The Dolores star., 1913-11-28

church bells. softly. unsteady. sooth'
ingly. Slipping from the wall, he sst
out for the village below In the val
ley. where the road wound steeply
down.
The village boasted 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
for 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's
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
SHARED In any ones bonnet strings,
had remained away from church and
foregathered In the seclusion OF the
barber shop. The Watermelon re-
garded them a moment through the
window as he felt carelessly In his
pockets for the coins that were never
there. The barber was cleaning up
after his last customer and talking
apparently as much to himself a. to
any one. Convinced of what he knew
was so. that he had no money, the
Watermelon pushed open the door and
entered.
Hello" said he.
Hello" said the barber.
All the papers were lowered and all
conversation stopped as each man
turned and scanned the newcomer
with an interest the Watermelon mod
estly felt was caused by some event
other than his own entry. He sur
missed that James had probably been
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 his
shabby hat to the nondescript cover
ing of his feet which from force of
habit he called shoes. and spoke with
darkly yelled sarcasm:
q suppose you are the guest from
the hotel up to the lake,"
The Watermelon grinned. He recog-
nized James favorite role. NO." said
lie cheerfully. I'm John D.. and me
car Is waiting without"
"A guest up to the hotel" repeated
the barber. upon whom James had EVIL
IDENTIFY made powerful impression.
Just back from a two weeks camp
ing and fishing trip"
NO" said the Watermelon. II
don't like fishing, batting the hook is
such darned hard work"
Just back" went on the barber.
still quoting. his soul yet ranking
with the deceit OF man. Look like
a tramp. probably"
Am one." grinned the Watermelon.
And you thought you would get .
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 u.s. Did
anyone bunko you out OF a shave with
that lingo"
YES snapped the barber. About
an hour ago Teller blew In here and
said all that. He talked wdil and
shaved him, and then he found he
hadn't any money In his old clothes
but he would send II right down
oh. yes-the moment he got to the no.
tel. II amt come and Harry. there.
says there amt no one up TO the
hotel like that. Harry's the porter"
Sure" said Harry Importantly. Il
passed the Teller as ! 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 oushtnt 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 a 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.