Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1918-08-24
CHAPTER AZ
SYM pdfLies MisnLnced


THE first time Mr. Smith saw Frank Biai.-
L dell, after Miss Maggie's news Of the
forty-thousand-d dollar loss. he tried, some
what awkwardly, to express his interest and
sympathy. But Frank Blasdell cut him
short.
That's all right and I thank YOU" he
crled heartily. And | know most folks
would think losing forty thousand dollars
was about as bad it could be. Jane now
is all worked up over il cant sleep nights.
and has gone back to turning down the gas
and eating sour cream SOS TO save and help
make 1t up. Bur mel call it the best thing
that ever happened"
We'll really" laughed Mr. Smith I'm
sure that's very delightful way TO look at
tiff YOU can"
Well, I can; and III tell you why It's
rut me back where | belong-behind the
counter of grocery store I've bought out
the old stand. oh. had enough left for
that, and more Closed the deal last night
CORY but ] was glad TO feel the old floor
under my feet again, -
But thought you--you were tired OF
work. and--wanted to enjoy Yourself" stap-
mered Mr. Smith. Frank Ba isdell laughed.
Tired Of work--wanted 10 enjoy myself.
indeed Yes. ! know l did say something
Ike that. But let me tell YOU this. Mr..
smith. Talk about work t never worked
so hard in my life as ! have the last ten
months trying to enjoy myself. How these
folks can stand gaddng round the country
week in and week out, feeding their stomachs
on French dictionary instead of good
United States meat and potatoes and squash,
and spending their days trapsing off TO see
things they amt a mite interested in. and
their nights trying to get rested they can
go and see some more the next day, | don't
understand
Mr. Smith chuckled.
I'm afraid these touring agencies wouldn't
IKE to have you write their ads for them,
Mr.. Blaisdell. -
We'll. they hadn't better ask me to-" smiled
the other grmly. But that amt all. Since
| come back I've been working even harder
trying to enjoy myself here at home-knock-
in silly little balls a ten-acre lot in q
game healthy ten-year-od boy would scorn
to play"
But how about your new car? Didn't
YOU enjoy riding in that" bantered Mr.
Smith
ON, yes, enjoyed the riding well enough;
INT didn't enjoy hunting fer punctures put
ting on new tires, or burrowing into the in
side of the critter to find out why she didn't
go And that's what | doing most of
the time ! never did like machinery. 1t
amt in my line
He paused a moment then went on a little
wistfully:
Il suspect. Mr.. Smith. there ain't anything
IN my line but groceries. It's all ! know
It's all | ever have known. If If | had
my lie to live over again, Ia do different.
maybe.
I'd see If couldn't find out what there
was in picture to make folks stand and
stare at il an hour at time when YOU
could see the whole thing in a minute-aud
II wa mt worth lookin' az. anyway, even for
minute. And music. too. Now | like a
good tune what is tune but them cater
wau!ings and dirges that that chap Gray
plays on that fiddle of hls-gorry Mr. Smith
Id rather hear the Old barn door at home
squeak any day. But If | was Younger,
I'd try to learn to like 'em. + would Look
at Flora. She can set by the hour in front
of that phonograph of hers, and not know"
"Ycs. know" smiled Mr. Smith
And there's books. too" resumed the
other still wistfullN. 'Id read books-it 1
could stay awake long enough to do it-and
Id find out what there in 'em to male
a good sensible man like Jim Blaisden dan
over 'em--and Maggie Duff too. Why that
little woman used to go hungry sometimes,
when she was girl so she could buy a
book she wanted. | know she did. Why. I'D
a given anything this last year II | could
"a got int terested--really interes,e ed. readin'.
! could a killed an awful lot of time that
way. But ! couldn't do il. | bought lot OF
EN-. too. an tried IT. but | expect | didn't
begin young enough. | tel We Mr.. Smith.
I've about come TO the conclusion that there
lint thing in the world so hard to kill as
time I've tried it. and know. Why, ! got
I couldn't even kill it eatin'-though I
most killed myself tryin' to- An let me tell
We another thing full stomach amt in it
with ben hungry an knowing a good din
ner's coming why, there was whole weeks
al a time back there that | didn't know the
meaning OF the word hungry You'd oughter
seen the jolt | give one o them waiter-chaps
one day when he comes up with his paper
and his pencil and asks what | wanted
Want? says I. There amt but one thing
on this earth | went. and you can't give 1t to
me. I want TO want something. I'm tired
| of bein' so blamed satisfied all the time ="
| And what did-Aphonso say to thst?"
| Chuckled Mr. Smith apprecatively.
"AIphonso? oh. the waiter-fellow Won
mean? oh, he Just stared minute, then
mumbled his usual Yes, sir. very good. sir, ;
and showed that confounded printed card OF
his little nearer my nose. But, there, I
guess you've heard enough OF this. Mr.. Smith
| It's only that | was trying to tell YOU why
| I'm actually glad we lost that money. It's
| give me back my mans job again"
| Good All right, then | went waste
any more sympathy oil You" laughed MIR
| Smith
| We'll. you needn't, And there's another
| thing I hope it'll give me back a little OF
| my old faith in my fellow man"
| What do you mean by that"
| Just this. | won't suspect every man.
| woman and child that says a civil word to
| me Of having designs on my pocket :
| book. Why, Mr.. Smith, YOU wouldn't believe
| it, if | told YOU, the things that's been done
| and said TO get little money out of me-
| OF course. the open goid-brick schemes T
| knew enough 10 dodge, most OF EN- Cunless
you count in that darn Benson mining stocl,).
| and 7 spotted the blackmailers all right most
| generally.
CTo'BE CONTINUED MONDAY