The Knoxville independent. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1894-current, 1918-08-03

The captain looked at his caller
evening clothes.
"What do you mean by gettir
readyp he asked. you've got o.
your regimentals, open front and all
My uniform is the huntin' case kind
fits in better with church sociables an,
South Denboro no'theasters. II / wor
one Of those vests like yours Abbie',
make me put on red flannel lung pro
tector to keep from catchin' pneumonia
And she'd think twas sinful waste be
sides, runnin' the risk of spilin'
clean billed shirt so quick. Won't
look like an undertaken sittin' along
side of youT
"Not bit. II it win ease your mini
I'll change to business suit"
II don't care. You know how feel
We had little talk about hats a spell
ago, you remember. II you're willin
to take me just as I am, without {
plea as the hymn tune says, why,
carlate I'll say yes and 60. Set dow
and wait while I 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, wei
down in the orchestra. Captain Elisha
turned and surveyed the great interior
and the brilliantly CARRIED audience.
Pearson bought copy Of the libretto
and the captain followed the perform
ance with interest.
"Say, Jim." he whispered, with q
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
" If you was in a hurry. A fust rate
solo when you was orderin' the crew
to shorten sail would be high old
birthstone anthem, I'll bet you"
The foyer had its usual animated
crowd, and among them Pearson rec.
ognized a 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'll come to anchor by ttiis
pillar and watch the fleet go by. iEll
have to write Abbie ssont al .thss
She'll want to know hSSw the feinslg
craft was rugged" III
Left alone, he leaned against the
pillar and watched the people pass AID
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 news?"
asked one casually.
eyes," replied the other, 81 have
that is, If you mean the news concern
ing Nal Dunn. The mater learned it
his afternoon and sprang it at dinner.
No one was greatly surprised. Formal
announcement made and all that sort
If thing, I believe. Mails to be con-
'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
these were not ordinary;
wise owl of guardian to be circum-
rented or something of that sort"
"From what hear the Dunns haven't
won so much after all. There was q
Dig shrinkage when papa died, so they
say. Instead of three or four millions
It panned out to be good deal less
han one. don't know much about 1t
because our family and theirs have
lrifted apart since they moved"
"Humph! / imagine whatever the
)anout it will be welcome. The Dunns
ire dangerously close to the ragged
,dge; everybody has been on to that for
ZONE time. And it takes a few ducats
o keep Nal going. He's no Uncle Rus
,ell when it comes to putting by for
he rainy day."
"Well, on the whole, I'm rather sorry
'or-the other party. Nal is a good
enough fellow and he certainly is q
,ame sport, but
They moved on and Captain Elisha
leard no more. But what he had heard
vas quite sufficient. He sat through
he remainder Of the opera in silence
md answered all his friends questions
ind remarks CURLY and absently.
AS they stepped into the trolley Pear
ion bought an evening paper, not the
Planet, but dignifed sheet which
hunned sensationalism and devoted
much space to the doings of the safe.
ane and ultra respectable element.
'erceiving that his companion for some
eason did not care to talk, he read as
he car moved downtown. Suddenly
captain Elisha was awakened from his
everie by hearing his friend utter an
Exclamation. Looking up, the captain
aw that he was leaning back in the
eat, the paper lying UNDECIDED in his
ap.
Whats the matter% asked the older
nan anxiorsiy.
Pearson started, glanced quickly at
lis friend, hesitated, and looked down
gain.
"There it is" he said. "Read It,"
Captain Elisha took the paper, drew
lis spectacle case from his pocket, adj |
listed his glasses and read. The item
vas among those under the head OF
Personal and Social" It was what he |