Mexico Missouri message. (Mexico, Audrain County, Mo.) 1899-1918, 1912-08-15
CHAPTER xvIII-(continued)

Dr. Temple stared after him, but
The gambler stared at DR.. Temple
with homage. so you're one Of u.s."
be said, and selling the old mans
limp hand. shook 1t heartily: Il got
10 slip It to you. Your makeup is
great. You nearly had me for a come
on. Great"
And then he ssuntered out, leaving
the clergyman's head swimming. DR..
Temple turned to Mallory for explana-
tons. 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 clergy
man in these degenerate days.
The conductor returned and threw
into DR.. Temple the glare OF two basil.
fsk eyes. The old man put out a be-
eeeching hand and began:
MY good man. you do me a grave
injustice"
The conductor snapped back: You
say a 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 cov-ketcher."
Then he marched off again. The
doctor fell back into a chair, trying to
hgure It 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 10 ex-
plain, Ashton was launched on a story.
His mind was a suitcase full Of anec-
dotes, mostly Of the smoking.room
order.
Wherever three or four men are
gathered together, they rapidly organ
tze a 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 If they were decent, take on
certain yerye and thrill from their
very forbiddenness.
The dear old clergyman felt that Il
would be priggish 10 take fight, but
he could not make the corners Of bis
mouth behave. Strange twitchings of
the lips and little steamy escapes Of
Eigglejets disturbed him. And when
Ashton, who was a practced racon.
Feur, finished a droladc 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 Rlee
"Oh, that's bully" he shrieked, 81
haven't heard a story like that for
ages"
Why, where have you been, DR..
Temple?" asked Ashton, who could
not imagine where a man could have
concealed himself from such stories
But he laughed loudest of all when
the doctor answered: you see. live
an Ypsllant. 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
30 hard that his wife in the next room
heard him and giggled TO Mrs. Whit
comb:
Listen to dear Walter. He hasn't
laughed Ike that since he was IA
medical student" Then she buried
her face guiltily in a book.
Wasn't It good?" DR.. Temple de-
msnded, wiping his streaming ewes
and nudgirg the soiemn-faced English |
man. who understood his own nations
humor. but bad not yet learned the |
Yankee quirks.
Wedgewood made hollow effoyt at |
laughter and answered: Extremely |
very droll, but what ! don't cutie |
get was-why the porter said" Tho
Others drowned him in a roar OF laugh
ger. but Ashton was angry. why, you
blamed fool. that's where the Joke
game in. Don't yen see. the bride