Belington progressive. [volume] (Belington, W. Va.) 1912-1927, 1915-03-04

AS he grew older the taste took root
and became habit.
Ted came out after serving his term,
still handsome, spite Of all that story
writer's may have taught to the con-
trary. But We'll make tais concession
to the old tradition. There was diff
ference His radiant blondeur was
dimmed in some intangible, elusive
way. Birdie Callahan, who had worked
in Teds mothers kitchen for years.
and who had gone back to her old job
at the Haley house after her mistress
death, put it sadly thus:
HE was always tn han some divil.
used to look forward TO ironin' Gay
just for the pleasure of pressin' his
fancy shirts for him. I'm that partial
to them swell blends. But ! dinnaw,
he's changed. Doin' time has taken
the edge off his hair an complexion.
Not changed his color do yuh mind,
but dulled it, like gold ring, or the
like, that has furnished"
Ted was seated in the smoker, with
a chip on his shoulder, and sick hor.
ror of encountering someone he knew
in his heart, when 10 Haley, of the
Haley house, got on at Westport,
homeward bound. 10 Haley is the
most eligible bachelor in our town,
and the slipperiest. He has made the
Haley house gem, so that travelling
men will cut half dozen towns to
Sunday there. If he should say Jump
through this!" to any girl in our town
she'd jump.
10 Haley strolled leisurely up the
car aisle toward Ted. Ted saw him
coming and sat very still, waiting.
Hello, Ted! Hcw's Ted?" said 10
Haley, casually. And dropped into the
adjoining seat without any more fuss
Ted wet his lips slightly and tried
to say something. He had been a
breezy talker. But the words would
not come. 10 Haley made no effort
to cover the situation with rush of
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.
We'll, you've taken your lickin',
kid. What you going to do now?'
The rawness of it made Ted vince.
ooh. / don't know" he stammered.
1--WE got a job half promised in Chi
cago."
What doing?"
Ted laughed short, ugly laugh.
Driving brewery auto truck"
10 Haley tossed his cigar dexterous-
ly to the opposite corner of his mouth
and squinted thoughtfully along it's
bullying sides.
Remember that Wenzel girl that's
kept books for me for the last six
years? She's leaving in 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 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, 10. Thanks just the
same I'm going to try to begin all
over again, somewhere else. where no.
body knows me-"
"Oh, yes," said 80. Il knew a fellow
that did that. After he came out he
grew beard and wore eyeglasses and
changed his name. Had quick, crisp
way of talkin', and he cultivated a
drawl and went west and started in
business. Real estate, l think. Any
way, the second month he was there
in walks fool he used to know and
bellows: Why, if it amt Bill! Hello,
Bill! l 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'll 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. II can't figure
out why you should care how finish"
mo reason" answered 10. "Not a
darned one. wasn't ever in love with
your ma, like the guy on the stage;
and / never owed your pa a cent. So
1t amt a guilty conscience. / guess
it's just pure cussedness and a ham
KERN for new investment. I'm curl
GUS to know how'll you turn out.
You've got the makin's of what the
newspapers call a leading citizen. even
if you did fall down .once. If I'd ever
had time to get married, which 1 never
will have, first-class hotel bein'
more worry and expense than Pitts
burgh steel magnate's whole harem,
Ia have wanted somebody to do the