The citizen. [volume] (Berea, Ky.) 1899-1958, 1919-06-26

ut r. paradise n every actor VII,
happens to be on the road. Mr.. Jones'
said Barnes, slipping his big pacl
from hts shoulders and letting II slid,
10 the floor.
Hear that Teller In the taproou
talkln'f Well. he II one OF the lead
Ing actors In New York-in the world
for that matter. He's been talkin
about Broadway for nearly a week
now, steady"
May I inquire what he is doing On
here In the wIlds7"
AT present he amt doing anything
except talk. Last week he was treddIn'
the boards, as he puts II himself. Bust.
ed. Up the fue. Showed last Satur-
day night In Hornville, eighteen mile
north Of here, and immegiately after
the performance him and his whole
troupe started to walk back to New
York, good four hundred mile. They
started out the back way Of the opery
house and nobody missed 'em TIL next
mornin' except the sheriff, and he
didn't miss 'em till they'd got over
the county line into our balllwlck.
-Four OF 'em are still stoppin' here
Just because I amt got the heart to
turn 'em out ner the spare money to
buy 'em tickets to New York. Here
comes one Of 'em now. Mr.. Dilllng-
ford. will you show this gentleman TO
room eleven and carry his baggage up
fer him7 And maybe he'll want
pitcher OF warm water to wash and
shave In" He turned to the new guest
and smiled apologetically. "we're q
little short o. help just now. Mr..
Barnes. and Mr.. Dillingford has kind
ly consented to"
my word" gasped Mr.. Dillingford,
staring N the register. Someone
from little old New York; My word,
air. you Won't you have a-er-
little something to drink with me be-
fore you"
"He wants something to eat" inter-
rupted Mr.. Jones sharply. "Tell Mr..
Bacon to step up to his room and
take the order"
"All right. old chap-nothing easier"
said Mr.. Dlllingford genially. "Just
climb up the elevator. Mr.. Barnes. We
do this to get up an appetite. When
did you leave New York;"
Taking up a lighted kerosene lamp
and the heavy pack, Mr.. Clarence Dill
lingford led the way up the stairs.
He was q chubby individual Of indefi-
mite age. At a glance you would have
said he was under twenty-one; a Sec
ond look would have convinced you
that he was nearer fOrty-one.
Depositing Barnes pack on a chair
In the little bedroom at the end OF
the hall upstairs he favored the guest
with a perfectly unabashed grin.
SIN not doing this to oblige old
man Jones. you know. I won't attempt
10 deceive you. I'm working out a
daily board bill Chuck three times a
day and bed to sleep in-that's what
I'm doing II for. so don't get 1t into
your head that I applied for the job.
Let me look at you. I want to get a
good square peep at man who has
the means to go somewhere and yet Is
boob enough to come to this gosh
awful place Of his own free will and
accord. Darn 1t. you look intelligent.
l don't get you at all. What's the mat
teri Are you a fugitive from justice3"
Barnes laughed aloud. There was
no withstanding the fellows sprightly
Impudence.
II happen to enjoy walking" said
be.
IF I enjoyed II as much as you do |
I'd be limping into Harlem by this
time" said Mr.. Dillingford sadly. "But |
you see I'm an actor. I'm too proud
to walk"
The cracked bell on the Office desk
him. somewhat peremp- |
,orily. Mr. Dillingford's face assumed
IN expression Of profound dignity. He
owered his voice As he gave vent to
he following:
THAT man Jones is the meanest hu-
nan being God ever let Yes. sir.
coming. sirl" He started for the open
ioor with surprising alacrity.
Barnes surveyed the little bedcham-
yer. II was Just what he had expected
I would be. The walls were covered
With a garish paper selected by one
Who had an eye but not taste for
pink flowers that looked
more or less like chunks Of a shattered
split promiscuously over
background Of pearl gray. The bed
tead bureau and washstand were Of
modern. Everything was as
lean as a pin, however. and the bed
Doked comfortable. He stepped to the
mall. many-paned window and looked
ut into the night. The storm was at
ts height. In all his life he never had
card such a clatter of rain, nor a
5ind that shrieked so appalllngly.
His thoughts went quite naturally
0 the woman who was out there in
he thick Of II. He wondered how she
'as faring and lamented that she was
OF In his place now and he In hers.
What was she doing up In this God
Drsaken country What was the name
the place she was bound fort Green
'ancy! What an odd name for a
ouse! And what sort of house
His reflections were interrupted by
he return Of Mr.. Dillingford. who car
led huge pewter pitcher from which
Iaa In. |