Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1912-04-30
The Mischief Maker
BvE. PHILLIPS OPPENF4ELM

cause have never spoken 70 the woman
whom 1 could imagine capable OF such
unselhshness. If I patch up the pieces
again, Hendricks" he added, and his
face was suddenly very dark and very
set-the face of an older man, what
ever cement I use, II won't be the ce-
ment of love or any sentiment whatso-
ever connected with women"
Hendricks nodded.
ITS my belief" he began, then he
stopped short. Julien" he continued
kindly. you're nothing but big baby.
\ You think you've moved in the big
places. So you have, in way. But
there was a hideous mistake about your
/ life You've never had to build. No
one can climb who doesn't build first.
! These ready-made ladders don't count.
\ Now" he added, dropping his voice and
I glancing quickly across the room, you
/ will have an opportunity to put into
/ force your new and magnificent prin-
ciples of misogyny. Our little sandy
headed friend has been summoned from
I the room. I saw the commissionaire
/ come up and whisper in his ear.
I Mademoiselle is writing note. hun
bred TO one it is to you!
/ Julien frowned. He, too, turned his
/ head, and he met the girls eyes. She
I was looking at him curiously. 1t was
/ not the look Of the woman who invites
so much as the look of the woman who
( appeals for an understanding, who
has something to say. She
4 smiled ever so family and touched
( with her finger the scrap of paper
which she thrust into the walters
hand. Then she bent once more over
her plate. The man came across to
Julien.
For you, monsieur" he announced.
and laid IL by the side Of Julien's
plate.
Read it," Hendricks whispered across
/ the table, for he had been quick to
see his companions first impulse.
why should II" Julien said, coldly.
ct have no desire to have anything to
I do with that young person. What can
she have to say to meY
4 Nevertheless, read it," Hendricks re-
/ peated.
] Julien unrolled the scrap of paper
with reluctant fingers. There were only
a few words written there in hasty
pencil:
/ Monsieur, there is a friend of mine
whom you must see. Call at No. II
/ Avenue de st. Paul and ask for Madame
/ Christopher. Do not attempt to speak to
me. This is for your good"
Juliens fingers were upon the note to
destroy it, but again Hendricks stopped
/ him
Julien" he said, don't be an idiot.
/ The little girl knows who you are. She
/ can't imagine that you are in the humor
| just now for flirtations. Put the note
i in your pocket and call. One can't tell.
Your life has been so artificial that
! you've probably left off believing in any
adventures outside story-boolks My life
/ leads me into different places and I never
neglect an opportunity like that"
"A sister manicurist. I expect" Julien
replied scornfully; "a palmist, or some
creature of that sort
Hendricks hammered upon the table
for the waiter.
lone takes ones chances" he agreed,
but 1 do not think that the little girl
over there would send you upon a FOOLS
/ errand. There are other things in life,
/ you know, Julien. You carry in your
head political secrets which would be
worth a great deal. There may be danger
/ in that call"
Julien looked at him with family surl-
ing lips.
Tell me exactly what you mean?" he
asked.
Hendricks shrugged his shoulders. The
waiter had arrived and he gave him a
vociferous order.
Listen" he said, II could hand you
out a hundred SURPRISES and each one
Of them ought to be sufficient to induce
you to keep that appointment You leave
/ here-shall we say under a cloud?-pre-
sumably disguised with life, with the
government which gives you no second
chance with your country which dis
/ cards you. And you have been under-sec-
rotary of state for foreign affoirs. Can't
you conceive that this woman on whom
you are to call might make suggestions
TO you which would at least be amusing?
Don't look so .incredulous, Julien. Re-
member you've lived in the stilted places
I haven't I believe in the underground
world. You must know for yourself that
fore, was stealing frequent glances at
him. For some reason or other she
seemed anxious to attract his atten-
ton.
Quite a conquestw Hendricks muir
INJURED. Drink some more of that
Chianti, man, and bring some color to
your checks There's a charming little
manicurist wants to flirt with you.
What teeth and what a smile!"
Considering that she has been lis
tening to my history for the last quar-
ter of an hour. I imagine that her in
terest is Of less sentimental nature"
Julien said. IT have probably been
pointed out to her as the biggest fool
in Christendom."
Not you" Hendricks declared. st
assure you that I am a critic in such
matters. She looks when the young
man who is with her is engaged upon
his dinner, or speaking to the waiter.
am not positive, even, that she wants
to fiirt, Julien. think she wants to
say something to you"
Julien laughed.
What shall do? Present myself?
BAIL" he added, almost fiercely. II
wish the girl would keep her black eyes
to herself. 1 want to tell you this,
Hendricks. You've talked some splen-
did common sense to me without going
out of your way to do it. l am not go
ing to whine, now or at any other time,
but as long as L live I never want
anything more to do with a woman. /
That sounds about the most futile and
empty-headed thing a man can say
know that. But there it is. I tell you
the very thought Of them makes me
shudder. They're like pampered, high +
ly-groomed animals, with their mouths
open for the tit-bits of life. They have
to be fed with whatever food it may be
they crave for. and that's the end of
it,"
Hendricks motioned with his head
across the room to where the little
woman with the blackened eyebrows /
was eating her dinner.
What about that?" he asked.
II don't know anything about that
sort" Julien admitted "What you told /