Western Kansas world., 1918-05-30

silk-stockinged feet at the small coal
CRATE. Fall had come, and there was
sharp nip to the air.
"Well, what do you think Of II as
far as you've gonef' he asked abb
ruptly.
Il think It's fine," she candidly ad-
mitted- I'm enjoying myself. I like
1t. Don't your"
"As diversion" he observed
though6ully, sT don't mind It These
people are all very affable and pleas
ant. and they've rather gone out Of
their way to entertain us. But, after
all, what the dickens does it amount
tor They spend their whole life rum
ming In useless circles. should think
they'd get sick OF 1t. You WILL"
Hardly. Billum," she smiled. Were
merely making up for two years Of iso-
iadon. think we must be remarkable
people that we didn't fight like cats
and dogs For eighteen months, you
know, there wasn't a soul to talk to,
and not much to think about except
what you could do If you were some
place else"
you're acquiring the atmosphere"
he remarked - sardonically, she
thought.
NO; just enjoying myself" she re-
piled lightly.
well, If you really are" he an
swered slowly, 1--WE may as well settle
here for the winter-and get settled
right away. I'm rather weary of being
guest In another mans house, to tell
you the truth"
''Why, I'd love to stay here all win
| ter" she said. But thought you in
| tended to knock around more or less"
But don't you see. you don't partic-
ularly care to-" he pointed out "and
| 1t would spoil the fun of going any
| place for me If you were not interest
ed. And when it comes to a show
down I'm not aching to be a bird of
passage. One city is pretty much like
another to me. Wen take run over
to New York. I want to get some
books and things. Then Wen come
back here and get a house or a fiat.
tell you right now" he laughed not
unpleasantly, 'Tm not going to renig
on this society game. You can play 1t
as hard as you like, until spring. I'll
be there with bells on when it comes
to dance. And I'll go to a show
when a good play comes along. But
1
and equally silly she-men, any more
than is absolutely necessary"
"Why, Bill J" she exclaimed aghast.
"Well, amt 1t so?" he defended la
lilly. There's Kitty Brooks-she has
certainly got intelligence above the av-
| erage. That Lorimer girl has brains
superimposed on her artistic tempera-
ment, and she uses 'em to advantage.
Practically all the rest that I've met
are Intellectual nonentities strong ON
looks and clothes and amusing them
selves, and that lets them out. Shucks,
there isn't real man In the lot. May
be I'll run across some people who
don't take a two-by-four view Of life
If stay around here long enough, but
it hasn't happened to me yet. ISmust
say that the habitua1 conversation of
these people gives me q pain. That
platitudinous discussion Of the play to-
night, for instance"
''That was dro1l." Hazel chuckled at
the recollection, and she recalled the
weary look that had once or twice
fitted over Bill's face during that
after-theater supper.
Bill snorted.
"Droll. Perhaps" he said. "Bla-
tant ignorance, coupled with a desire
to appear the possessor of culture, is
sometimes amusing. But as general
thing it simply irritates."
you're hard to please" she replied
He shrugged his shoulders and re
mained silent.
"Well," he said presently, well take
that jaunt to New York day after to
morrow
He was still sitting by the window
when Hazel was ready to go to bed
She came back into the room in g
trailing silk kimono, and, stealing
X ~