Tombstone epitaph., 1915-03-07

and became a habit.
 Ted came out after serving his term, still handsome. spite Of all that story writers may have taught to the con- trary. But we'll make this concession to the old tradition. There was a diff ference. His radiant blondeur was dimmed in some intangible, elusive way. Birdie Callahan. who had worked in Ted's mothers kitchen for years. and who had gone back to her old job at the Haley house after her mistress death, put il sadly thus:
 He was always tn han some Givil. I used to look forward to ironin' day just for the pleasure of pressin' his fancy shirts for him. I'm that partial to them swell blonds. But l dinnaw, he's changed. Doin' time has taken the edge ofl his hair an complexion. Not changed h.s color. do yuh mind. but dulled it, like gold ring, or the like, that has tarnished."
 Ted was seated in the smoker, with q chip on his shoulder. and a sick hor TOT of encountering someone he knew in his heart. when Jo Haley. of the Haley house. got on al Westport, homeward bound. Jo Haley is the most eligible bachelor in our town. end the sl.rperiest. He has made the Haley house gem. so that travelling men viii cut half dozen towns to Sunday there. If he should say Jump through this" to any girl in our town shed jump
 Jo Haley strolled leisurely up the car aisle toward Ted. Ted saw him coming and sat very still. waiting
 Hello. Ted. flows TeG?" said Jo Haley, casually. And dropped into the adjoining seat without any more fuss
 Ted wet his lips slightly and tried 10 say something. He had been a breezy talke-. But the words would not come. Jo Haley made no effort 10 cover the situation with rush ol conversation He did not seem to realize that there was any situation to cover He Champed the end of his cigar and handed one to Ted.
 Well, you've taken your lickin kid. What you going 70 do now?"
 The rawness of it made Ted vince 'Oh, don't know" he stammered. I've got job half promised in Chi cago."
 What doing?"
 Ted laughed a short, ugly laugh. Driving a brewery auto truck"
 Jo Haley tossed his cigar dexterous- ly to the opposite corner of his mouth and squinted thoughtfully along its bulging sides.
 Remember that Wenzel girl that's kept books for ne for the last six years? She's leaving in a couple of months to marry New York guy that travels for ladies cloaks and suits. After she goes it's. nix with the lady bookkeepers for me. Not that Minnie isn't good. straight girl, and honest, but no girl can keep books with one eye on a column of figures and the other on a travelling man in a brown suit and a red necktie, unless she's cross eyed. and you bet Minnie isn't. The jobs yours if you want it Eighty a month to start on, and board"
 'I-can't, Jo. Thanks just the same I'm going to try to begin all over again, somewhere else. where mo- body knows me"
 "Oh, yes" said Jo. q knew a fellow that did that After he came out he grew beard and were eyeglasses and changed his name. Had a quick. crisp way of tallIin', and he cultivated a drawl and went west and started in business. Real estate. think. Any way, the second month he was there in walks a fool he used to know and bellows: Why. if it ain't Bill! Hello, Bill, I thought you was doing time yet That was enough Ted, you can black your face and dye your hair and squint, and some fine day. sooner or later, somebody'il come along and blab the whole thing. And say. the older it gets the worse it sounds. when it does come out. Stick around here where you grew up, Ted"
 Ted clasped and unclasped his hands uncomfortably. "I can't figure out why you should care how I finish"
 'No reason" answered Jo Not a darned one. wasn't ever in love with your ma. like the guy on the stage: and I never owed your pa a cent. So 1t ain't a guilty conscience. I guess it's just pure cussedness and a han kerin' for new investment. I'm curi- Ous 10 know how'll you turn out You've got the makin's of what the newspapers call leading citizen. even if you did fall down once. If I'd ever had time to get married, which never will have, a frst-class hotel bein' more worry and expense than a Pitts burgh steel magnate's whole harem, I'd have wanted somebody to do the