Newark evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1909-1916, 1913-10-07
CHAPTER TX.
Colonel CaxIey-webster,


Colonel CaxIey-webster.
A BBOTT'S studio was under the
"A roof of one of the little hotels
that stand timorously and humbly,
yet expectantly, between the impos-
ing cream stucco of the Grand Hotel
at one end and the elaborate pink
stucco of the Grande Bretegne at the
other. The hob-nailed shoes of the
Teuton (who wears his mountain Kit
all the way from Hamburg to Paler-
MOI wore up and down the stairs all
day; and the racket from the huck'
sters' carts and hotel omnibuses, ar
irving and departing from the steam
boat landing, the shouts of the beg
cling boatmen, the quarreling of the
children and the barking of unpedi-
greed dogs-these noises were inces-
SAINT from dawn until sunset.
The artist glared down from his
square window at the ruffied waters,
or scowled at the fleeting SHOWS on the
mountains over the way. He passed
some ten or twelve minutes in this
useless occupation, but he could not
get away from the bald fact that he
had acted like a petulant child. To
have shown his hand so openly, SIM
ply because the Barone had beaten
him in the race for the motorboat,
and Nora would understand that he
was weak and without backbone.
Harrigan himself must have reasoned
out the cause for such asinine plays
as he had executed in the game of
checkers. How many times had the
old man called out to him to wake up
and move? In spirit he had been
across the lake, a spirit in hades. He
was not only a fool, but coward
likewise. He had not dared to
"' put 1t to the touch
To gain or lose 1t all"
He saw it coming; before long he
and that italian would be at each
others threats.
Come in" he called. in response to
a sudden thunder on the door.
The door opened and a short, ener-
getic old man, purple-visaged and
hawk-eyed, came In. Why the devil
don't YOU join the Trappist monks,
Abbott? If 1 wasn't tough I should
have died of apoplexy on the second
Good morning, colonel" Abbott
laughed and rolled out the patent
rocker for his guest. What's on
your mind this morning? l can give
you one without Ice"
"T'n take it neat, ghy boy. I'm not
thirsty, I'm faint. These Italian
architects; they call three ladders
flights of stairs! Ha! Thats
Irish whiskey, and jolly fine. Want
YOU to come over and take tea this
afternoon. I'm going up presently to
see the Harrigans Thought I'd go
around and do the thing informally.
Taken a fancy to the old chap. He's
a little bit of all right. I'm no older
than he is, but look at the difference!
Whiskey and soda, that's the racket.
Not by the tubful Just an ordinary
half dozen day, and dem climate
thrown In"
"Difference in training"
"Rotl It's the sized hat a man
wears. I'd give fifty guineas to see
the old fellow in action. But, | say;
recall the argument we had before
you went to Paris?"
Eyes"
~Weil. I win. Saw him bang across
the street this morning"
Abbott muttered something.
what was that"
Nothing"
Sounded like dem it to me-"
Maybe it did,
"Heard about him in Paris?"
mo"
"The old boy had transferred his
regiment to a lonesome post in the
North to cool his blood. The young
ster took the next train to Paris. He
was there incognito for two weeks
before they found him and bundled
him back. OF course. every one knows
that he is but a crazy lad who's had
foo much freedom" The colonel
emptied his glass. 4 feel dem sorry
for Nora She's the right sort But
a woman can't take a man by the
scruff of his neck and chuck him.
"But I cam" declared Abbott saw
agely.
Besides, you will find him too clever
TO give you an opening But he'll
bear watching. He's capable Of put
ting her on train and running away
with her. Between you and me,
don't blame him What's the matter
with Sticking the Barone on him?'
He's the best man in Southern Italy
with foils and broadswords. Sic 'em,
Towser, sic 'emn' The old fire-eater
chuckled.
The subject was extremely dis
tasteful to the artist. The colonel
a rough soldier whose diplomacy had
never risen above the heights
of clubbing recalcitrant Hill
man into submission, BADLY
inferred that he understood the
artists interest in the rose of the
Harrigan family He would have
liked to talk more in regard to the
interloper, but it would have been
sheer folly. The colonel, in his
laundering way, would have brought
up the subject again at tea-time
and put everybody on edge He had,
unfortunately for his friends, a repu-
tation other than that of n soldier
he posed as peacemaker. He saw
trouble where none existed, and the
way he patched up imaginary quar-
rels would have strained the patience
of Job. Still, every one loved him,
though they lived in mortal fear of
him. So Abbott came about quickly
and sailed against the wind
'By the way" he said, II wish you
would let me sketch that servant OF
yours. He's got a profile like a
medallion. Where did you pick him
up?"
'Tn the Hills. He's a Sikh, and a
first-class fighting man. Didn't
know that you went for faces"
Not as usual thing. Just want