The circle banner. [volume] (Circle, Mont.) 1914-1939, 1915-03-05

Az ne grew OiQer the TASTE tOOK roo
and became 4 habit.
Ted came out after serving his term
still handsome, spite of all that stor,
writer's may have taught to the con
trary. But we'll make this concession
to the old tradition. There was q 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 iot
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' day
just for the pleasure of pressin' his
fancy shirts for him. Pm that partial
to them swell blends. But l dinnaw
he's changed. DOM 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
chip on his shoulder, and sick hor-
| iOA VI oOihCOaO AO AllS w
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 a 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! How'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 a 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.
well, you've taken your lickin',
kid. What you going to do now?"
The rawness of it made Ted vince.
"Oh, l don't know" he stammered. |
1--we got job half promised in Chi |
cago."
What doing?"
Ted laughed a short, ugly laugh.
Driving brewery auto truck"
tn uo1o h; Is
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 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
for me. Not that Minnie
sn't good, straight girl, and honest,
,ut no girl can keep books with one
Eye on a column of figures and the
'ther on a travelling man in brown
uit and red neckrie, unless she's
ross eyed, and you bet Minnie isn't. |
The jobs yours if you want it. Eighty
month to start on, and board" |.
Cant, 10. Thanks just the
anne I'm going to try to begin all
yer again, somewhere else, where no.
ody knows me-"
"Oh, yes" said 10. Il knew fellow
hat did that. After he came out he
rev beard and wore eyeglasses and
hanged his name. Had a quick, crisp
'ay of talkin', and he cultivated a s
rawl and went west and started in |
usiness. Real estate, | think Any |, t
ay, the second month he was there
walks fool he used to know and t
elbows: Why, if it amt Bill Hello, S
i'll! thought you was doing time i
It,. That was enough. Ted, you can /
ack your face and dye your hair and a
luint, and some fine day, sooner or d
ter, somebody'll come along and blab g
e whole thing. And say, the older it S
ITS the worse it sounds, when it does "
me out. Stick around here where
" grew up, Ted" fl
Ted clasped and unclasped his tt
lnds uncomfortably. 81 can't figure
It why you should care how l finish" g
No reason" answered 10. mot a ii
rned one. l wasn't ever in love with al
ur ma, like the guy on the stage; HI
d I never owed your pa a cent. So ST
amt guilty conscience. | guess 70
5 just pure cussedness and ham to
rim for new investment. I'm curl 10
S to know how'll you turn out,
1--WE got the makin's of what the le
wspapers call leading citizen, even tr
you did fall down once If I'd ever CT
/ time to get married, which l never tr;
j have, a first-class hotel bein' te
re worry and expense than a Pitts
'gh steel magnate's whole harem, Sc
have wanted somebody to do the I'M
WI
do