South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1918-10-25
WHY DICKY SAID, YOU'RE TILE
ORIGINAL KUlD-JOY."

the Hudson river boat administered
the rebuke TO him about his i'm
patience az the crowd before the
dining room door.
When we had come down from
the upper deck 20 luncheon. only
20 ind the dining room CuIl, and a
long line Of impatient jostling men
and women extending down the cor
ridor, Dicky had told me that our
delay in getthg a seat was que to
the ! 8 minutes I had spent in the
dressing room: that n I had not
gone there we would have been in
plenty Of time.
He had spoken roughly. with the
impatient rudeness which ne so often
uses when inconvenienced. And with
whitening emphasis in her tones
the middle-aged woman standing
near us had spoken directly at Dicky
and informed him that the same
crowd had been In front of the door
for over half an hour.
7 could not help being amused
az the woman's championship OF me.
but I was not particularly grateful
for It. I have always had a distinct
dislike for any comment on or in
reference I'm my affairs by any one
not directly concerned. But Dicky's
face would have afforded amuse-
ment TO the most confirmed nissan
thrope. Astonishment at the wom-
ans words, Indignation at evidently
what he considered her effrontery,
struggled in his face with the
chagrin I knew he felt at having me
find out that my stay in the dressing
room was not responsible for our
delay az luncheon.
He turns his back squarely upon
the woman and with a muttered ex-
clamation 20 me. moved away from
her vicinity. OF course. 1 followed
him, for there was nothing else TO
do, but. as I went, I felt the keen
eyes Of my aggressive sympathizer
fixed upon my retreating back. l
knew that she pitied me as a poor
spirited creature.
II seemed hours that we waited
in the line. but, IN reality, it was but
80 or 40 minutes before the crowd
diminished so we could see into the
dining room. Every table was filled
10 its capacity, but at a corner table
near the window we coud see the
people getting ready 20 depart.
Winning Table.
II guess there's nothing for il but
10 cross that walters PALM" said
Dicky. grimly, putting his hand in
his pocket and taking out a bill.
In the shifting of the crowd we
had not noticed that our aggressive
friend. with her companions, were
right in front Of us, I heard her
high pitched. rasping voice expostu-
lating with the head waiter. stand
ing near the door. whose rowing eyes
knew had seen Dicky's hand go
into his pocket
II demand that YOU let me in
this dining room" my militant de
fender said. There must be ia bles
waiting; there's one right over there
now" as she saw the people at the
farther table rise from their seats.
I think Dicky's natural eagerness
20 get a table was intensified by his
desire TO get even with the woman
who had rebuked him At any rate
at the first sound of her voice I saw
him hastily substitute another bill
for the one he had first drawn out.
Then he held the second one, with
just It's denomination showing be
tween his fingers, before the glisten-
ing eyes of the head waiter.
That worthy did not hesitate a
aVntrn rao-ae,1 ~ 90
finally. TO the importuning woman.
Scuse me. NIissus, but can't
give YOU that table nohow; dat table
is promised to dis gentleman right
behind YOU"
Fright this way, Mr.. Jones, you're
table just ready for yoh."
With a dexterous movement. and
without actually touching her. the
man cleared "a passage for Dicky and
me 10 pass into the dining room. and
then. totally ignoring the woman's
representations. he ushered Dicky
and me to the table and bowed US
into our seats.
High and shriH above the baoel in
the dining room we heard the
woman's voice:
ct shall appeal 10 the manage
ment; that mans name is no more
Jones than mine is He had not
engaged that table al all He simply
bribed YOU to give it 10 him. Come
back here. 7 tell YOU"
But the waiter not at all perturb-
ed. was srirning broadly. as he
summoned another waiter to take
our order.
Dat woman she jest materially
bust il she don look out" he said 70
Dicky as he sauntered back toward
the woman
Dicky was M high good humor IS
ne sank into his seat and began TO
study the menu card. Just listen
20 the old dame row it," ne said
gleefuIly
But my conscience troubled me.