La Junta tribune., 1910-03-05
THE UNTOLD
HALF.
By ARTHUR COTTONWOOD.
Copyrighted. 1909, by Associated
Literary Press.

There II no particular excitement
when one Of the numbering fruit boat
Of the Yellow Star line comes Into
port. There was no particular still
along the water front that biting. fog
~ morning in December when the
Admiral Dart came wheezing up the
harbor. swung into her berth at the
Yellow Star docks with the aid Of q
couple OF tugs-for the tide was run.
ming strOngly-shot out her gangplank
and disembarked the four passengers
she carried.
She also disembarked Bobby Shack
lett. But Bobby Shacklett did no,
come to the wharf by way Of the
gangplsnk. While the fussy little
donkey engines In the sheds wers
puffing valiantly aud swinging briskly
out Of the Admiral Darts hold the
many punches OF green bananas Bob.
by Shacklett, very thin, very pale aud
very much unwashed. came up from
the stoke room. took long breath OF
the misty air, shlvered bit-for his
clothes were painfully thin and shah.
by-Rnd then climbed over the rail
and dropped unostentatiously to the
wharf.
A couple Of carriages bearing the
steamers late passengers whisked
past him. Three rumbllng drays went
humping past. one OF the drivers
shouting impolitely to Bobby to get to
somewhere ont Of the way.
Bobby grinned. 1t was not pleas.
ant grin. He WAS thinking Of his
homecoming M he had planned II and
As 1t had actually turned out and
comparisons. which are always odious
things. were particularly no In this
case.
He thrust his hand into the pocket
Of his ragged trousers, drew out few
pieces of silver, grinned once more.
shivered again and made his way to
the street
A solitary hanson was drawn up to
tn curb. waiting for n chance fare,
Bobby stepped over to II. The cabby
surveyed him scowlingly. but Bobby,
quite oblivioun apparently to the dubi.
Gus Elances cast In his direction. climb.
I'd calmly In.
He gave an address ON a certain con.
servstive street uptown. The driver
stared at him. Bobby smiled.
Don't blame me. old chap" he said,
noting the others hesitation. But l
want to 60 there. strange AS II may
seem and Incompatible as II may be
with my present appearance. What's
the row. Afraid I won't be good for
the farel Here you CO.
He passed up the handful Of silver
through the trap. Now. then. drive
on" he commanded.
The whiplash sang through the air
the shambling horse lurched into q
trot: the hanson rocked. and away
they went through the dingy. noisy
streets.
They drew up finally before an im.
posing house ON the conservative up-
town street. Bobby climbed from the
hanson. and while. the latter turned
and went clattering away he shut his
teeth grimly and mounted the brown.
stone steps with O light Of determine.
tion In bis eyes.
In response To bis vigorous tug q,
the bell the door was opened by .
status~Que butler. whose dignity stood
out obtrusively all over him. He look.
I'd at the ngure ON the s,oop and closed
the door halfway.
"Wellf' he said. and the manner In
which he said II plainly bade the Wis
itos begons.
"Is Miss wadsworth iny' said Bob
BY quietly.
HI think not. sir. In fact. Iii am
very sure she isn't" the butler replied
4 look came int Bobby's gray eyes
"a look that bad made better men
than tbs butler quail many timss he
fore now.
II rather think you are mistaken ''
said he. I'm sure she II home. aud.
what II more. am sure she will he
glad to receive me. II you don't be.
lieve II. just tell her. n you Will. that
tbs general manager of the Colona In.
tsrcoaso railway would like . word
with her. I'd advise you to d. - !
say"
The butler hesitated but = second
longer. The man On tho ~toop was
looking at him with most disconccrt-
ing determination In his bearing. The
butler. unwilling. II II true. opened the
door.
step In. str" said he HI will see. s.
A nrs cracked cheerfuliy In \ big
arsplscs At one end Of the warm. dark
hail. Bobby drew . chair close To Il
and. sitting down. belA out his sti6
sn~i nnxsrs to the grateful blaze.
Up the wide stairs cr-aked the but.
Lao Nth svSsax.ks haafs hta ssAslxssSl