The Hays free press. [volume] (Hays, Kan.) 1908-1924, 1916-06-10

they were. before me, but l couldn't
steal 'em and sell 'em. and so-weIl. so
l did what / cOuldr'
She leaned back and laughed reas-
suringly to her troubled mother. at
seemed to be success-what I could"
she said. clasping her hands behind
her neck and stirring the rocker to mo-
ton as a rhythmic accompaniment to
her narrative. The girl Edith and her
sister-in-law, Mrs. Roscoe Sheridan.
were too anxious about the effect Of
things on me. The fathers worth a
bushel of both of them. if he knew it.
He's what he is l like him." She
paused reflectively. continuing,
"Edith's interested in that Lamhorn
boy; he's goOd-Iooking and not stupid,
but I think he's" She INTERRUPTED
herself with a CHEEKY cutlery: 'Oh.
/ mustn't be calling him namesi If
he's trying to make Edith like him 1
ought to respect him as a colleague"
Il don't understand a thing you're
talking about" Mrs. Vertrees COM
planned.
"AIl the BETTER Well. he's a bad lot,
that Lamhorn boy: everybody's always
known that, but the Sheridans don't
know fne everybodies that know. He
sat between Edith and Mrs. Roscoe
Sheridan. She's like those people you
wondered about at the theater the last
time we went-lressed in ballgowns;
bound TO show their clothes and jewels
somewhereI She Hatters the father.
and so did l. for that matter-but not
that way. | treated him outrageousiyr'
Mary"
That's what hattered him. After
dinner he made the whole regiment Of
us follow him all over the house, while
he !ectured like a guide on the Pala-
tine. He gave dimensions and costs.
and the whole b'ilin' Of 'em listened as
if they thought he intended to make
them q present OF iaN house. What be
was prOudest of vas rEe plumbing and
that Bay Of Naples panorama in the
hall. He made Us look at all the
plum MISUNDERSTANDING and everywhere
eIse-and then ne made US look at the
Bay of Naples. He said it was a hum
dred and eleven feet long. but I think
| it's more And he led us all into the
ready-made library to see a poem
Edith had taken prize with at school
| I0GT q udu II Al EOto tCLlCA
and framed in mother-of-pearl- But
lie poem itself was rathe: simple an /
wistfuI and nice-he read it to Us.
though Edith tried to stop him. She
was modest about it. and said she'd
| never written anything else. And then.
after while, Mrs. Roscoe Sheridan
asked me to come across the street to
her house with them-Her husband and
| Edith and Mr. LamhOrn and Jim Sheri-
dan
Mrs. vertrees was shocked. "Jimr'
she exclaimed MARY. please"
.sOf course" said Mary. -TIl make
it as easy for you as I can, mamma.
Mr.. lanes Sheridan, Jr. We went over
there. ana Mrs. Roscoe explained that
the men were dying for drink.
| though I noticed that Mr. Lamhoru
was the only one near deaths door on
| that account Edith and Mrs Roscoe
i said they knew I'd been bored at the
! dinner. They were EXCEPTIONALLY apollo
petie about II. and they seemed tc
think now we were going to have g
good fine to make up for It But
hadn't been bored at the dinner. I'd
heeu amused; and the good time al
Mrs. RoscOe's was horribly, horribly
stupid"
but, Mary" her mother began. Is
i-ise's And she seemed unable t
complete the question
NEVER mind, mamma, I'll say It L
mr.. James Sheridan. Jr- stupid7 In
sure he's not at all stupid abont basi
ness. Otherwise On, what FfEh
have 70 be calling people stupid be
cause they're rat sxaetiy ny kind