The Birmingham age-herald., 1913-08-03

Shakespeare as rich and calm content" indulged
in airy discussion of things immaterial
On wings swifter than meditation the hours
fitted by And then in the momentary lul, Mr. Klby
quoted that charming from the Ballad of Read
ing Gaol"
81 never man who looked
With such wistful eye
Upon that little tent of blue
Which prisoners call the sky,
And at each drifting cloud that went
With sails of silver by.
There was promise of lively discussion, for Mr.
Legarde and Mr. Ward agreed that Mr.. Wilde
hyperbocal in the expression of his sentiment when
he declared the sky that broad expanse of light and
cloud was nothing alluring than prison But
before the first named could register in dramatic
articulation the fact that he inwardly perturbed
the curtain blazed necessarily like the pendragon
of old Britain, but bazed nevertheless, with such in
tense heat thst the drapery soon hung charred
stretch of odoriferous ribbon
The Truce Is Effected
The Americans argued that the crime was none
of theirs but the host, fumng and perspring, could
not be convinced but that his visitors should
strengthen his purse and at the same time calm his
wildly palpating heart with quarter of a thousand
dollars. So persistent he, matter of fact,
that he rushed gaping page to the nearby beer dis
pensary where, according to his custom, the astute
policeman taking his afternoon siesta. The gen
tie copper" came and peace was restored. 1t had
agreed that arrests should be made but that
the Americans should appear of their own voton
the morning next and give cause to the learned
justice why they should not be taxed healthy
for the destruction of the cafe curtain of the preen
tious hostelry of the fatted host.
An hour later much distressed, the three visitors
found themselves huddled in the BRIDES chamber of
the inn The question under discussion was whether
or not it wiser to remain and trust to the justice
of the law executioncr IN the silent hours of the
night to decamp. The question would have given
Hamlet pause.
Ward Makes His Escape
Mr. Ward urged the party to initiate the lone
some Arab who folds his tent and steals silently away
Mr. Kilby however protested
eve must remain and pay whatever sum- it is
found that in the hotels debt" he said. For
sooth, we not honorable men"
Mr. Legarde, who held in that moment the de-
Gliding VOTE cast the balance of power the side of
honor and honesty, and Mr. Ward was left alone And
then he said
.You may stay" and on that you" there was a
peculiar emphasis, but for me, this is place
little George"
And shortly after the hour of midnight Mr.. Ward
dropped mis- suit case from the window of his third
story chamber and tipping that Partisan chapeau of
Nile green cast to the northwest corner of his nim
mis- dome, he followed the steps of the fire escape
until he stood again terra firma. Then hastily
lifting his bag and taking peep In every direction
he moved with measured tread towards the station.
And there he boarded train and soon was fast
asleep No pangs of guilty conscience! No thought
of the unsuspectng host still grevng for the cur
tain! No narrowing dream of his two companions
tour forsaken in the lurch left unaided to hold
the believing calf!
kiIby Loses His Nerve
Left alone Mr. Kilby and Mr. Legarde wandered
through the dreaming city of Weisbaden At 10
o'clock they separated for the night expressing
to the other his satisfaction in that they had agreed
to remain behind and face the music In his room
Mr. Inv orpx riOuc with ID
cause another verse of Wilde's ballad was racing
through his BRAIN
II walked with other souls in pain,
Within another ring,
And wondering if the had done
A great little thing,
When voice behind me whispered low,
That fellows got to swing"