Western Carolina Democrat and French Broad hustler. [volume] (Hendersonville, N.C.) 1913-1915, 1914-02-12

her to the factory was an ~Nnheard-of
thing: she had distinctly heard his
Voice as she had passed outside the
open door, but now her deep astonish-
aent because he was within the room
feemed almost Overwhelming.
"Oh. hello. Broadway"
He smiled nervously and hurried for
ward. Things had not gone as he had
wished, but he was not resentful. New
Nr had he been so humble. Had-he
not, the night before, defaced that pa
per with the tale Of his humility and
the details Of his good resolves? Be
sides, had not Mrs. Spotswood guard
ed him in childhood against wrath at
home on more than one occasion, and
had she not, the previous evening, with
the understanding and good humor Of
anyangel, prepared for him that lemon
ade which held the magic touch for
which his system yearned?
I'm awfully glad to see you here IN
the plc7t," she earnestly assured him.
and meant every word Of It. Then:
'sDid you have q good nights sleep"
Even the question was a nervous!
SQOGhs UuG AS 61411O0 DAGNO4JS 61S1@@9@Ai
he shuddered slightly Is he asked in
answer, "How do I look?"
'tGrand!" she exclaimed.
Now his shudder was not slight.
Don't mention the name, please"
"You must come to our house to sup
per-"
Believe me, / shall be glad to get
it." he said ~fervently.
Now her soul paid tribute to that
subtle hint of which. was in
the air. "You, too, Josie"
ooh, thanks, Mrs. Spotswood."
"Is the judge here?"
She knew perfectly well that he was
not; she had seen him through the;
window Of his little one-roomed, peak
rooted office building. Just across the
street as she had turned into thel
~graveled, fower-lined path which led,
to the works entrance.
81 thought he might be here. We've,
been-er-shopping, and going
by, SO I thought I would run in and
have a word with him." ;
Even Mrs. Spotswood did not shop
thus early In the morning, W for
groceries; moreover, she did not wear.
her best black silk dress when She
went shopping for her groceries, and,
the shopping district occupied the re-
gion farthest from the works upon
the other side of her own home-but,
these things did not matter.
Then, as she saw Broadway's atten-i
ton wavering, and that Clara was en-
deavoring to hold it long enough to.
ask for Wallace, she turned beamingly;
to him, although behind the beam,
there was a genuine anxiety. ANY;
thing new, Broadway"
clara's courage had augmented by.
that time, and she gave him insult
Gent time to frame an answer, SO Mrs;
Spotswood went to Josie, and, as;
Broadway answered questions about,
Wallace, assuring Clara that he'd be-
there before long. out Of the corner Of
his eye ne couN make certain that:
Josie was explaining things to Mrs.
Spotswood. He rather thought and
hoped that she was explaining them;
with real enthusiasm.
Clara was shyEy excited over Wal
lace, and took fill advantage of this.
chance to talk of him with his best
friend. The long standing of her
friendship for Broadway made her feel.
at liberty to gossip freely.
Il think Mr.. Wallace is an awfully.
nice fellow" she said gravely.
do you really?" Broadway smiled
at her although he bitterly resented
her intrusion on his talk with Josie.
I'll tell him you said that" he gailyl
threatened.
He Is" she stated positively. "Hei
ordered ice cream twice last night" A
reminiscent hunger came into her:
eyes. Bought me a box Of chocolates,
too"
ooh, he doesn't care what he does:
with his money" Broadway's manner
indicated that asking twice for ice
cream and the purchase Of a box Of
chocolates represented to his mind the
extreme insanity Of spendo-mania.
Doesn't he?" she asked, her tone in
dicating that delightful horror which
unmarried ladies' feel at hearing of the
exploits of equally unmarried, possibly
eligible young men.
mo" said Broadway, with the air
of one revealing something at once
horrible and fascinating, she spent
over twenty-five dollars one night"
His audience was as wildly i'm
pressed al any speaker could have
wished. He must have just thrown il
away"
why"
But the mad tale of WaIIace's ex-
penditures was never told. The CON
versation was at this point interrupt
ed by the sound of cheers in the great
workrooms at the back:
CHAPTER XII
Higgins, erratic, demagogic, often
vicious tempered, was, when once his
championship had been enlisted, an en-
thusiastic advocate. AS he himself had
Z a. - 49, a.