The Kenna record. (Kenna, Roosevelt County, N.M.) 190?-1924, 1912-10-18

hOu--A WOulu ThluST De Tree lance
in New York town with one square
meal a week than roll round in the
Mason auto all the days of my life,"
she cried, rising and shutting her lips
on a groan. Uncertainty balancing
she smiled gallant smile, saying:
Sorry we can't do business-must
hop along to some other office"
I'VE can do business-we have got
to-" Latimer said doggedly, pulling
some bills from his pocket and trying
to thrust them upon her. Take IT.
just an advance, you know--you can
bring stun when you get round to It,"
he said, looking carefully over her
head.
She smiled at him, but shook her
head, saying as she pushed away the
money: Johnny, don't you know
charity is demoralizing? Besides you
can't afford it--any more than can
afford to take 1t. Don't worry-my
rent is paid to the week-end-and I'm
going TO dine with Parish-and a
chaperono Think III let him propose
to me, then tell him l can't say Yes
unless he gives me the story and so
makes me independent"
IF l thought you meant that-Pd
shoot him." Latimer growled
From the door Joe called to him
saucily, I'll let you k-ow how speed
in the morning. don't have to pay
cash for my phone calls"
When she was out OF hearing he
dropped his head on his desk a min
ute. swearing great silent oaths. Look
ing down he saw that she had dropped
her. story-a pitiful wispy scrawl of
cheap paper, less bulky than common.
He knew 1t would not do-that was
the trouble. Her stories never would
do. even for the cheap and uncritical
magazine which claimed his services:
Their very virtues fought against
them-Joe knew good literature, no
less good breeding. The broad
splashy effects that thrilled his pub
lie were not for her. If her people
lacked life they were at the least de-
Gently tailored. Yet she was set as
the hills ON making her way, here In
the boiling town, rather than go back
to the nagging OF step-lnother--nag-
gings whose root was the prosperous
Billy Mason.
Latimer had known her from her
cradle. Indeed, he had carried her
pig-a-back several miles at least. He
had never thought of her as sweet
heart Sweethearting for him, indeed,
had always meant Agnes Ware. II
she had not thrown him over for his
rich uncle he should never have seen
New York. His coming had a cogent
reason-why under heaven had that
willful Joe come likewise ?-why, find
ing herself so unfit, did she foolishly
stay?
He bought the poor little story
paying for 1t from his own spare pock-
ct. but through the mask Of the mag
azine. After the check had been sent
by messenger, he felt bit easier,
though still he could not settle stead
lily to his work. Joe's face, wearing
that gallant smile above the pain
marks, came between him and the
page he read. She stayed with him
30 pers.stently; indeed, he shut his
desk half an hour early, and went
scowling to the tiny chambers he had
managed to find In a quiet eddy of the
| town.
They looked desolate enough, yet he
had thought them cosy. Joe was the
matter-even there she haunted him.
He went out quickly, made his way
to the park and walked there with
swinging strides, until almost mid
night. Then suddenly he felt himself
faint with hunger. found an eating
place and fed himself decently. Aft
erward there was another stroll The
moon had come up Transforming mag
ically even the sordid town. 1t was
late-after midnight-when he came
again to his own door and sat down
upon the steps for last bask in the
moonshine, last cigar.
At first he barely noted a huddled
limp figure upon the farther end of
the topmost step. 1t gave him a turn
to have 1t suddenly Slip down beside
him. Next minute Joe was saying In
breaks:
Johnny-I-youI have to send me
home-after all. I've found out
won't do-Fm too big a coward"
~~~S~-~~-~-~-~~~-~o-o-o-o
law of Lincoln's Inn and doctor of law