The Progressive West Virginian. [volume] (Williamson, W. Va.) 1911-1913, 1912-09-19

Mnds vacant berth. Mrs. Jimmie dt1cov-
again makes an unsuccessful hunt for q
Clan.
4 CHAPTER xvili-(contInued).
/ DR.. Temple stared after him, but
the gambler stared at DR.. Temple
with a homage. $50 you're one Of u.s. :
he said, and selling the old mans
limp hand. shook 1t heartily: Il got
TO slip 1t to you. Your makeup ID
great You nearly had me for come
on. Great!"
And then he sauntered out, leaving
the clergyman's head swimming. Dr.
Temple turned to Mallory for explanat
lions, 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 a clergy.
man In these degenerate days.
The conductor returned and threw
into DR.. Temple the glare Of two basil.
dsk eyes. The old man put out a be-
seeching hand and began:
MY good man. you do me grave
Injustice"
The conductor snapped back: you
say a word to me and I'll do you worse
than that. And II / spot you with a
pack Of cards in your hand again, I'll
tie you to the cow-ketcher."
Then he marched of again. The
doctor fell back into chair, trying to
figure 1t 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 to ex-
plain, Ashton was launched on a story.
His mind was suitcase full Of anec-
dotes. mostly Of the smoking-room
order.
Wherever three or four men are
gathered together, they rapidly organ
tze q 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 II they were decent, take on a
certain verve and thrill from their
very forbiddenness. Ill
The dear old clergyman felt that 1t
would be priggish to take flight. but
he could not make the corners Of his
mouth behave. Strange twttchings OF
the lips and little steamy escapes OF
giggie- Jets disturbed him. And when
Ashton, who was pTacticed racon-
teur, finished a drolatic 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 glee
"Oh, that's bully he shrieked, 81
haven't heard a story like that for
ages"
why. where have you been, DR.
Templef" asked Ashton, who could
mot imagine where a man could have
concealed himself from such stories
But he laughed loudest Of all when
the doctor answered: you see, live
In Ypsilanh. They don't tell ms
stories like that"
"They-who?" said Fosdick.
"Why, my pa-my PATIENTS" tn,
doctor explained. and laughed 80 hart
that he forgot to feel guilty. laughed
80 hard that his wife In the next room
heard him and giggled to Mrs. Whit
comb:
Listen to dear Walter. He hasn'
laughed Ike that since he was a.,
medical student" Then she buriet
her face guilty. in book.
Wasn't 1t good?" DR.. Temple de
handed, wiping his streaming eye
and nudging the solemn-faced English
man, who understood his own nation
humor, but had not yet learned tn
Yankee quirks.
Wedgewood made hollow effort q
laughter and answered: "ExSremel
very droll, but what don't quit
get was-why the porter said" Tn
others drowned him In a roar Of laugh
ter. but Ashton was angry. why. yol
blamed fool, that's where the jok
came in. Don't you see. the bride
groom said to the bride" then h
lowered his voice and diagramed tn
story on his fingers.
Mrs. Temple was still shaking wit
! sympathetic laughter, never dreaming
what her husband was laughing a,
She turned to Mrs. Whitcomb. bu
Mrs. Whitcomb was still glaring q
Mrs. Wellington. who was still writ
ing with flying fingers and anderson
ing every other word
Some people seem to think the
own the train" Mrs. Whitcomb ragged
rThat creature has been at the writ
ing desk an hour. The worst Of It Il
I'm sure she's writing to my hus
band"
Mrs Temple looked shocked. but ar
other peal Of laughter came througl
the partition between the male and 4
male sections of the car. and sh
beamed again. Then Mrs. Wellington
finished her letter. glanced Sver. ad