The Meridian times. (Meridian, Idaho) 1909-1938, 1914-03-27
THE GIRL from
PROSPER ITY

By GEORGE RANDOLPH CHESTER


shop. the boss barber loafing over at
the table Of Bessie Williams grinned
in spite Of his present Ill humor
Pipe the village cut-up.e he OBJ
served
The Manicure Girl surveyed the
newcomer with keen eye.
No, Billy" she replied, dts the
village sport
Whatever he IL" insisted Billy.
he's a Hick and looking for tens
cent shave"
Again the girl surveyed the new
conner critically,
No, she once more dissented, 'I1l
bet you the size OF the tip that he
tips you.
The same which would be fine
and vice bet for me to make / think
not observed Billy. and added d
forcIble word or so under his breath
as he started forward, for Mr.. James
~ Carroll, having looked down the
line Of Greeks and Italians who stood
inyitingly at their empty chairs. gave
a glance at the oniy American barber
ir the place, and climbed into the
OILY chair which had no attendant
'slll take round trip he affably
observed pilly slipped the sleeves
Of the sh apron over his arms.
Shave, sir?" coldly inquired Billy,
who, nevertheless. had understood
perfectly what his customer meant.
The whole bowling hippodrome,"
said young MT Carroll. unabashed
DO everything you know how"
lust watch me make this fresh
wop's pocket change shrink down to
the edge OF his return ticket"
erowied Billy TO the Manicure Girl as
he made a pretext TO so past her
table for fresh towels
wouldn't have your ingrowing
Crouch foiS money. laughed the girl.
you would II you ached to fur
nish nat and got turned down
every time you mentioned it, he
complained.
Il told you that was barred" she
Informed him. Il think | see myself
in an east Harlem fiat. with cheese.
cloth curtains on the front windows
and garbage can on the fire escape,
counting how many wienerwursts we
get for d dilne"
It was In consequent savageness
that Billy began upon the task Of
giving his country customer a round
trip He cut that hearty young gen
tleman's hair, and singed and sham
pooed and dandruflned IT, he shaved
him and massaged his head and his
face, he Put upon him drenches OF
every bottled thing In his possession.
then he grinned. yanked UP the chair.
jerked off the towels and handed over
his largest check But Mr. Carroll
was scarcely interested.
IL that all you can dog' he asked,
We have chiropodist, but he's
not on duty Just now" snarled Billy:
while you're waiting, though, you
can get manicured :"
"Me for the manicure. I've heard
about EN-. said Mr.. Carroll; sand
just as a sporting proposition I'm
going to sample sample OF every,
thing there Is In New York"
"Just go right ahead and see II New
York cares" Bill advised him.
Il don't care whether New York
cares" returned Mr. Carroll. largely.
and that's where I've got the best
of New York.
As a matter Of living up to that
1argeness he presented BILLY with half
a dollar, then he staggered across
the shop to the cashiers desk, flaunt-
Ing a twenty-dollar bill in his hand
and glancing with speculative assur-
anee at the row of manicure girls.
Tess. who was quite universal In her
sastes. used her large eyes freely, but
with the usual negative effect No
body could be persuaded to believe
them. Instead OF succumbing to the
girl who owned them. Mr. CarroIi's
gaze roved right on over her head 10
the deceptiyely demure Miss VIII
aiams.
MIR Smarty from Smartville," com
mented Tess with toss OF her head.
Il don't want him." retorted Miss
Williams, IF ! draw Johnny Fresh
tn give him the sailing down Of his
life. TN be real quiet convention
wen hold with me in the steam
roller part
As a preliminary to this process,
when Mr., Carroll sat down at her
table she spread out both his hands
before her and surveyed them critic
ally; then she smiled with an appar-
ent attempt TO conceal IT.; then she
looked demurely up. Mr. Carroll wns
red. Some uncomfortable thought
held him silent throughout the entire
operation. checking any desire Tor
conversation and killing any inclina.
dion whatsoever toward fippancy.
When he got up to go he looked at
the change obviously then at the
girl, then back at the change and
again grew red His dilemma was
obvious. He did not know whether
or not it was the proper thing to tip
lady. Sometimes Miss Williams
took tips and sometimes she refused
them. This time she accepted before
zone was really offered.