Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1918-08-01

"You ought to show us something"
said Reich out OF sulky silence. II
can't stand this waiting game much
longer. You might have little pity
on mans feelings. You haven't lost
anything, of course, and aren't liable
to, but try to imagine how man in
my position must feel. Do you think
want to sit here eatingand drinking
when don't know what's going to
happen. oh, for Gods sake, say what
you're going to do?"
He broke off to glance somewhat
wildly about the room.
1.-THE waiting is almost over, Mr..
Reich" said Semi. "As for pity, per-
haps / pity you, in my own way, and
for reasons of my own"
"And there's another thing" COM
planned Homer. every time you say
something the things got two mean
ings. Why don't you say what you
mean?"
"At least" Dual responded, II al.
ways mean what say, Mr.. Reich"
| Charlie came back and served our
| order and a quantity Of sweetmeats
filling the triangular compartments of
| a circular tray.
Lucille drew her steaning bowl Of
chop-suey before her, picked up her
chop-sticks as one accustomed and
gave proof of the assertion that she
was hungry.
Sheldon eyed her performance up
on the mixture of chicken, ham, rice
sprouts, and mushrooms, with uncon-
cealed interest.
You act like you liked it," he
grinned.
Lucille nodded and smiled. II do"
sh admitted. Here. taste it. Open
your mouth"
She deftly fished up ball of shred
ded chicken and sprouts in her sticks,
and as Colonel Mac separated his
jaws, dropped it lightly on his tongue.
The colonel chewed in a ruminative
fashion. "Sorter like chewin' on
bunch of string, amt it?" he OBJ
served dryly.
"You old fraud, I believe you like
It," accused Miss Foote. "If you
think this stringy what about Mr..
Reich's order?"
Sheldon glanced at Homer, deftly
consuming noodles, and chuckled.
II reckon they charge for them
things by the yard, don't they?" he
suggested with eyes which 'twinkled.
The old feeling of non-understand-
ing crept upon me again as listened.
Here we sat eating and drinking and
chatting. To hear us one would have
fhnnpht nf CT
seemed.
Yet under the surface of the seem.
ing we were bent on quest as vital
as one of life and death. 1t was odd,
grotesque, outre, as bizarre as the set
ting in which it was staged.
SsYSstfttNough it ali like a basal note
ran 'Duafs calm assurance of an end
ing ere long. l glanced at him where
he sat, nibbling at a rice-cake and sip
ping tea. Lucille and Sheldon still ran
on with their banter. Homer finished
his noodles and sat staring straight
down into the bowl before him. Nc
Kabe was eating in an impassive con-
tent.
Other guests had entered and found
seats while my thoughts had held me.
They came in by parties and alone
from time to time. 1t was after one
such arrival that Miss Foote'S actions
caught my attention.
From no apparent reason she short
ened her chop-sticks and using their
butts, tapped McKabe lightly on the
hand.
'In about minute, lamp the dame
at the corner table-the one in black
with the willow plume" she whis-
pered, and turned back to her eating
and Colonel Mac.
let my eyes wander where she had
directed, and 1 saw short heavy-set
woman, with heavy featured face,
and dark hair; woman of such a
type in fact as one meets with among
the Italians, and the people of south
ern France.
She sat at small table and seemed
to be giving an order to Charlie.
brought my glance back and saw that
McKabe had found an opportunity to
sweep the room with his gaze.
For moment his eyes ran over the
place, now here, now there. with no
apparent object, came back and
dropped to tea bowl in his hand. He
nodded. "All right. I've mapped her.
What about herr" he questioned soft
ly.
Miss Foote smiled brightly and
nodded, fished portion OF mushroom
out of her bowl and thrust it between
her lips.
"Shes Greek Annie" she said.
CHAPTER VII.
The Webs Center.
.sN,oe