The Delta independent., 1912-08-09
CHAPTER XVIII.
The Woman.Hater,s Relap.e.


ly as deserted battlefield and Mar
jorie as doleful as a wounded sol
dier left behind, and perishing of
thirst, when the conductor came back
with Snoozleums in his arms.
He regarded With contemptuous
awe the petty cause of so great an
event as the stopping OF the Trans
American. He expected to see Mar
jorie receive the returned prodigaI
with wild rapture, but she didn't even
smile when he said:
Here's your powder-psff."
She just took Snoozleums on her
lap, and, looking up with wet eyes
and a sad smile, murmured:
Thank you very much. You're the
incest conductor I ever met. II you
ever want another position. I'll see
that my father gets you one"
1t was like Offering the kaiser a
new Job, but the conductor swallowed
the insult and sought to repay it with
irony.
Thanks. And II you ever want to
run this road for a couple Of weeks.
just let me know"
Marjorie nodded appreciatively and
said: II will. You're very kind"
And that completed the rout OF that
conductor. He retired in disorder.
leaving Marjorie to fondle Snoozle-
ums with a neglectful indifference that
would have greatly fiattered Mallory,
II he could have seen through the
partition that divided them.
But he was Witnessing with the
cynical superiority OF an aged and
disillusioned man the. to him. childish
behavior OF Ira Lathrop, an eleventh
hour Orlando.
For just as Mallory moped into the
smoking-room at one door. Ira Lath-
rop swept in at the other, his face
rubicund with embarrassment and
ecstasy. He had donned an old frock
coat with creases like ruts from long
exile in his trunk. But he was feel
ing like an heir apparent; and he
startled everybody by his jovial hail:
well, boys-er-gentlemen : the
drinks are on me. Waiter. take the
orders"
Little Jimmie woke with start,
rose hastily to his feet and saluted,
saying: present! Who said take the
orders?"
II did," said Lathrop. I'm giving q
party. Waiter, take the orders"
"SarsaparilIa," said DR.. Temple. but
they howled him down and ordered
other things. The porter shook his
head sadly: "Nothin' but sof' drinks
in Utah, gemmen."
A groan went up from the club
members, and Lathrop groaned loud
est OF all:
well, we've got to drink something.
Take the orders. Well all have sarsa-
parilla."
Little Jimmie. Wellington came to
the rescue.
Don't do anything desperate, gen.
tlemen," he said, with look OF d.
vine philanthropy. The bars closed.
but Little Jimmie Wellington is here
with the life preserver." From his
hip-pocket he produced a silver flask
that looked to be big enough to carry
a regiment through the Alps. 1t was
greeted with a salvo, and Lathrop
said to Jimmie: II apologize for
everything have said-and thought
about you.' He turned to the porter:
There amt any law against giving
this way, Is there?"
The porter grinned: mot II you-all
bribe the exercise-inspector." And he
held out a glass for the bribe, mur.
muring, Don't git tired" as 1t was
poured. He set II inside his sanctum
and then hustled round with ice-fIled
glasses and q siphon.
When Little Jimmie offered Of the
nask to DR.. Temple. the clergyman
put out his hand with . politely hor.
rified: mo. thank you."
Lathrop frightened him with . sud
den comment: Look at that gesture!
Doc, I'd almost swear you . par
son."
Mallory whirIsd on him with the