Evening star., 1914-05-31

had to go through the usual struggle with him, and
come away with fiat and firm refusal. But we kept
at him. new delegation went to him every day so,
and coaxed and pleaded and sprung him.
and finally imagined we had wrung consent from
him. He agreed to tell the story. But what had hap
pened that his little wife at home had said, BILL
you must! You it to them; you it to the town.
you it to yourself Think how dull the affair will
be without you. You always the life of their BAN
quets. You have right to hide your light under
bushel"
Bill Higgins knew well enough that what she meant
that she proud of the fact that her Pil could
stand up among all the big of Riverbank and do
what of them could do and that she wanted to feel
the glow of pride that was her treat when she
asked him "How did your story go tonight, Bl2' and
received his So he gave in
And so got him for the banquet. He came as he
always did, in frock coat mile too big for him, with
black tie that persisted in standing perpendiculary in
stead of horizontally and he took his seat at
the long table he began usual upsettng goblets of
water, splling salt, and being generally awkward He
was having his usual surplus of misery
The eating passed in the usual way, and Barker, in
troduced by Neddie Diefenbacher Boots and Shoes,
and chairman of the banquet ripped the canopy of
heaven and Iowa. the best and brightest of the
Union, there AS Barker ripped the atmosphere Bill
Higgins-as he always did-became calmer and began
to get grip himself. Probably the applause that
always greeted the periods of Barker oratoy and did
now, made Bill Higgins feel that the audience
a friendly one,-"warm house the theatrical people
say-and that whatever happened, he would not be
fiat failure
BY the time Judge Winnerton halfway through
Ozark the field and the bugles silent, Bill
Higgins able to speak cheerfuy to his next neigh
bor and the lines of care faded from his face Long be-
fore the Rev. Ferdinand Cotter reached the words
"for the uplifting of our beloved city and for morality
and law with which he always terminated his Cham
Der of Commerce orations, Bill Higgins was like an
eager dog in leash He tuggng at the strap Like
the old warhorse soryeer that he he scented the
battle and eager dash into it. The smile of assur
that fingers the lips of the tried and successful
storyte1er was his.
AND now Gentlemen, said Neddie Defenbacher,
when the applause following Reverend Cotter's adj
dress had subsided, @I have unusual pleasure be-
fore me-
That was Neddie's invariable introduction. And it
unusual pleasure for Neddie. He enjoyed his
position OF authority to the full. Bill Higgins pushed
back his plate and brushed his napkin to side.
ave have with tonight you will all be glad
to hear, said Nedde.
Bill Higgins moved his chair back few inches, and
took hurried sip from his goblet, and pulled down his
He laid hand on the table to assist himself in
rising when Neddie should mention his name.
Il take pleasure in introducing John P. Wright, rep
resentative of Holns & Long, of Chicago who happened
Bill Higgins dropped back into his chair, and John
evening cothes-the only
present, except Banker Schultz,
that sported them. He bowed up
Al.