Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1914-12-02

81
the man at Pedro's elbow.
~ Yea" Then brazenly-"A friend
Of Miss Vanderpoole."
s'"Ahl said the man. "she's good
dancer!" Sc. 5@E9,
Yes" It'll .:ag&i=i }$,5 ~
mot like the other, though; eh.
what r
what other," asked Pedro.
why, Ruth st. Johns, Of course!
Didn't; you see it?"2
II came in late,", Pedro explained.
\ y Sorry l did not see it. Tell me who
some Of these people are" he added.
who Is the little man, the hostT d
Eyes, that's Don Milligan," replied
the man, seemingly not In the least
surprised at finding guest who was
ignorant of the hosts name. '"He sure
is nice little fellow corker, Don
is. Not bad painter, either; though
he's never done as good work since
he's married. Can't, Of course. They
have kid, you see, and they've got to
i've His wife's q wonder. Ask any
Of the boys! That's Bell over there,
talking to Gester, the sculptor"
"And the tall man with the SO sadly
dropping necktie ?" inquired Pedro. 4
Talking to Heskall's wife? That's
a bum poet named Nichols" 3
& & And SO he ratified on. saying the
names SO familiar to himself, so sug-
gestive of success, so otherwise mean
ingless to Pedro, who never looked
twice at anything unless it were ex-
ceptionally good. and consequently
heard most Of these names for the
first time. b. TN I'll TX; r 5aal.3
l33t"By the way, what are you ?" asked
the man, abruptly breaking OF his
monologue. I'll NH. \ u ,,.EF ss7 y; \, s-
rs 4 Painter replied Pedro. TT :. A
Ii, I'm on the Sum- said the man.
Theodore Pell is my name. Not here
/ to do this party, though. All friends
OF mine here. Wouldn't be such q rot
ter, you know. What's your name?"
. :. II am Pedro" said the other with
such quiet assurance that the reporter
made no comment, and searched his
memory frantically, trying to place a
well-known' artist Of that name. The
boy spoke as If he said, II am Sar.
gent" Who the devil could he be?
4 There was slight commotion at the
] lower doorway, and a. splendid old
man entered. III. :. =, 81
I, why, there is Rives De Rueh!" ex-
claimed Pell. Didn't know he came
here!"% - ...-t ~;
n s "Ah! the great one!" cried Pedro.
IT must speak to him."
And without further apology he
rushed OF, leaving the still greatly
\ puzzled reporter staring after him and
I repeating, Pedro, Pedro-one of the
new spaniards. suppose
While still debating the matter, and
frowning over it, he was joined by a
friend who was writer and profess
sional model. This youth was named
Blaume, and came nearer to resemb-
! ling the Greek gods than do the gen.
/ eral run OF young gentlemen now
adays. He was rather conscious of
this, and also prided himself on &C.
Quaintance with, or knowledge OF,
most of the well-known creative peo-
pie Of two continents. At his approach
an idea occurred to Pell: He would
make a test. Accordingly he eprang
his mine almost Immediately.
. do you know that Pedro is here to.
night?" he asked. watching Blaume
closely as he put the question.
1 Blaume had never heard the name
before, but Judging from the others
tone that the person referred to was
one with whose accomplishments 1t
was proper to be familiar, he simu.
lated knowledge.
You don't say sol" he exclaimed in
terestedly. where is he?"
Down there talking to De Bush"
replied Pell, confirmed in the idea that
he had hitherto overlooked celebrity.
THAT young fellow?" cried Blaume.
why, I'd no idea he was such a kidd"
Nor l." replied Pell.
Whereby Pedro became famous.
At that particular moment he was
extracting a promise from the great
man to come and see his work, with B
view to giving regular criticism. The
sheer audacity Of the request was
probably what obtained the desired
consent. Such thing, in such a way,
had never been asked Of De Bush be-
fore. But Pedro had smiled, and his
earnest starlike eyes had done the
rest. When Pell and Blaume ap-
preached them, the famous painter
and the youthful one we're chatting
like the old friends which Pell instant
ly assumed them to be. The boys lack
IL l. IL
new masters talk, charmed De Bush,
who was too we'll accustomed to that
loneliness which is the fate often
forced upon the mighty by an over
respectful public. The shaggy head
was raised in leon1ne majesty to greet
the reporter.
my young friend here has just been