The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1916-12-09

1t was scant half past s, and the
theaters were in. \ light snow fell,
and Il bleak wind swept Broadway
clear Of all traffic save the cars and
I one or two belated playgoers. The
manager lighted fresh stogie and
prepared for n quiet evening
Aloysius and Patsy were doping
the horses ut New Orleans with the aid
OF a tatteyed pink newspaper. They
were keen sportsmen, at least in de-
sire, and discussed in low tones mark
"a reversal of form shown in the fifth
race that afternoon.
Dat amt nartcn," SAID Aloysius.
"Louis d'Or was played down to even
money yesterday. and she amt finished
yet"
Patsy wagslcd lis head gravely.
"l'cr can't pick EN- desc days." he
said. boy sit yer bote ways. comm
ana coin"
y bell tapped insistently, and the
manager drew ticket from one of the
many drawers behind the counter. He
handed II to Aloyslus Without even
dancing at it.
Here, your he said Chase your
seir"
Aoysms buttoned up his coat and
.arcfully drew on his Torn mittcas.
Where io3" said Patsy.
"ilo;el Altrincham,' Aloyslus replied
md mlr.sicrci 10 cod In his mead
wish his left hand mitteu
"Lelyc ne have &c inoul' organ willie
yere gorcT slid Patsy as Aioysiiis
made for the door.
"Aw., what lerg" Aloys.Gs rejoineI
lcr:sivciy
"All right, yer nit" said the dis
Huntcd Patsy
The manager again inserted his head
through the partition.
"shake It mp there. Four-nlnety-twow
be said.
AloySus opened the door ana passed
out with blast OF insulting discords
On the harmonica.
Holy cripes" he muttered to him
'clf as the wind struck him. "Ain't IT
coldT
And he broke into trot. with his
head bent to the swirling snow.
ii.
\ few minutes later he entered The
revolving door of the Altrincham and
salutod the clerk with the monosylla-
ole Call"
Front" said the. clerk, take this
id M to So"
After a lively scuflle with the belboy
in the elevator AlOyslus alightcd at the
eighth loor and knocked on the door
numbered 50
a tall young man answered his sum
mons
Come in" he said to Aloysius.
cold. isn't it,"
Aloysius shifted by way of answer
and sat down on the edge Of tho bed
re made careful survey Of the room
willie the tel young man wrote steadl.
Is % desk in tie corner. On the
lressing table were two panel photo
graphs, and scattered about the walls
were four moro, all OF the saule per-
son. AloySius stared ut them with the
rye of Il connoisseur. for messenger
boys in the vicinity of Forty-6fth
street arc by association ard environ
mcnt excellent judges of feminine
beauty.
The tall young man rose from his
desk and went to the telephone.
Send me n cup Of hot coffee" he
said to the clerk. and he returned to
his writing, Soon there came a knock
at the door and waiter appeared
bearing silver pot of coffee on a
linen covered tray. He deposited it.
with sugar. cream and a cup and saucer.
on the dressing table
Drink this said the tall young
man. You'll feel better when you so
ont"
Aloysius expressed his enjoyment in
long gurgling inhalations until there
was no more coffee left Evidently the
tall young man found letter writing n
difficult task, for he began four cpis-
ties, only to tear them up AT the tl-th
attempt be concluded a short note and
handed it to Aloysius.
"Take this letter 20 the Benson" h.
said, "aEd wait FOR an answer. If The
lady says there isn't any come bac,
and let me know. Here's 10 cents Tor
car fare and quarter for yourself"
Aloysius pocketel the quarter.
Tanks, Jack" he said. Yer all
right"
The tall young man sighed heavily.
lie had large melancholy eyes and fea-
lures SO delicatciy nodded rs to ap.
pear rather weak Altogether he was
good to look upon, and the digner coat
which he wore 10y no means detracted
from his appearance.
Hustle, now" he said "and IL you
come back in less than half an hour
there's more coffee downstairs"
Aloysius minued and hurried for the
elevator. On his way down he discoy
cred that the cnv,. ,pe mono too secure
~ scaled, had br,% 4 open, and In the
street car he drew the letter from its
covering and perused It with frown.
1t ram