The silver state. [volume] (Winnemucca, Nev.) 1909-1925, 1915-12-07
THAT HOUUID MAN
BY KEITH KENYON.

that dreadful Saturday that he had
bought tickets for The Jumping
Jack in the afternoon and to meet
him at Wentworth's, the aorist.
/ had asked six of the girls in for
tea, but when | got Charles mes
sage, l called up and postponed the
festivities until Monday. Charlie must
have known | was dying for q chance
to wear my new hat and the stunning
suit Renarki had just sent home. But,
like all of Remarks things, it was a
little striking. / felt queer in it at
first, for ! have always stuck to styles
that are not too extreme, or at least /
have not adopted them until people
have got over their first gasp.
Well, l put the buds on and, of
course. it took an age. l was late
starting and had to hurry for the car.
| saw 1t coming before l got to the
corner and started to ~ Then /
did the most stupid thing. | don't
know just how it did happen, but l
fell!
Just then a man came running and
helped ms VI He whistled for the
car to stop, evidently guessing | had
been trying to make it, and he helped
me to get on. | thanked him and sup
posed he would leave, but he got on
too.
The whole way into town that man
sat exactly opposite me and scarcely
looked away an instant. 1t must have
been the suit, and | got madden every
yard of the way. / never was so re
lieved in my life as l was to get of
that car.
But | nearly tainted when / turned
to go into the florists to see my man
come in too. He deliberately looked
at me, half smiled and followed me
back to the counter.
| hate scenes, and have always pic
tured to myself just how | should act
and what | should do if ever a man
whom | did not know should speak to
me. Here was my cuel Stony silence
and extreme haughtiness. Besides,
Charlie would come bouncing in in a
minute and would do any annihilating
necessary.
"Oh, Miss Arnold" called a clerk,
coming put of the Office. "Mr. Arnold
Just called up and said to tell you he
would be late, and for you to go on
to the theater and ask for your
ticket at the box Office. He left it
there. You are to go in, and he said
he would be there as soon as pos
sible."
Well. there was nothing to do but
go. The theater at any rate was a
haven of refuge.
When | left the store the man, l
noticed. was buying violets. He looked
up as | passed.
When / went by the window /
saw the clerk hand him the purple
box and his change. and the man
started hurriedly toward the door.
was getting frantic. Such persistence,
such impudence, it had never been
my lot to experienced
He followed me right into the
theater and stood behind me in line
at the box office.
| got my ticket and went in. He
came in after me. l had a notion
to say something to the usher, but
it struck me that our seats would
not be together, and Charlie would
be with me going out.
The seats were in right F. Mine
was two | didn't know which was
Charlie's-one or three. But | soon
found out. The orchestra was play
ing the overture and the curtain
was going up when someone sat down
in the sea- beside me.
The man-violets and all!
He gave me a funny little smile and
actually opened his mouth to say some
thing
/ was cold with fright now, and too
paralyzed to move. But | saw the
violets coming. | could see that he
was thinking of a neat way to get to
talk to me and offer me the flowers.
Then | did move. Charles seat evil
IDENTIFY was number three. / moved
into it as quickly as | could and piled
my hat and everything | could think
of into the empty n between that
monster and myself.
The first act was good, and | had al.
most forgotten the man was there
when Charlie came in.
But the funny part of it was he
scarcely looked at me He grabbed
that man and nearly shook his hand
off. He asked him if he got his seat
all right, and said he was sorry he
couldn't meet him at Wentworth's-
hoped he got the message all right,
and so on.
Then he turned to me, isis, want
you to meet Jimmy Livingston. You
know, my class at Yale. just came
to town and living cut our way. Toe
bad / had to spoil our little theater
party by being late, but we three
will have a rousing good dinner after
the show and get acquainted right"
Mr.. Livingston and / bowed.
Charlie jumped up
III