The Rice belt journal. (Welsh, Calcasieu Parish, La.) 1900-19??, 1912-07-12
CHAPTER w. Continued

CHAPTER w. (Continued.)
When he managed to wrench Ms
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 halr'
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 a
school teacher, and push the man
away.
But that one shove upset Mr.. We'll
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 a
long while getting breath enough for
words, but his first words were wild
demands that Mr.. Wellington remove
himself forthwith.
Wellington accepted the Punishment
with the sorroWful eyes Of a dying
deer, and tottered away wagging his
fat head and wailing:
I'm a 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?"
Pm q broken,hearted man, that's
ALL"
"Oh, is that all" Lathrop snapped.
vanishing behind his newspaper The
desperately melancholy seeker for a
word of human kindness bleared at
the blurred newspaper wall while,
then waded into a new attempt at &C.
quaintanoe. Laying his hand on Lath-
rop's knee, he stammered: "Ess-
cuzhe me, Mr.-Mr-"
From behind the newspaper came a
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 pan; the smile froze at
Lathrops ~ Don't think so"
He tried again: Ever hear of
well-known Chicago belle, Mrs. Jim
mie Wellington ?"
Yes, I've heard of her!"
Wellington waved his hand with
modest pride. We'll, I'm jimmie
Serves you right"
This jolt was so discourteous that
Wellington decided to protest: Mis-
ter Latham!"
"Lathrop!"
The name came out with whip.
snap He tried to echo 1t, "La-throp!"
81 don't like that Throp. That's q
kind Of 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 it 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 II out. Mr.. La-throp, did you
ever put your trust in a false-hearted
woman"
Never put my trust In anybody"
Didn't you ever love woman?"
moi"
We'll, then, didn't you ever marry
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, ~ was
born single and like it."
"Oh. how envy you! You see
Mrs. Wellington-she's queen among
women. mind you-a queen among
women. but she has the 'stravagsnce
of a."
Lathrop had endured all he cou,d
endure, even from privileged charac.
.er like little Jimmy Wellington. He
rose to take refuge in the smoking.
'oom. But the very vigor of this de.
oarture only served to help yelling.
on to his feet, for he seized Lathrop's
,oat and hung on, through the door
Town the little corridor, always ex.
Mrs. Wellington is queen among
mine you, but I can't stapd