Walker Lake bulletin. (Hawthorne, Nev.) 1883-1926, 1915-04-10
HER HUMOROUS VIEW
Failed to Be Funny When Con-
fronted With Facts, Not
Gossip.
BY LAWRENCE ALFRED CLAY.

Robin Bennett
The young city of Hillsdale was go
| ing to bring its water supply dis
lance of three miles and construct a
reservoir, and it was his first job as
civil engineer.
= It was a matter that interested the
whole town-the taxpayers, because
they had to pay the bills; the female
population, because the coming of
young Bennett almost at once gave
rise to strange reports.
Gossip had 1t that he was a very
rich man; that he was born dumb,
and that later on he had been deaf
ened by an explosion of dynamite. 1t
said also that the girl he was to marry
went back on him when that dyna-
mite went off. She said that hus-
| band who couldn't hear her say she
loved him was no husband for her.
And the story went on to the effect
that owing to his misfortunes he had
soured on the whole world and intend
ed to commit suicide the day the reser-
voir was completed. There were a
| few other things that could be brought
up for discussion when the above had
been threshed out, and taken alto
gether Mr.. Bennett was a valuable as
set to the town of Hillsdale.
And not one single female, wife,
widow, old maid or maiden, made one
single effort to find out the truth or
| falsity of these reports. Of course
not. A woman can weave romance
around even a reservoir, and this
crowd continued to weave. There
were so men who could have knocked
that romance into a cooked hat, but
they were not appealed to.
Mr. Bennett had his office near the
river that was to be tapped, and
boarded with farmer, and thus gave
the society of the town no opportun-
ity to get acquainted with him. He
had too much to think of and to do
to care about society matters. The
first mixing he had as to the gossip
about him was in street car 1t was
gossip between two young ladies. He
had his notebook out and was making
figures and puzzling over inlets. out
let's, valves and siphons when the
voice of one of the girls reached his
ears.
NO" answered the other, "but
they say he's quite good looking"
"And both deaf and dumb?"
Eyes"
isn't 1t too bad?"
at certainly is"
81 wish some one that knew him
would introduce u.s."
"You might invite him to call, but
would he? And If he did, how could
he talk with any of your"
II hadn't ought to say SO, but /
can't help but see the humorous side
to 1t. Suppose he was counting
girl and each had to have pencil and
a pad. Instead of talking, he writes
and she writes"
"A proposal in writing would look
rather funny"
ut would that"
Mr.. Bennett stole a furtive look at
both, but was most impressed by the
last speaker He had carried an ideal
for two or three years, and here 1t
was. They were talking about him,
but was he the man? He wasn't deaf
and dumb. and he didn't boast of his
good looks. He felt sure that the
talk couldn't be about him, but was
lot
resident of the town came into his
office to make some inquiries.
do you know that you are a real
blessing to the gossip of Hillsdale?"
"In what respect?"
"They have 1t that you are deaf
and dumb"
"But I'm talking all day to hun
dred men,"
Sure you are"
"And I'm hearing you very plainly
now. How could they start such a
yarn?"
"Oh. every town must have its ro-
nance. It's your keeping to yourself
so much that gives color to the
stories. You shouldn't let it bother
you"
In making short cut to town from
the site of the reservoir, one had to
pass the residence of Judge Brewster,
and one day as he made the trip the
young engineer had seen a young lady
ensconced among the plants and
vines of the veranda. He had not
stared at her, but he had caught the
face we'll enough to wonder If he
hadn't met 1t on a street car 1t
would be the one that said she saw
humor in the situation. So did Mr..
Bennett-after thinking things over.
At two O'Clock one afternoon Miss
Oracle Brewster sat on the veranda
reading a book. She was so inter-
ested that the first thing she knew
Of strangers presence was his step
on the gravel. He had pencil and
pad in his hand and. after lifting his
hat he handed them m m her On