The Washington herald., 1912-08-25

cheeks flushed like the petals of ar
apple blossom. She had a crooked lit
tie, smile that brought single dimpl'
j in one soft cheek. Her hat was big
tapping affair, covered with buttercup:
and daisies.
The Watermelon, gazing at her. for
got everything. Henrietta, dinner, thu
general. He stared and she stared
back The brown suit with the pale
green stripe and the faint suggestion
of red, lent an undeniable improve,
ment to the broad shoulders and long
limbs of the graceful Watermelon. The
admirable shave and hair cut the village
barber had given him in exchange for
his own quarter, revealed the square
cut chin and the good-natured, careless
mouth of the born ne'er-do-well. IN
der the brim of the soft expensive PAN
anna, were his woman's eyes, now trag-
ic and unhappy, for who was he but a
tramp, a frequenter of the highways
and back streets, an associate of James
and Mike?
Billy" said Henrietta, eve have had
an adventure and picked up another
guest. Miss Bartlett, Mr.. Bachelor"
Were You part of the adventure?
asked Billy, holding out her hand.
Yes" said the Watermelon, incapa-
bic of further speech.
Henrietta presented him to Mr.. Bart
lett. stout, red-faced gentleman OF
middle age Wealth, success, self-com-
placency radiated from him like the
rays of the sun He grasped the hard
brown hand of the Watermelon and
looked the young man up and down, no.
ticing the pin in his tie, the panama and
the silk socks without seeming fairly
to notice the man.
William Hargrave Batchelor?" he
murmured questioningly.
THE same" answered the general
heartily, feeling that he had done some
thing praiseworthy in capturing the
young man. He drew off his gloves
and beamed at the Watermelon. "He
is young one to beat us, Bartlett. We
ought to be Oslerized"
Bartlett's eyes cleaned and he shook
the Watermelon's hand with renewed
pressure Youth" said he oratori-
callv. SIS hard to beat, general. but we
aren't deaduns yet have had an oc-
casional try at the Street, myself, Mr..
Bachelor. You may have heard Of
me-"
"Oh. yes" said the Watermelon alb
sent-mindedly. thinking of the girl with
the single dimple and the turned-up
nose.
Father took me, once" said Billy
at was terrible. Are you a broker,
Mr. Batchelor?"
Haven't you read yesterdays pa
pers, Billy" exclaimed Henrietta.
Il never read the papers," admitted
Billy. with a charming smile. Just
the front page headlines. sometimes"
He was there" laughed the general.
I'm inch-high print; lie broke the cot
ton ring, my dear" The generals tone
was full of reflected glory as the host
of the great man.
oh" cried Billy, that's where faith
er lost so much. He told me this
morning, just as we left the house"
Bartlett glanced sharply at the Wat
ermelon and interrupted Billy with
laugh. you get everything wrong, my
dear" said he, tweaking her ear Il
said good deal of money had been
But, papa" protested Billy, you
said"
Come to dinner, everybody, please"
Henrietta, in response to
an appealing glance from Bartlett Il
am starving whether you others are or
not"
I'VE had better" cried the general
jocularly, "or this young man will be-
come a bear instead of a bull" He
laid his hand affectionately on the Wat
ermelon'S shoulder and walked down
the hall with il resting there