The Mena weekly star., 1910-02-17
WHAT ALLIED
 JIMMIE

Members of the group scattered about the smoking room looked up at the new arrival He was tall and | young and his clothes were of the i latest pattern.
 "Why, there's Jimmie!" was the i cry. Hello, Jimmie!" "Where've you been?"
 First time you've dropped in this falll"
 'Ullo," said Jimmie. He said it in ! a particularly standoflsh way. too. but the exuberance of the good feelings among his friends prevented the fact from being noticed. He stood there i surveying them rather scornfully.
 Why don't you sit down." asked the bravest of the group. Here's a chair that's not working Or have William bring you on a whole couch. Or ask to have a billiard sable pushed in and a rug thrown over itl Just anything, Jimmie. so you're suited" 1 "Huh!" said the object of these pleasantries. Don't know that I'm going to stayi"
 Then why come?' went on the bravest. You don't look happy, now that I observe you more closely. You don't seem pleased to death to be where you are. Whats the trouble?"
 "Oh, nothing" said Jimmie. He sat down grudgingly and stared at the fire. The group surveyed him with interest.
 Been to the theater lately, Jim mie?" inquired the young man to whom the stage is the panacea for all woes. There's a cracking good"
 No" interrupted Jimmie shortly. He yawned I've cut out the thea. ter. If 1t isn't foolish it's stupid. Nothing in it!"
 Anybody been around to see Ar thur lately?" hastily asked the paci fer to the group who believed in a change of subject. He"
 Last time" said Jimmie cuttingly, that l went around to see Arthur he was out Whats the good of having friends If they're out when you call? Why can't fellow stay in occasion ally? Besides, he's had a cold and ought to stay inl Why can't he have sense enough to know he shouldn't be outdoors on such an evening as the one when I called there?"
 Well, maybe he felt better" said the pacifier, soothingly. Anyhow. just asked to fill up time. Did you have nice summer? Your card said you liked the place."
 Jimmie shrugged his shoulders, No" he growled. "The limit The lake was wet and that was all you could say for It. Bad meals at the hotel and the porches filled with old women, who were eternally knitting things. When the sun didn't bake you the wind blew you to kingdom come. Fish didn't bite and the golf course was regular corduroy road. Nice summer! Huh!"
 T didn't know there was a place on earth as bad as that" unused the young man at the farther corner. You have my sympathy. But might one ask-why didn't you get out of i there?"
 | would have been the use? Next pleced have been just as fierce if not worsel"
 Say" broke in the sunshine of the l group nervously. If any of you fel. lows are looking for a tailor let me tell you to go to Scissors. He made } me the"
 } "Scissorsl" cried Jimmie in tones of molten scorn. He glared at the } sbashed speaker with indignaton that scorched. "Of all the inspired idiots of the tapeline, of all the stone break. CTS. butchers and ditch diggers let loose in tailor shop, Scissors is the worst! He couldn't sew ap a bag that would look like bag! You should see the thing he made for me and called a dinner coat!'
 Here, Jimmie" said the oldest man of the group in real anxiety, "are you feeling just right? Head doesn't ache? Liver in good order? You look kind O thin, is why I ask"
 "Oh, my health's all right" re. turned Jimmie, with deep gloom. You'd have to take a gatling gun to kill me. Why should anyone ask about my feelings7 Who really cares how anybody feels?"
 The group eyed Jimmie with much curiosity. Something certainly was wrong with him.
 Look here,' said the bravest man "Why don't you go and call on some girl and cheer up? Go get some of the nice ones to do a rarebit for you in the chafing dish and"
 Jimmie sprung to his feet. "Girls!" , h. exploded. Why should man of sense waste time on girls? Chatter ing creatures. with imitation brains