The gazette-times. [volume] (Heppner, Or.) 1912-1925, 1915-02-04

I when he would give It up. The mother alb
J hiding place. Smart fears trouble with the
<~~~~~~~~s~~~~~~~~.> y
40 / started for the links, stopping
first at the office on my way out,
absence Of window screens. but in
reality to glance over the register in
quest of certain signature.
A brisk, oldish little man came up
beside me and rather testify inquired
why the deuce there were no matches
In his room; also why the hot water
was cold SO much longer than usual
that morning. He was not much of a
man to look at. but | could not fail to
note the obsequious manner in which
the two clerks behind the desk looked
at him. You couldn't possibly have dis
covered anything in their manner to
remind you Of hotel clerks you may
have come to know in your travels. A
half dozen boxes of matches were
passed out to him in the twinkling of
might have happened If there had been
hot water faucet handy, they were so
eager to please.
"Mr. Brewster gone out yet?" de-
manded this important guest. pocket
ing all Of the matches. U,could see at
once that he was very rich man.
Ibid he leave any message for me? He
didn't? He was to let me know whether
he could play golf with--eh? Playing
with Logan, eh? Well, Of all the He
knows will not play with Logan. See
If Mr.. Scott is in his room Tell him
I'd like to take him on for IS holes
this morning."
He crossed to the news counter and
glanced over the papers while a dusky
bellboy shot off in quest OF Mr.. Scott
They all hate to play with the old
geezer," said one of the clerks--a young
one, you may be sure-lowering his
voice and his eyebrows at the same
time, Hes the rottenest player in the
world"
who is he?" inquired, mildly in
Jasper Titus" was the reply. ''The
real old Jasper himself"
Before | could recover from my sur
prise, the object of my curiosity ap-
preached the desk, his watch in his
We'll. what does he say?" he de-
"The--the boy isn't back yet Mr.. tt
tus," said one Of the clerks. involun-
tarily pounding the call bell in his
Lazy, shiftless niggers, the whole
tribe Of them." was Mr.. Titus caustic
comment.
At that instant the boy. quite out of
"Mr Scott's got rheumatiz. Mr.. Titus.
He hegs to be excused"
"Buncombe" snapped Mr., Titus. Hes
afraid to play me. Well, this means no
game for me. A beautiful day like this
and"
4 beg your pardon, Mr.. Titus" said
I. stepping forward. "If you don't mind
taking on q stranger, l Will be happy
to go around with you. My name is
Smart. think you must have heard OF
me through the Countess and your"
Great Scott! Smart? Are--are you
the author. James Byron Smart? The
the man Who" He checked himself
suddenly. but seized me By the hand
and, as he wrung 1t vigorously, dragged
me out Of hearing of the men behind
Il am John Bellamy Smart" said I,
a little miffed..
His shrewd, hard old face underwent
a marvellous change. The crustiness left
it. I. as as Ii i by by magic His countenance
Il owe You a debt of gratitude. Mr..
Smart, that can never be lifted. My
daughter has told me. everything. You
must have put up with fearful lot OF
with you. I know her well. She's
spoiled and she's got a temper, al
though, upon my soul. she seems diff
ferent nowadays. There is change in
she's had her lesson" said l. BE-
sides l didn't find she had bad tenn
"And say, want to tell you some
thing else before | forget it. / fully
appreciate your views on international
marriage Allie told me everything you
had to say about 1t. You must have
rubbed 1t In! But l think 1t did her
good. She'll never marry another for
eigner II can help it. II she never
marres. Well, well. i am glad to sec
you, and to shake. your hand. Il wish
l could really tell you how / feel
toward you, my boy, but IL don't
self. II l."
/ tried to convince him that the
pleasure had been all mine, and Their
inquired for Mrs. Titus and the Count
"They're both here, but the good Lord
only knows where. Mrs. Titus goes
driving every morning. Roads are fine
If YOU can stick to them. Aline said
something last night about riding over
TO Fassifern this forenoon with Amber
dale and young Skelly. Let's see, it,'s
half-past ten. Yes they've gone by this
time. Why didn't you write or tele-
graph Aline? She'll be as mad as 8
wet hen when she finds you've come
without letting her know"
II thought / should like to take hel
by surprise" ! M nbled uncomfort.
ably.
"And my son Jasper-why. he will ex.
plode when he hears you're here. He's
gone over to Covington to see q CIR
off on the train for Louisville. You've
never seen such boy. He is always
going to Covington with some girl Il
see that she gets the right train home
But why are we wasting time here
when we might be doing few holes