White Pine news weekly mining review. [volume] (East Ely, Nev.) 1910-1920, 1917-08-05
CHAPTER /
William.

NAT LILLIAN SILNANUS BAA-
M TER paused for a moment
" OF thought IA front Of the
drug store at the corner OF
Washington street and Central avenue,
considering what kind OF an ice cream
soda he would have, when be was
reused by the bluff greeting OF an ac-
qualntanee not dlsslmilar TO himself in
age. manner and apparel
lilo, Silly Bill" said this person.
halting beside William Sylfanus Bax-
ter. What's the newsls
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 VIII
liam and S%ylyanus. was not to his
taste, especially In public, where he
preferred 10 be addressed simply and
manfully as Baxter. Any direct ex-
preston of resentment. however. was
difficult, since 1t was plain that John
ME Watson intended no ofense what
ever and but spoke out OF custom.
Don't know any" William replied
coldly.
Dull times. amt III" said Mr.. Wat
son, a little depressed by his friends
manner Il heard May Parcher was
comm back to own yesterday.
though"
We'll. let herl" returned william.
still severe.
'"rhey said she was goin' to bring a
girl to visit her. Johnnie began In a
confidential tone. They said she was
a reg lar ringdinger. and
We'll, what II she lisp" the dlscour-
aging Mr.. Baxter interrupted. Makes
little difference to me, / guess"
"Oh, no, 1t DON'T You don't take any
interest In girls on, mol"
NO, I do mott" was the emphatic
and heartless retort. II never saw one
In my life IA care whether she lived
or died!'
Honest, IL that sol"
Yes, 'honestF" William replied
sharply. They could all die: wouldn't
noticer'
Johnnie Watson vas profoundly i'm
pressed. why, I didn't know you felt
that way about IN. silly Bill. ] al
ways thought you we're kind Of
We'll, | do feel that way about 'emr'
said William Sylvanus Baxter, and,
outraged by the repetition OF the Of.
fensiye nickname, he began to move
away. "You can tell EN- so for me,
IL you want toi" he added owe his
shoulder. And he walked haughtily
up the street. leaving Mr.. Watson 70
ponder upon this case of misogyny.
never until that moment suspected.
II was beyond rhe power Of his mind
to grasp the fact that William Sylvia
nus Bakers cruel words about girls
had been uttered because William was
annoyed at being called SILLY BIZ In
a public place and had not known how
TO object otherwise than by showing
contempt for any topic Of conversa.
fion proposed by the offender.
William meanwhile made his 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 he had II whether any one was
looking at him or not, and II reached
a crucial stage whenever he perceived
persons Of his own age. but OF opposite
sex. approaching.
A person of this description was en-
counterod upon the sidewalk within q
hundred yards Of his W home, and
William sylvanns Baxter saw her while
yet she was MAR off. He had per-
ceiyed 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 famously
In the mode as that. And then. as the
distance between them lessened, he