The Washington herald., 1912-08-18

Il
dom and space where man can be
man and not manikin.
He paused a moment now, in perfect
foontentment with the world and HIM
self, while up the valley, over the hills
through the sun-warmed air, borne on
the breath of the new-mown helds
came the sound of distant church bells
softly, musicallq, soothingly. Slipping
from the wall, he SET out Tor the VII
lage below in the valley, where the
road wound steeply down.
The. village boasted but one barber
shop, quiet. little, dusty-white, one
room affair, leaning i'll timid humility
against the protecting wall of the only
other public building in town, dry
goods, grocery, and butcher shop IN
one. The church bells had stopped for
some time when the Watermelon turn
ed into the wide empty street. and
strolled carelessly up 10 ;ne faded red
white, and blue pole of Wilton's Ton
serial Parlor. In its Sunday calm the
whole village seemed deserted. A few
Iof the bolder spirits who had outgrown
apron strings and not yet been SHARED
in any ones bonnet strings had re-
NAMED away from church and fore
gathered in the seclusion of the bar
Der shop. The Watermelon regarded
them moment through the window as
he felt carelessly in his pockets for the
coins that were never there 1t was a
quiet crowd, we'll brushed hair, nicely
polished boots, and freshly shaved
faces. They were reading the sporting
news of Saturdays papers and ogling
any girl, fairly young and not notori-
ously homely, who CHANGED to pass.
! The barber was cleaning up after his
last customer and talking apparently as
much to himself as to any one. Con-
WINGED of what he knew was so, that
he had no money, the Watermelon
pushed open the door and entered.
Hello" said he.
Hello" said the barber.
All the papers were lowered and all
conversation stopped as each man
turned and scanned the newcomer
with an interest the Watermelon mod
estly felt was caused by some event
other than his own entry. He surmis-
ed that James had probably been there
before him, and the next words of the
barber confirmed his surmise.
That dapper little. man scanned him
coldly, from the rakish tip of his shah
by hat to the nondescript covering on
his feet which from force of habit he
called shoes, and spoke with darkly
veiled sarcasm:
Il suppose you are a guest from the
hotel up to the lake?'
The Watermelon grinned. He rec
ognized James favorite role. "No," )"
said he cheerfullv, I'm John D., and
| me car is waiting without
"A guest up to the hotel,"' repeated
the barber, upon whom James had evil
IDENTIFY made a powerful impression.
Just back from two weeks camping
and fishing trip
NO" said the Watermelon. Il don't
like fishing. batting the hook is such
! darned hard work"
Just back" went on the barber. still
quoting. his soul yet ranking with the
deceit of man. Look like a tramp,
probably"
Am one" grinned the Watermelon.
And you thought you would get a
shave as you passed through the vii
lage, wouldn't dare let your wife see
you-"
Say" interrupted the Watermelon
YEARLY, what are you giving us? Did
any one bunko you outof shave with
that lingo!"
Yes snapped the barber. About
an hour ago a fellow blew in here and
said all that. He talked well and
shaved him. He said he had sent his
camping truck on to the hotel by his
team; he had stopped off TO get a
shave. shaved him and then he
found he hadn't any money in his old
clothes-but he would sent it right
down-oh, yes-the moment he got to
the hotel. 1t amt come and Harry,
there, says there amt no one up to the
hotel like that Harry's the porter"
Sure" said Harry Importantly. Il
passed the feller as | was coming down
and there amt any one like him to the
hotel"
The Watermelon laughed heartily
"A hobo, eh? Bunkoed you for fair.
You fellers oughtn't to be so dog
goned easy. Get wise, get wise"
I'VE are wise now," said the barber
ruefully. and added sternly. IF you
want shave. you've got to show your
money first"
Sure, | want a shave said the
Watermelon, and carelessly ratified a
few old keys he carried in his pocket
They jingled with the clink of loose
COINS and were pleasing to the ear II
not so much to the touch. Il came
here for a shave, but | pay for what
| want, see? Say. III bet that feller
busted your cash register" and he nod
ded pleasantly toward the new shiny
receiver of customs on the shelf near
the looking glass.
The remark brought an agreeable
thrill of excited expectation to all save
the barber He shook his head with
boundless faith in his new possession.
Il bought that just last week and the
drummer said it was practically thief
proof"
DO you want to bet?' asked the
Watermelon ''All there is in the reg
lister, huh? Even money and he jim
gled the keys in his pocket
Now" said the barber. 81 know
he couldn't have robbed it. It's i'm
possible, even if the thing could be
robbed. which it can't be. / was right
here all the time"
Its near the lookin' glass" said the
Watermelon He went close to the
counter to see himself. didn't he"
The Watermelon knew vanity as
James one weakness and realized with