Evening star., 1911-06-04


Smash i'll" says l. 1Now!"
And Hicks, he smashed it.
@Good work." says l. @But that want
you did it. Most of that order was mine.
Now you give little exhibition of how
you're Captain, just something to make
start on"
al don't know how" says he.
@Sure you do says l. "For instance,
you look like tramp. Well, what do you
do when your clothes are all muddy?'
Course, looks hard at the whisk broom;
but it's minute or SO before he can shake
himself together enough to walk over to it.
He don't do any thorough job of brushin',
Ill admit t,-about the casual whiskin' you
pay quarter for on a Pullman, even
doin little thing like that got him kind Of
int rested in the bracin' up proposition. He
knocks the dent out of his hat, straightens
his tie, and rubs his palm over his face.
Il suppose | ought to have a shave, no
matter what happens, says he
well, you're the boss now, you know"
says l. as it shave or not?'
"I-I-yes, I'll go get shave says he.
By the time he'd had his face scraped and
his hair shampooed, and his face massaged,
and the boy had finished the brushin' job,
he didn't look SO much worse than usual.
made him take a.good view in the glass.
@NoW WHAT" says [, as we got outside.
"Why," says he, fumblin nervous with a
notebook, II had picked out little hotel
UP town. perhaps had better give you the
address"
@Why not put that off until tomorrow"
Il couldn't go through another night"
says he.
"You amt tried yet" says l. 3Come on;
we can make the six-thirty nine
"Home!' says he. Il couldn't face them,
l tell you! l couldn't'
"Well, I'll give you bed, says l, "and
Ill see that you get to sleep. Only you've
got to decide whether you'll come or not, and
say it quick! Now, Captain, which Il it be-"
Il Thank you, McCabe, I'll CO."
says he
+" Hicks and me. All that night it
lasted, and part of the next day; for, as long
as I'd started in with him, had to see him
through. And talk about your Dutch uncle
lectures! Say, | amt done so much preachin'
in all the rest Of my life! You'd thought to
hear me, too, that had corner on all the
morals and virtues this side of the pearlv
gates; but pumped him SO full of good adj
vice that it's a wonder he didn't get the ear
ache, just istenin' to me- BY two o'clock
next afternoon though, he'd got his nerves
SICdQlCd uOHH HIS SNSS IldQ lOSl llldI
fshy look. Also | was some hoarse.
@Now, Hicks, says l, "I'm done! I'm
gcin' to turn you loose. You're free to do
any fool thing you want to; only see that
the orders come from the bridge
"I'll try says he, givin' me the grateful
grip, and walks out.
Whether he'd hit up the booze again and
end in some hotel room with the gas turned
on or not, couldn't guess. But I'd gone as
far as knew, and it was up to him.
WELL, l didn't hear a word for three
days, and then here only last night,
just as was closin' up the house about half
past ten, comes ring at the front door, and
who should | find standn' on the mat, hand
in hand, but Mr. and Mrs. E. Crosby Hicks.
@We've just settled on what to do" says
Hicks, "and | wanted you to know first of
all
why" says 1, 4you don't have to do
that"
"But l want to- says he. "I've had a
creditors meeting today, and they've agreed
to give me time. Then I've rented the house
for the summer, and we are to take little
fiat down in the Bronx. I'm going to paw
off every dollar before | come back. And,
McCabe, I've never been happier in my lfe!"
Then the lady breaks in, grabbin one of
i n n"