Abbeville progress. (Abbeville, Vermilion Parish, La.) 1913-1944, 1914-03-28
By GEORGE RANDOLPH CHESTER

fully keyed up to his pink tie, swag
gered into the Hotel Belveigh barber
shop, the boss barber loafug over al
the table Of Bessie Williams grinneC
in spite of his present i'll humor
Pipe the village cut-up," he oh
served.
The Manicure Girl surveyed the
newcomer with keen eye.
No, Billy she replied, its the
village sport"
Whatever he Is" insisted Billy
hes a Kick and looking for a ten
cent shave"
Again the girl surveyed the new
conner critically.
No she once more dissented, I'll
bet you the size of the tip that he
tips you"
The same which would be a fine
and wise bet for me to make. | think
not" observed Billy. and added a
forcible word or so under his breath
as he started forward. for Mr. James
f. Carroll. having looked down the
line OF Greeks and Italians who stood
glance at the only American barber
In the place, and climbed into the
only chair which had no attendant
III take a round trip" he affably
observed as Billy slipped the sleeves
OF the shaving apron over his arms.
Shave. sir?" coldly inquired Billy,
who, nevertheless, had understood
nnrfnrfIx- hot
THE whole bowling hippodrome, ="
said young Mr. Carroll, unabashed
DO everything you know how"
Just watch me make this fresh
wops pocket change shrink down to
the edge of his return ticket"
growled Billy to the Manicure Girl as
he made a pretext to go past her
table for fresh towels.
Il wouldn't have your ingrowing
crouch for money" laughed the girl
You would if you ached to fur
nish a fiat 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 a garbage can on the fire escape,
counting how many wienerwursts we
get for dime"
p 1t was in consequent savageness
that Billy began upon the task OF
giving his country customer "a round
trip" He cut that hearty young gen
teman's hair. and singed and sham
pooed and dandruffined it, he shaved
htm and massaged his head and his
face, he put upon him trenches OF
every bottled thing in his possession,
then he grinned, yanked up the chair.
Jerked on the towels and handed over
his largest check. But Mr.. Carroll
was scarcely interested.
rs that all you can do?" he asked.
I'VE have a 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: land
just as a sporting proposition I'm
W bdDlpIt n vi tbtIy-
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 matter of living up to that
largeness he presented Billy with half
a dollar, then he staggered across
the shop to the cashiers desk, f1aunt-
ing a twentydollar bill in hts hand
and glancing with speculative assur-
ance at the row of manicure girls.
Tess, who was quite universal In her
tastes, 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.. Carrolrs
gaze roved right on over her head to
the deceptively demure Miss VIII
iiams
Mr.. Smarty from Smartvilie," CON-
mented Tess with toss of her head.
Il don't want him." retorted Miss
Williams, IF ! draw Johnny Fresh
I'll give him the sailing down Of his
life. It'll be real quiet convention
weH 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 was
red. Some uncomfortable thought
held him silent throughout the entire
operation, checking any desire for
conversation and killing any inclina-
ton whatsoever toward fiippancy.
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 II was the proper thing to tip
a lady. Sometimes Miss Williams
took tips and sometimes she refused
them. This time she accepted before
one was really offered.
Thank you" said she very
sweetiy.
He pushed a quarter toward her