Western liberal. (Lordsburg, N.M.) 1887-1919, 1914-10-02


thank you. Nix on that stun. Mr..
Wen; l wasn't born yesterday-how's
Mr.. Schmidt tOday-'tain't 30; you've
seen that there turquoise long as
you've seen mcgee, ain't you the jol-
ier-ten and fifteen Is twenty-five
pleasant day. Nj. Bing-oh. you gold
dollar. nnst I've seen this yenr-ten
and ninety Is ono dOllar-Mr. Trimp.
please pass on; you're blocking the
iine-say. what do you think this Is.
Mr.. Mentry. n church sociAl-Oh. thank
you. I DO love chewing gum-gOOd
morning. Mr.. D~odrldge. pleasant day"
At o. when the night force came on.
AggiO climbed down from her obelisk
stool. took her hat and tan coat on
their hook and went to her boarding
house.
She lived in the traditional hall bed.
o with n single iron bed and trunk
covered with chin1.
Aggie slipped out OF her ~" at the
neck shirt waist into a red iannelette
dressing sack and eurled her tired
little body In a corner OF the bed with
a copy OF u new novel and a box OF
Mr.. Trimp's ~chocolatea But she did
not read Instead she ate OF Air.
Trmp's chocolates aud thought Of Mr..
Dodridge.
A word conserving Mr.. DOdhdga
He was a Runey regular; he came
ut the clerks rush hour, and bis check
Invariably represented two boiled
eggs, buttered toast and milk.
His features were uhdisunguisbed.
except that nearsighted eyes. framed
in steel trimmed spectacles, made him
appear forty instead OF t~wenty-nine.
and a wide. quiet smile hnd creased
deep brackets around his mouth.
He had the familiar stoop which Il
born OF leaning forward with both
hands on the counter; you thought OF
yard stuns when you saw him aud
expected him to carry a pair OF Scis-
sOrs in his upper vest pocket silver
OF silk dress patterns and carefully
replace the bolt on the shelf.
Yet when Mr.. DOdridge passed Ag-
gie's cage. bent on play at Runey's d.
gcstivs roulette table. his wide. gentle
smile and weak eyes. that seemed
Straining and peering into some be-
yOnd. caused AgRie's left side to pound
IKE q tHphammer.
Often he gazed at her owl fashion.
the two eyes regarding her above the
rim Of his milk glAss- Once their
giances met. and Aggis jumped inter
nAlly and externally ~ II OomS one
had struck her in the small OF her back.
Nj. DOdhdRs chOked owe his milk
and was Obliged to set the glass down
hastily.
Thereafter when Mr. DOdridge push
ed his boiled eggS and toast check
through the archway and looked at AR-
gle with his shy. Inconsistent eyeS the
bombardments on her left side incFeas-
ed and sent the color rushing Into her
face
launched in tho corner Of tbs bed.
her back against the cold wall, these
delicious and significant moments camO
back to her with all OF their ~tassineas.
Then Mr. Trimp passed on dreas pa
rade. and her workaday instincts spoke
louder than his loud promises and loud
waistcoats and loud perfumes.
Charley had prospects OF a partner
ship In tho drug store. BE was q
known quantity with intentions. and
a young man with a secure position
and intentions Is not to be winked at
Notwithstanding that he wheezed when
he talked and had moist hands.
But the blue litmus OF poor AgEle's
huttennR little soul yeaned for the
acid touch. and ane knew that Charley
could eve inspire that reaction
Il was DOdridge. with no visible In
her valuable indices. the lunch checks
Of sparse resources. who tugged at her
heartstrings.
Yet Mr.. Dod1dge's personality watt
ed TO her as powerfully fragrant AZ tho
azalia cologne.
The next morning after the break.
fast rush. while AgEie was pillnR a
mountain OF toothpicks in a glass bowl,
Mr.. DodddGe walked into tho whits
Kitchen.
He had a white carnntion pinned on
his oat lspeL and his glasses and eyes
were shining with a high brilhancy NJ
n both the lens aud the eyes had beer
polished with s~crupulOus care.
He dehed his evCcy precedent By
walking UP to the cage placing each
hand on a bar and peerinR through
Aggie's fingers worked faster.
"MOrnin', Mr.. D%Odridge; you must
have come from Leadtown. Ahz.. this
morning and forgot TO change your
time. Ny Waterbury say ii:l0. and
the big show at tho tables don't begin
for twenty Minutes she laughed nerv'
ously. %YOu're ahead Of yourself. Mr.
DOdridge."
II love you. dear. 1 loved you from
the moment / say you"
"HonestT' she breathod Softiy. and
her eyes were like stars
Honest, dear" whispered Mr.. bod
ridge. edging toward the e a Of thu
cage
ANA. - ao.sk k..ar- I-o- -.