The Meridian times. (Meridian, Idaho) 1909-1938, 1914-03-13

ner head and laughed
"Minnie!" she said. between fits
"Minniel As long as live I'll never
forget that wretched boys face! And
the sand boxes And the blankets
over the windows! And the tarpauIin
over the rafters! And Mr.. Van AL
styne sitting on the lawnmoweri I'D
rather have had my minute in that
doorway than fifty thousand dollars -
II you had had to carry out all
those things" began, but she
checked me.
Listen!" she said Somebody with
brains has got to take you young peo-
pie In hand. You're not able to look
after yourselves. I'm fond of Alan
Pierce, for one thing, and don't care
TO see sanatorium that might have
been the child Of my solicitude kid
naped and reared as q summer hotel
by Papa Thoburn. A good fat man is
very, very good, Minnie. but when he
is bad he is horrid."
! It's too late" l objected feebly.
He can't get 1t now"
Cant he!" She got up and yawned.
stretching. We'll, I'll lay you ten to
one that If we don't get busy he'll have
the house empty in thirty-six hours,
and a bill Of sale on 1t in as many
days" Then she told me what she
knew of Thoburn's scheme, and 1t
turned me cold.
Doctor Barnes came to me at the
news stand the next morning before
gymnasium.
WELL" he said, you look as busy
as dog with fieas. Have you heard
the glad tidings?"
"What?" ! asked without much spir-
II. I've heard considerable tidings
lately. and not much of 1t has cheered
me up any"
He leaned over and ran his fingers
up through his hair.
"You know, Miss Minnie" he said
somebody ought kindly to kill our
friend Thoburn, or he'll come to bad
end"
Shall do it. or will your" i said,
filling up the chewing gum Jar. (Mr.
Pierce had taken away the candy
case.)
Doctor Barnes glanced around to
see II there was anyone near, and
leaned farther over.
The cupboard isn't empty now!" he
said. mot for nothing did spend
part Of the night in the Dicky-bird's
nest! What do you think is In the
cupboard?"
Il know about it," said shortly.
"Liquor-in case labeled Books
breakable.'"
Almost a goal, But not only liquors,
my little friend. Champagne-cas of |
it-caviar, canned grouse with truf-
fes, lobster, cheese, fine cigars, every |
thing you could think Of erotic. ex-
otto and narcotic. An orgy in cans |
and bottles, bacchanaiian revel; |
cupboard full of Indigestion. joy, for
getfulness and katzenjammer. Oh, my |
suffering palate. to have to leave 1t all |
without one sniff. one sip, one nibble!"
He's wasting his money" I said.
They're all crazy about the simple
Iife."
He looked around and, seeing no one
In the lobby, reached over and took
one of my hands.
Strange" he said, looking at It.
mo webs. and yet it's been an amphi-
bious little creature most of it's life.
My dear girl, our friend Thoburn Ia a
rascal, but he is also a student OF
mankind and a philosopher Geo." he
said. think of woman fighting her
way alone through the world with bit
OF fist like that!"
jerked my hand away.
Its like this. my dear" he said.
Human natures curious thing. It's
human nature. for instance, for me to
be crazy about you. when you're as
hands-offish as curly porcupine. And
Il is human nature, by the same token,
to like to be bullied especially about
health. and to respect and admire the
fellow who does the bullying. That's
why we were crazy about Roosevelt.
and that's why Pierce is trailing his
kingly robes over them while they lie
on their faces and eat dirt-and
'tewed fruit"
He reached for my hand again, but |
put II behind me.
But alas he said, there is another
Tide to the human nature, and our
riend Thoburn has not kept sum-
ner hotel for nothing II Is notorious
y weak, especially as to stomach. You
nay feed EN- prunes and wholewheat
'read and apple sauce, and after a {
While they'll forget the fat days, and I
emember only the lean and hungry l
mes. But let k'me student OF human I
iature at the proper moment introduce I
ust one fat day. one feast. one
eYel--"
Talk English" said sharply.
Don't break In on my flights of q
ancy," he objected. "If you want \
ne truth. Thoburn Is going to have a q
arty--a forbidden feast. He's going b
rouse again the sleeping dogs of APP
elite. and send them ravening back a
the Plaza. to Sherry's and DeI's
nd the little italian restaurants on