The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1913-01-18

church bells. softly. unsteady, sooth.
1nSly. Slipping from the wall, he sst
out for the village below in the val
Icy, where the road wound steeply
down.
The village boosted but one barber
shop. . quiet. little. dusty.white one.
room affair. leaning in timid humil
ity against the protecting wall Of the
only other public building In town,
'dry-goods. grocery and butcher shop
in one. The church bells had stopped
tor some time when the Watermelon
turned into the wide empty street, and
strolled carelessly up to the faded
red. white and blue pole of Wilton'a
Tonsorial Parlor. In its Sunday calm
the whole village seemed deserted. A
few Of the holder spirits who had out
grown apron strings and not yet been
Aared in any ones bonnet strings
had remained away from church and
toregathered in the seclusion Of thu
barber shop. The Watermelon re
garded them q moment through thu
window as he felt carelessly in hi,
pockets for the coins that were nevei
there. The barber was cleaning VI
latter his last customer and talkins
apparently as much to himself as ia
any one. Convinced Of what he knew
Twas 80, that he had no money, thu
Watermelon pushed open the door and
entered.
Hello" said he.
Hello" said the barber.
All the papers were lowered and an
conversation stopped as each mar
turned and scanned the new-come,
with an interest the Watermelon mod
testify felt was caused by some event
other than his own entry. He sur
missed that James had probably beer
there before him, and the next words
OF the barber confirmed his surmise
The dapper little man scanned him
'coldly, from the rakish tip Of hia
shabby hat to the nondescript cover
ing Of his feet which from force OF
habit he called shoes, and spoke with
darkly yelled sarcasm:
Il suppose you are the guest from
the hotel up to the lake,"
The Watermelon grinned. He recog
nized James favorite role. "No," said
he cheerfully, "I'm John D., and me
car 10 waiting without"
"A guest up to the hotel" repeated
the barber. upon whom James had evi.
IDENTIFY made powerful impression.
Gust back from a two weeks camp.
ing and fishing trip"
"No," said the Watermelon. 81
don't like fishing, batting the hook il
such darned hard work."
"Just back" went on the barber,
still quoting, his soul yet ranking
with the deceit Of man. Look like
= tramp, probably"
Gam one," grinned the Watermelon.
"And you thought you would get a
shave as you passed through the vii.
lage, wouldn't dare let your wife see
you"
"say," Interrupted the Watermelon,
YEARLY, what are you giving us? Did
anyone bunko you out of shave with
that lingo?"
YES" snapped the barber. "About
an hour ago Teller blew in here and
said all that He talked we'll and !
shaved him, and then he found he
hadn't any money in his old clothes
but he would send it right down
oh. yes-the moment he got to the no.
tel. It amt come and Harry, there,
says there amt no one up to the
hotel like that. Harry's the porter
Sure" said Harry Importantly. 81
passed the Teller as I was coming
down and there amt any one like him
to the hotel"
The Watermelon laughed heartily.
"A hobo. Ell? Bunkoed you for fair.
You fellers oughtn't to be so dog.
goned easy. Get wise, get wise!"
I'VE are wise now" said the barber
ruefully. and added sternly, "If you
want q shave. you've got to show your
money first"
"sure I want a shave" said the
Watermelon, and carelessly ratified q
few old keys he carried in his pocket.