El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1910-09-21
II e Lady Killer
(By Radcliffe Martin

" APPINEsS reigned at Swimmers
- Imperial Boarding House at
- - Douglas. The house was full,
yet not too full and nd poor visitor
slept on shake-downs on the top Of the
water cistern. Everything seemed to
be going as merrily as wedding bells
could one choose aSmore appropriate
simile?-when the lady-kller came.
William Meggs in particular had
mad a glorious time. He had made the
acquaintance of the prettiest girl in the
house, who CHANGED to sit at the same
table at meal times. Violet Manners
was not indisposed to be friendly with
Mr. Meggs. Her mother, stout, elder
~ lady, was, not an eXacting chaperon,
and was quite ready to trust her daugh-
ter to the charge of such a respectable
young man as Mr.. Meggs. so
being sympathetic souls, the young cou-
pie went everywhere together. They
were seasick in the same sailing boat,
they graYiated to the floor of the same
skating rink-when Ernest Bur
rows came to stay at the boarding
house.
Mr.. Burrows was tall and dark and
slim. He had moustache and Ian
gushing dark eyes, which the fair sex
pronounced to be soulful, At the
first glance all the ladies wished to have
w
ent sence. And, to Mr.. Meggs' horror,
when Mr.. Burrows first appeared at a
meal, Miss Manners shot sly glances at
him from time to time Then the
dreadful newcomer had easy ways OF
dropping into Tx with the ladies. d.
rectly after breakfast he had somehow
contrived to be on excellent terms with
Mrs. Manners, a minute after he was
paying delicate compliments to Violet
awIxWardly beside them and wished that
the laws of good society would permit
them to slay Mr. Burrows on the spot.
AT dinner Mr.. Meggs sat in sulky ST.
lence. and, by way of livening him up,
Mrs. Manners said tactfully, why
can't YOU be bright and cheerful like
Mr.. Burrows, Mr.. Meggs?"
.I wouldn't be like him for ten thou
sand dollars" Kissed Mr. Meggs; but
his remark was lost in the sensation
that accompanied one Of Mr.. Burrows
sayings.
Yes. one of the tunes the pierrots
played this morning I've never
heard since I was at the war-banjo
by the camp fire, you know"
The ladies' attention to Mr.. Burrows
redoubled. Not only was he model
of masculine beauty, not only was ne
Il a charming companion, JUL IS was q
hero. Mr.. Meggs instantly felt that he
lhated the entire race of Beers, whom
having had legitimate opportunities OF
shooting this obnoxious person, had
disgracefully neglected them.
Miss Manners moved her chair
slightly away from the unfortunate
young man and said, Perhaps Mr.
Burrows. you will be kind enough. &c
! nlay for US in the drawing room this
| evening.
Really" protested the lady-killer
Il can only pick out tune in the
toughest way"
He was overwhelmed by a feminine
chorus. 1t became evident that all the
| ladies felt that Mr. Burrows played
| beautifully, and that it was their ar
dent desire that he should play fol
| them that evening. Mr.. Meggs rose
| and left the table in fury. He woulc
! have punched the banjOist's head hac
| he not been restrained by the pro
| found philosophic reflection that Mr.
| Burrows might insist on doing bit OF
| head punching on his own account.