Gilpin observer., 1918-12-19

y
told me SO. And Aida Ii beautiful
Come on. It win do us both good"
"Hum! Well, don't know"
II do. Get ready"
The captain looked at his callers
evening clothes.
"what do you mean by gettin'
ready?" he asked. you've got on
your regimentals, open front and all
Ny uniform is the huntin' case kind;
fits in better with church sociables and
South Denboro no'theasters. II wore
one of those vests like yours Abbie'd
make me put on a red flannel lung pro
tector to keep from catchin' pneumonia.
And she'd think twas sinful waste be-
sides, runnin' the risk of sp'ilin' q
clean billed shirt so quick. Won't 1
look like an undertaken sittin' along
side of your"
"Not bit. II it win ease your mind
I'll change to business suit"
II don't care. You know how l feel.
We had a little talk about hats a spell
ago. you remember. If you're willin'
to take me Just as am, without
plea as the hymn tune says, why, l
cal'late IN say yes and go. Set down
and wait while l get on my cere-
monials."
The pair walked over to Broadway,
boarded a street car and alighted be-
fore the Metropolitan Opera House.
PearsOn's seats were good ones, well
down In the orchestra. Captain Elisha
turned and surveyed the great interior
and the brilliantly garbed audience.
Pearson bought copy Of the libretto,
and the captain followed the perform
ance with interest.
"Say, Jim." he whispered, with a
broad grin, 'it's a good thing this op-
era idea amt carried into real life. II
you had to sing every word you said
'twould be sort Of distressin', special
" II you was In a hurry. A fust rate
solo when you was orderin' the crew
to shorten sail would be q high old
birthstone anthem, I'll bet you"
The foyer had its usual animated
crowd, and among them Pearson rec
ognized critic Of his Acquaintance.
He offered to introduce the captain,
but the latter declined the honor, say
ing that he "cal1ated" he wouldn't
shove his bows in this time. "You
heave ahead and see your friend, Jim,"
he added. "I'n come to anchor by this
pillar and watch the feet 60 by. I'll
have to write Abbie about all this.
She'll want to know how the female
craft was rigged."
Left alone. he leaned against the
pillar and watched the people pass and
repass just behind him. Two young
men paused just behind him. He could
not help overhearing their converse
ton.
II presume you've heard the newsf'
asked one casually.
"Yes," replied the other, II have
that is, If you mean the news concern
ing Nal Dunn. The mater learned 1t
this afternoon and sprang 1t at dinner.
No one was greatly surprised. Formal
announcement made and all that sort
Of thing, I believe. Mails to be con.
graduated"
"His mother Is, you mean. She man
aged the campaign. The old lady Is
some strategist, and I'd back her to win
under ordinary circumstances. But I
understand these were not ordinary;
wise owl Of guardian to be circum-
vented or something Of that sort"
"From what hear the Dunns haven't
won so much after all. There was q
big shrinkage when papa died, SO they
say. Instead Of three or four millions
1t panned out to be a good deal less
than one. I don't know much about 1t
because our family and theirs have
drifted apart since they moved"
"Humph! / imagine whatever the
panout 1t will be welcome. The Dunns
are dangerously close to the ragged
edge; everybody has been on to that for
some time. And 1t takes few ducats
to keep Nal going. He's no Uucle Rus
sell when it comes to putting BY for
the rainy day"
"Well, on the whole, I'm rather sorry
for-the other party. Nal is a good
enough fellow and he certainly u Q
game sport, but
| They moved on and Captain Elisha
heard no more. But what he had heard
was quite SUFFICIENT. He sat through
the remainder Of the opera In silence
and answered all his friends questions
and remarks curtly and absently.
As they stepped into the trolley Pear
son bought an evening paper, not the
Planet, but a dignified sheet which
Stunned sensationalism and devoted
much space to the doings Of the safe.
sane and ultra respectable element.
Perceiving that his companion for some
reason did not care to talk, he read as
the car moved downtown. Suddenly
Captain Elisha was awakened from his
reverie by hearing his friend utter an
exclamation. Looking up, the captain
saw that he was leaning back in the
seat, the paper lying unheeded in his
lap.
"What's the matter7" asked the older
man anxiously.