The Mount Holly news. [volume] (Mount Holly, Burlington Co., N.J.) 1891-1942, 1910-10-11

TOO THICK, PAL" HE SAID CRITICALLY.
had never looked upon bucolic scenes
except with sensations of disgust from
the windows of express trains
Conant wrote a poem and called it
''The Doe and the Brook 1t was a
fine specimen of the kind of work you
would expect. from a poet who had
strayed with Amaryllis only as far as
the florists windows and whose sole
pathological discussion had been car
| ried on with waiter. Conant signed
| this poem, and we sent it to the same
editor.
But this has very little to do with
the story.
Just as the editor was reading the
first line of the poem on the next
morning being stumbled off the West
Shore ferryboat and loped slowly up
Forty second street.
The invader was a young man with
light blue eyes, hanging lip and hair
the exact color of the little orphans
(afterward discovered to be the earl's
daughter) in one of Mr.. Blaney's plays.
His trousers were corduroy, his coat
short sleeved, with buttons in the mid
die of his back. One boot leg was out
side the corduroys. You looked ex-
pectantly, though in vain, at his straw
hat for ear holes, its shape inaugural
ing the suspicion that it had been raw
aged from a former equine possessor.
In his hand was valise. Description
of it is an impossible task. A Boston
man would not have carried his lunch
and lawbooks to his Office in it. And
above one ear, in his hair, was wisp
of hay-the rustic's letter of credit, his
badge of innocence, the last clinging
touch of the garden of Eden linger-
ing to shame the gold brick men.
Knowingly, smilingly, the city crowds
passed him by. They saw the raw
stretch his neck at the tall buildings
At this they ceased to smile and even
to look at him. 1t had been done so
often. A few glanced at the antique
valise to see what Coney ATTRACTION"
or brand of chewing gum he might be
thus DINING into his memory. But for
the most part he was ignored. Even
the newsboys looked bored when he
scampered like circus clown out of
the way of cabs and street cars
At Eighth avenue stood "Bunko
Harry" with his dyed mustache and
shiny, good natured eyes. Harry was
too good an artist not to be panied at
the sight of an actor OVERRIDING his
part He edged up to the countryman,
who had stopped to open his mouth at
a jewelry store window, and shook his
head.
"Too thick, PAL" he said critically
''too thick by a couple of inches. 1
don't know what your lay is. but
you've got the properties on too thick.
That hay, now-why, they don't even
allow that on Proctor's circuit any
more"
81 don't understand you, mister"
said the green one. I'm not lookin'
for any circus. I've just run down
from Ulster county TO look at the town.
bein' that the hayin's over with. Gosh,
but it's a whopper! / thought Pough-
keepsie was some punkins, but this
here town Is five times as big"
"Oh, WELL" said "Bunko Harry"
raising his eyebrows, 81 didn't mean
to butt in. You don't have to tell.
thought you ought to tone down q lit
tie, SO l tried to put you wise. Wish
you success at your graft, whatever
1t Is. Come and have drink, any
how"
81 wouldn't mind havin' a glass of
lager beer" acknowledged the other.
They went to cafe frequented by
men with smooth faces and shifty eyes
and sat at their drinks.
'T'm glad 1 come across you, mis-
ter" said Haylocks. How'd you like
to play a game or two Of seven up?
I've got the keerds."
He fished them out Of Noah's valise
"a rare, inimitable deck, greasy with
bacon suppers and grimy with the soil
Of cornfields
"Bunko Harry" laughed loud and
briefly.
mot Tor me, sport" he said firmly.
81 don't go against that makeup Of
yours for cent. But 1 still say you've
overdone it. The Rubes haven't dress
ed like that since 10. l doubt If you
could work Brooklyn for a key wind
ing watch with that layout"
"Oh, you needn't think l amt got
the money" boosted Haylocks. He
drew forth a tightly rolled mass of
bills as large as teacup and laid it on
the table.
"Got that for my share of grandmoth-
er's farm" he announced. There's
$3.50 in that roll. Thought I'd come to
the city and look around for a likely
business to go into"
|. "Bunko Harry" took up the roll of
money and looked at it with almost re-
spect in his smiling eyes.