The Hays free press. [volume] (Hays, Kan.) 1908-1924, 1914-04-18


dred times was set upon by furnishing
villagers who wished to pick his ribs
with fang-Iike teeth; a thousand times
found himself stark and shiVering be-
fore the bar Of Justice In a chilly
stretch OF space, where the specters Of
all worthy Joneses OF the past con-
fronted him with slim, accusing fin
gers, pointed straight at his terror
stricken stomach.
The dreams were not true night
mares, though, for at the supreme in
slant of each period of peril white
angel foated to him, rescuing him
from that which threatened him. And
this white angel, graceful, 1arge-eyed.
smiling and bene1cent, was always
Josie Richards AS soon as she had
rescued him each time, he spoke his
speech to her, and she wept on his
shoulder.
The result of such a night of agony
was. naturally, that they slept later
in the morning than was the JonesvilIe
custom. When half past eight arrived
and they had not appeared, the wife
Of the proprietor sent him upstairs to
see if they had not decamped without
chance, they had not come there sui
cidally inclined
She crept up behind her liege lord
fearfully. and peeped across his shout
der as he opened each unlocked door
in turn. Finding that they were but
peacefully asleep, she was both
shocked at such unheard-of Incidence,
and cheated at the lack of tragedy, so
she snorted, "ScandaIousi as she
crashed down each step.
She was very solid woman, widely
built. Wallace had noticed that the
night before when ne had peeped in
through the door. Had she been aware
of that terrific episode, she would have
screamed for the village constable and
had him locked up in the calaboose.
Broadway had his high triumphant
moment when it became apparent that
Wallace would Of necessity go to the
village barber shop. Having come
away in fight from Mrs. Gerard with
out bags or luggage OF whatever kind,
he had no razor with him.
MY Whiskers are so whitish that
they will not begin to show until the
afternoon" Broadway exulted. by
that time Rankin will be here with
bags"
I'll wait for him. won't see any"
You'll be sure to see the judges
daughter. All the Jonesvil1e girls that
work at the gum factory get up at six
O'Clock. The idle, aristocratic class,
like Clara, stay in bed till seven
well, where is it, then?' said Wal
lace in an evil temper.
What? The village barber shop?
Next door" Broadway wrung his
hand. "Good-by old chap; good-by.
III,
"Just give my love to Broadway %
Wallace begged.
Jackson Jones grew sober in an in
slant. 81 don't expect I'll see much
| of it for a while
at must be permanent" said Wal
lace. ct has lasted through the long
est night the world has ever known
The day already was well under way
at the Jones factory. Josie had been
at her managerial desk not less than
half when Wallace started for the bar
| Der shop.
It was very trying morning for the
girl. The events of the night before
had much upset her, and her sleep had
been as much disturbed as Broadway's.
although, perhaps, less physically
painful.
She had been terribly in earnest in
everything which she had said to him
about his duty to the village which had
made him rich, his duty to the family
whose name he bore. his duty to him
self; she had been intensely worried.
still was intensely worried, lest all
which she had said might go for
naught, failing to impress him perma-
nently.
He had doubtless meant well when
he left her. but would that good inten-
ton stand the test of Wallace's ridi-
cule (she felt certain Wallace would
oppose her p1an) and his own contem-
plation OF the future for night2
She had a hazy notion Of what the
life of idle rich youth in New York
must be, but imagined that it must
attract with vivid power, and she could
guess that Jonesville did not. Would
| he hold firm IN the determination
which she felt sure he had formed?
When the Judge came IN he found
her wondering and worrying as she
waited for some papers she had sent a
clerk to get Already she had almost
/ finished the statement OF affairs which
she had promised to give Broadway.
We'll, I just came over from the
Grand hotel" the judge began.
Did you see the young man %
eOnly for minute The Judge
Ianshed indulgently. He was eating
breakfast In his room. and his valet
had just borrowed some hot flat-irons
and was pressing out his clothes The
judges laughter became very hearty.
Even Josie smiled: but the fact tina.
they had brought a valet with them
was bit OF news to her. She ex
pressed surprise.
j The judge laughed again. .oh. hs