The Owosso times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1897-1926, 1912-05-03

slipped the pack into his pocket.
What's the matter nowT DR.. TEN
pie asked, but the newcomer huskil,
answered: wait a minute. Wait
minute"
The conductor took in the scene
at glance and, stalking up to the
table. spoke with the grimness of {
sea-captain: Say, I've got my ey,
on you. Don't start nothin'."
The stranger stared at him wonder
ingly and demanded: why, what YOU
drivin' att"
"You know all right" the conductor
growled. and then turned on the be
fuddled old clergyman, "and you, too
me. too?" the preacher gasped.
Yes, you too," the conductor re
peated. shaking an accusing forefingel
under his nose. Your actions have
been suspicious from the beginning
We've all been watching you"
Dr. Temple was so agitated that hs
nearly let fall his secret. why, do
you realize that I'm a"
"Ah,. don't start that" sneered the
conductor. II can spot a gambler as
far as can see one. You and your
side partner here want to look out,
that's all. or I'll drop you at the next
tank" Then he walked out, his very
shoulder blades uttering threats.
DR.. Temple stared after him, but
the gambler stared at DR.. Temple
with homage. $50 you're one Of u.s.
he said. and seizing the old mans
limp hand. shook 1t heartily: II got
to slip It to you. Your makeup is
great You nearly had me for q come.
on. Great!"
And then he sauntered out, leaving
tho clergyman's head swimming. DR..
Temple turned to Mallory for explana.
lions. but Mallory only waved him
away. He was not quite convinced
himself. He was convinced only that
whatever else anybody might be, no.
body apparently desired to be a clergy.
man In these degenerate days.
The conductor returned and threw
into DIR. Temple the glare Of two basil.
isk eyes. The old man put out a be-
seeChinS many anu began.
MY good man, you do me a grave
injustice"
The conductor snapped back: "You
say word to me and I'll do you worse
than that. And il / spot you with a
pack OF cards In your hand again, I'll
tie you to the cow-ketcher."
Then he marched off again. The
doctor fell back into a chair, trying to
figure 1t out. Then Ashton and Eos
dick and little Jimmie Wellington and
Wedgewood strolled In and, dropping
into chairs, ordered drinks. Before
the doctor could ask anybody to ex-
plain, Ashton was launched on a story.
His mind was suitcase full of anec.
dotes, mostly Of the smoking-room
order
Wherever three or four men are
gathered together, they rapidly organ
lie clearinghouse of off-color stories.
The doctor listened in spite Of him.
self, and in spite Of himself he was
amused, for stories that would be
stupid il they were decent, take on
certain verve and thrill from their
very >forbiddenness.
The dear old clergyman felt that it
would be priggish to take flight, but
he could not make the corners Of his
mouth behave. Strange twitchings of
the lips and little steamy escapes of
giggle-jets disturbed him. And when
Ashton, who was a practiced racon-
teur, finished a drolatic adventure
with the epilogue, And the next
morning they were at Niagara Falls"
the old doctor was helpless with laugh
ter. Some superior force, the devil
no doubt, fairly shook him with glee.
ooh, that's bully" he shrieked, 81
haven't heard story like that for
ages"
why, where have you been, DR..
Temple?" asked Ashton, who could
not imagine where a man could haye
concealed himself from such stories.
But he laughed loudest Of all when
the doctor answered.: "You see, I live
in Ypsilanti. They don't tell me
stories like that"
"They-who?" said Fosdick.
why, my pa-my patients" the
doctor explained, and laughed so hard
that he forgot to feel guilty, laughed
80 hard that his wife in the next room |
heard him and giggled to Mrs. Whit
comb:
Listen to dear Walter. He hasn't |
laughed like that since he was "a
student" Then she buried |
her face guilty in a book.
Wasn't 1t good?" DR.. Temple de-
wiping his streaming eyes
and nudging the solemn-faced English
man, who understood his own nations
humor, but had not yet learned the
Yankee quirks.
Wedgewood made holloY effort at
laughter and answered: Extremely
very droll, but what don't quite
get was-why the porter said" The
others drowned him in roar of laugh
ter, but Ashton was angry. why, you
blamed fool, that's where the joke
came in. Don't you see. the bride
groom said to the bride" then he
lowered his voice and diagramed the
story on his fingers.
Mrs. Temple was still shaking with
n. /