on three eounts=s public nuisance dhrunk and disordherly an resstin an beatin' an officer" said Roundsman Aloysiua O'Kearney.
 "By the way" added, Highland Place wasn't quits your nearest way to the station was 1t? {
 "Dd you never hear, SOFT" suggested Tim, "that the longest way round is sometimes the shortest wsH home?"
 And Molly? Oh well. of course