The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1911-11-06
The Little
! Green Bird
(
BY WILLIAM HOLLOWAY
eorvncnr 1910, nv rns PEARSON PUBLISHING CO.
(CsnfinGcd ;r~em J1is',dnj)

"You want 70 dinnair?' he asked
81 have vair' goot soup and entrees
today"
Marston looked al the small tin sign
-"Maison PerdreauX' which he had
moi before perceived He had not
noticed it because il wGs fastened in
conspicuously beside the basement
door. He was standing before one OF
the smaller French restaurants that
dot that part of the town-restaurant
that cut no figure in Where To Dine
And it suddenly occurred TO him that
he had never seen the inside OF real
French restaurant, such as one reads
about in the papers.
"Oh. all right" he said carclesSly.
"Ill have to get something before
so looking for job. How much?'
Forty cents" replied the French.
man.
Evidently. my friend cried Mars
ton with emotion, you think you are
talking to a member OF the Pittsburs
nobility. If so, wake up. was hold
ing down an eleven dollar job and pay
ing fifteen cents for my lunch. Now
amt holding down any job at all"
The Frenchman caught his arm.
"Can you explain me this letter. he
cried, holding out an oblong envelope.
"Then | give you dinner for fifteen
cent"
From the envelope Marston took out
q letter. which he read carefully. Then
he handed it back.
You cant read eet?" asked the
Frenchman anXiousy.
Sure | can; It's from lawyer"
"Well?" asked the Frenchman, more
enxiOusly still.
Marston stood watching page OF
John Keats curl into sudden flame.
1T will cost you dinner he said
firmly.
The Frenchman nodded agreement,
and Marston began TO explain the let
ter, which concerned the playful man
ners OF Mr.. Perdreauxs chickens;
which gallant birds, escaping from, the
coop in which they had come from
market, were in the habit CT dropping
into the flower-garden next door. After
hearing which the Frenchman heayed
q deep sigh and took his guest within
The interior Of the "Maison Per
dreaux", which was large basement,
was very dim and very shabby. 1t had
something of the chill OF a seaside
cave, and the battered tables and still
more battered sideboard seemed like
driftwood flung ashore after storm.
But the soup was excellent. and the
trim little French waitress who served
II did her best to explain the menu N
pantomime.
She was a slim little creature OF
about twenty. with dark hair and eyes
and wonderfully smooth skin. But
her eyes looked red, MS though she had
been crying: which Marston wisely de-
cided was no business of his.
Marston was quite entranced By tho
air OF mystery surrounding the Mai
son Pertreaux." He forgot the wait
ress and her eyes; and was therefore
all the more unpleasantly reminded
when, as she bent over the table, q
tear splashed down upon his hand.
He wiped away the tear with his
napkin and shook his head warningly.
Come now! None of that" he cried.
II amt sentimental. And l amt a
geranium that needs watering, either"
But his protest was entirely uu-
needed. An ancient doorbell changed
in the passage, and tall man, in a
light spring suit. became visible
through the window curtains.
A fash OF JOY TRANSPORTED the girls
face. She gave cry, upset a glass OF
water, and ran to the door.
Mr.. Perdreaux came forward to re-
pair damages. she no mean harm"
he explained. Jules come; she for
get ev'ryt'ing."
Marston nodded, with his mouth
full. He looked about the quaint old
fashioned room-at this time CT day
nuite empty-and feeling OF entire
satisfaction took possession OF him.
Going to he married." Marstou
asked.
The stout Frenchman explained that
Marie was his niece, and she and Jules
were engaged. Jules earned good
money, he was a barber on Seventh
Avenue, with a shop Of his own. But
he dressed extravag gantIy, and was al
ways ia debt. He even borrowed from
Marie. And lately there had been
Quarrels. And Marie had been ne
elected.
Marston listened carelessly, his mind
intent upon q thousand plans for the
future And then Marie came in, her
face aglow. She ran to her uncle and
began TO talk, gesticulating so rapidly
that Marston felt himself becoming
giddy. But her uncle was far from
being giddy; on the contrary, he
seemed distinctly self-possessed as he
drew bill from his pocket and handed
it to Marie. Next minute she had run
to the door, and PerdreauX had come
grumbling to Marston's table.
"She get no more money for one
mont" he explained in tone of dis
gust Jules borrow everything. Him
no good, that fell"
Marston was working through the
hill OF fare with grim determination,
and as he worked his thoughts were
busy-busy not with Marie's affairs.
but with those of the occupant of
certain hall-bedroom in the Brorv.
When he finished his dinner he was