The daily Alaskan., 1917-09-24
CHAPTER |.
William.

~AT ILLIAM SYLYANUS BAA- AMF TER paused for 8 moment
 of thought in front of tho
 drug store at the corner Of WasAiugtou street and Central avenue, considering what kind of an Ice cream sodu he would have, when he was reused by the bluff greeting of an ac- ouaintance not dissimilaF to himself In age, manner and apparel
 "Hlo, Silly Bill" said this person. halting beside William SylYsnus Ba1' ter. Whats the newSr'
 William showed no enthusiasm. on the contrary. a frown of annoyance appeared upon his brow. The nick name silly Bill" long ago compound ed by merry child comrades from VII liam and SylyRnus. was not to hiR taste, especially in public, where he preferred to be addressed simply ana manfully as Baxter. Any direct e1" pression of resentment, however, was difficult, since 1t was plain that John- nIe Watson intended no offense what eyer and but spoke out of custom.
 Don't know any" William replied coldly.
 Dull times, ain't itT' said Mir. Wat son. a little depressed by his frienfR manner. T heard May Parcher was comin' back to town yesterday though"
 "Wen. let herw returned William, still severe.
 ."They said she was goin' to bring a girl to visit her." Johnnie began in a confidential tone. "Phey said she was a reglar ringdinGer, and"-
 Well. what If she is2" the discour- aging Mir. Baxter interrupted Makes little difference to me, guess|
 "Oh, no, 1t don't! You don't take any interest in girls! Oh, nor
 No, l do not!' was the emphatic and heartlcss retort Il never saw one in my life I'd care whether she lived or diedr'
 Honest, is that soT"
 "Yes, honest" William replied sharply. "They could GH die; wouldn't notice"
 Johnnie Watson was profoundly tm- pressed. "Why, didn't know you felt that way about 'm, Silly Bill. l d. ways thought you were kind of
 Well. I do feel that way about 'emi" said William Sylvanus Baxter, and, outraged by the repetition of the of fensive nickname, he began to move away. You can tell 'em so for me, if you want to-! he added over bis shoulder. And he walked haughdly up the street, leaving Mir. Watson to ponder upon this ease of misogyny, never until that moment suspected
 It was beyond the power of his mind to grasp the fact that William Byiva- nus Baxter's cruel words about sgtriB' had been uttered because William was annoyed at being called "snly BtlH' in 1 public place and had not known how to object otherwise than by showing contempt for any topic of conversa- tion proposed by the offender. , William meanwhile made bis way toward the residence section" of the town. He walked in his own manner, | using his shoulders to emphasize an effect of carelessness which he wished to produce upon observers, for his con- sciousness of observers was abnormal, since be had 1t whether any one was looking at him or not, and 1t reached a crucial stage whenever be perceived persons of his own age, but of opposite sex, approaching.
 A person of this description was en- countered upon the sidewalk within c hundred yards of his own home, and William Sylvanus Baxter saw heE while yet she was afar otr. He had per ceived even in the distance that she was unknown to him, a stranger, be- cause he knew all the girls in this part of the town who dressed as 'famouDly 1 in the mode as that. And then, as the distance between them lessensd, he