Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1914-02-15

the yard,-nice. quiet, little teatable yarns
with snappy dialogue. Once | got eighty
dollars for a story. 1t was hard work-and
l always did yearn for the purple, you
know"
Il know" said AIinot gravely.
4Well, I've struck it, Dick. I've struck
the deep purple with loud if sickening
thud. Hist! The graft mentioned yester
day. He glanced over his shoulder. Re
member Mrs. Bruce, the wittiest hostess in
San Marcoo"
"Of course | do.
well, write her repartee for her.
Her-what:?
"Her repartee-her dialogue-the bright
talk she convulses dinner tables with. In
stead of putting stuff into stories at eighty
per, l sell it to Mrs. Bruce at-I'd be
ashamed to tell you, old man. I remarked
that it was essentially soft. 1t is.
This is a new one on me. said Mlnot,
dazed.
A delighted smile spread over Paddock's
handsome face. Thanks. That's the
Others but l was the first. Consider the
situation. Here's Mrs. Bruce, loaded with
diamonds and money, but tongue tied in
company, with a wit developed in Zanes-
vile, Ohio. Bright but struggling young
author comes to her-offers to make her
conversation the sensation of the place for a
few pesos"
YOU did that"
! @Yes-I ask posterity to rememberitwa was
l who invented the graft Mrs. Bruce fell
on my fair young neck. Now she gives me
in advance a list of her engagements, and
for the important ones devise her line OF
talk. Then, as I'm usually present at the
7 harl md
give her her cues. If I'm not there, she has
to manage it herself. It's great life-only
bit of strain on me. | have to remember
not to be clever in company. If forget and
spring a good one, she jumps on me properly
afterward for not giving it to her."
"Jack," said Alinot slowly, come away
from here with me. Come North. This
place will finish you sure"
"Sorry, old man, laughed Paddock, but
I've had nip of the lotus This lazy old
land suits me. l like to sit on veranda
while duskv mental In white coat hands
me the tinkle-tinkle in tall, cool glass.
you'll marry down here, sighed A1inot,
@some girl with money, and the career we
all hoped you'd make for yourself will go
up in golden cloud"
a met girl, Paddock replied, half clos
ing his eyes and smiling cynically at the
sea,-"httle thing from the Middle West,
stopping at back street boarding house;
father in the hardware business, nobody at
all; but eyes like the sea there, hands like
butterfies-sort of-got me- That's how
1 happen to know III never marry; for if
1 married anybody it would have to be her
and let her go home without saving
word because was selfish and liked this
easy game and intend to stick to it until
I'm smothered In rose leaves. Shall We
wander back
"See here, Jack! don't want to preach,
AIinot tried to conceal his seriousness with
a smile, "but if I were you I'd stick to this
girl, and make good"
And leave this" Paddock laughed.
"Dicl, you old idiot, this is meat and drink
to me, this nice old land of loiter in the sun.
Nay, nay! Now I've really got to get back.
Mrs. Bruce is giving tango tea this after
noon-inforrnal; but something has to be
said. These fellows who write daily hui
morous column must lead a devil of a life.
With a laugh Minot followed his ire
sponsible friend down the steps. They
crossed the bridge over the empty raoat, and
came through the city gates again to the
street Of the alligator.
"By the way, Paddock said as they went
up the hotel steps, you haven't told me
what brought YOU South"
Business, Jack said AIinot. ITS a
secret-Derhaps I can tell Vol later