The Bottineau courant., 1912-06-14

right hand did not let his left know
what it was doing. but proceeded quite
Independently to grip as much Of
Lathrop's hair as 1t would hold.
Then as Mr.. Wellington shook with
Joy at the prospect Of Dear old
Reno!" he began unconsciously to
draw Ira Lathrop's head after his hair
across the seat. The pain Of 1t shot
the tears into Lathrop's eyes, and as
he writhed and twisted he was too
full Of profanity to get any one word
out.
When he managed to wrench his
skull free. he was ready to murder his
,tormentor. But as soon as he con-
fronted the doddering and blinking
topper, he was helpless. Drunken men
have always been treated with great
tenderness in America, and when Wei.
;lington, seeing Lathroy's white hair,
exclaimed with rapture: "Why. hello,
Pop! here's Pop!" the most that Lath-
rop could do was to tear loose those
fat. cropping hands, slap them like
school teacher. and push tho man
away.
But that one shove upset Mr.. Wei.
lington and sent him topping down
upon the pit Of the Englishman's stom.
ach.
For Wedgewood, it was suddenly as
II all the air had been removed from
the world. He gulped like a fish
drowning for lack Of water. He was
long while getting breath enough for
words, but his first words were wild
demands that Mr.. Wellington remove
himself forthwith.
Wellington accepted tho banishment
with the sorrowful eyes Of dying
deer, and tottered away wagging his
fat head and wailing:
I'm broken-hearted man, and no
body gives "a" At this point he Ca
romed over into Ira Lathrop's berth
and was welcomed with a savage roar:
What the DEVILS the matter with
you?"
I'm a broken-hearted man, that's
ALL
"Oh, is that ALL" Lathrop snapped.
vanishing behind his newspaper. The
desperately melancholy seeker for
word Of human kindness bleared at
the blurred newspaper wall q while,
then waded into a new attempt at ac-
quaintance. Laying his hand on Lath.
rop's knee, he stammered: "Ess.
cuzhe me, Mr.-Mr-"
From behind the newspaper came
stingy answer: "Lathrop's my name
If you want to know"
PLEASED to meet you. Mr.. Lothrop."
"Lathrop!"
"Lathrop! My names Wellington.
LII Jimmie Wellington. Ever hear of
me?"
He waited with the genial smile Of
a famous man; the smile froze at
Lathrop's curt, Don't think So"
He tried again: Ever hear of
well-known Chicago belle, Mrs. jim
mie wellington"
"Yes, I've heard of her!" There
was an ominous grin in the tone.
Wellington waved his hand with
modest pride. "Well. I'm Jimmie"
SERVES you right"
This jolt was 50 discourteous that
Wellington decided to protest: "Mis-
ter Latham!"
"Lathrop!"
d, The name came out with q whip
snap. He tried to echo 1t, "La-throp!"
II don't like that Throp. That's a
kind of a seasick name, isn't it," Find
ing the newspaper still intervening be-
tween him and his prey, he calmly
tore it down the middle and pushed
through 1t like moon coming through
a cloud. But man can't change his
name by marrying, can he? That's
the worst Of it. A woman can. Think
of heartless cobra di capello in wom-
ans form wearing my fair name-and
wearing it out. Mr.. La-throp, did you
ever put your trust in false-hearted
woman?"
"Never put my trust in anybody"
Didn't you ever love q woman"
"No!"
"Well, then, didn't you ever marry a
woman?"
mot one. I've had the measles and
the mumps, but I've never had matri-
mony."
"Oh, lucky man." beamed Yelling
ton. "Hang on to your luck"
II intend to-" said Lathrop, II was
born single and like it,
"Oh, how l envy you! You see,
Mrs. Wellington-she's queen among
women, mind you-a queen among
women, but she has the 'stravagance
Of a."