Deming graphic. (Deming, N.M.) 1903-1948, 1913-09-19
GOOD THINGS IN LIFE
BY RossER W. coBBE.

and resting"
Fred Hastings nodded. ut is rest
full In here, Cav"
The little cafe was but sparsely
filled The lights were low, and nc
screeching violin or tinkling piano dis
turbed the gentle silence of the fern
decorated room.
Funny | never met your wife
Fred. You and | were such chums
in the old days before you went
across. Guess 1t wouldn't do for me
TO recall some OF the high links Of
the long ago, hey?"
Hastings glanced ut his friends
smiling, rather dissipated face, and
frowned slightly.
NO" he said, decisively, ft
wouldn't do Cav. You know that's
all over with now I've got over my
foolish days. Wait until you meet
Bertha; you'll know then why set
tied down, You'll like her, know,
he went on, enthusiastically, shes
miles and miles too good for me I'm
the luckiest man In the world today
Caverly."
Caverly grinned.
cut 1t out, Fred" he laughed
"Youhg married people, you know
WELL guess It does sound rather
foolish to you, but you must remem
Der that | never knew what good
womans' love meant until met
Bertha"
Cayerly reached over to the wal!
and pressed an electric button.
Two cocktails. waiter Best thing
In the world" he added 20 his com
panion, when you're getting sent
mental. All you've been doing egpr
since ] met you Is prattle about the
joys and bliss OF the married state
Now, I've n little experience TO re-
late, and" glancing at his watch. nc
advice you to give me a chance nov
II you want to hear It before YOU
wife Joins u.s."
Go ahead, old man." Hastings said
smiling. you always did like to heal
yourself talk"
Il was over on the other side, win
ter before last, and intended looking
you up, but circumstances over which
had no control made It impossible
However, that has nothing to do With
the story"
Caverly slipped his cocktail media
lively, as though seeking way IL
which to begin his narrative.
AS you know. Fred, am usually
fond OF the good things OF life, and
they're usually mine. I'd kind OF
been going the pace u little too fast
and had decided Id have To leave
Carlo and get rested up for time
when | got mixed up with a young
French gentleman whose honor quite
Internationally slurred, and who took
me on with the rapiers with the con
sequence that ] had rather nasty
hole put in my side. In the state
was In that meant the hospital.
And there met her. Oh, know
Fred, that I've been all kinds OF
fool, and that my shortcomings are
many and my virtues few, but know
now that | loved that girl with all my
heart God! II had only known II
then. She was employed as nurse
at the hospital and It was she tina,
brought me back to life And It was
then that | committed the creates,
iolly or foolish life. | had money
and she enjoyed the little luxuries OF
lie that my money could buy, but
mat she could not afford to get with
her slender wages. We we're happy
together-too happy, | know now;
such happiness cannot last. Her
brother had suspicious, and confront
Ing us one night In small resort
whence We hci gone to hear the or
chestral concert, he openly accused
us. She, frightened. would not lie,
but confessed to him. trying to take
the blame on herself"
Caverly's face was white and his
eyes shone; the corners of his mouth
twitched nervously. With shaking
hand he reached for his glass and
look the drink at q gulp.
There was hell In the mans eyes" .
he continued, twisting the glass In his
myers, Ls with an awful oath he
drew a razor from his pocket and
slashed me across the throat" Cav
eriy's fingers caressed his neck ner
'ously, and Hastings shuddered at
his friends unconscious action And
lhen,' continued Caverly. leaving me
where | mad fallen, he turned on his
sister, and although with u powerful
enort ! dragged myself TO my feet. |
was unable to prevent him from using
MS weapon on her. She did not die,
learned that later--I was In state
or semlconsciousness for nearly six
weeks, but when returned she could
not be found. The youth had shot
himself later My only clew was to
nnd woman whose face would bear
the awful triangular scar that had
seen administered, and that will
never forget"
Hastings face had suddenly gone
as white az that OF his companion.
"Pshaw." Caverly remarked, with
an ATTEMPT az carelessneas INV