Vernon Parish Democrat. (Leesville, La.) 1917-193?, 1919-08-02
CHAPTER II-cOntinued.

Barnes laughed aloud. There was |
no withstanding the fellows sprightly |
impudence.
81 happen to enjoy walking" said |
he.
eff enjoyed it 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
interrupted him, somewhat peremp-
tOrily. Mr.. Dillingford's face assumed
an expression Of profound dignity. He
lowered his voice as he gave vent to
the following:
'sThat man Jones is the meanest hu-
man being God ever let Yes, sir,
coming, sir!" He started for the open
door with surprising alacrity.
Barnes surveyed the little bedcham-
Der. It was just what he had expected
It would be. The walls were covered
with a garish paper selected by one
who had an eye but not taste for
cOlOr-bright pink flowers that looked
more or less like chunks of a shattered
watermelon split prOmiscuously over
a background of pearl gray. The bed
stead, bureau and washstand were Of
fensively modern. Everything was as
clean as q pin, however, and the bed
looked comfortable. He stepped to the
small, many-paned window and looked
out into the night The storm was ut
Its height. In all his life he never had
heard such a clatter Of rain, nor
wind that shrieked so appallingly.
His thoughts went quite naturally
to the woman who was out there In
the thick of it. He wondered how she
was faring and lamented that she was
not in his place now and he in hers.
What was she doing up in this God
forsaken country? What was the name
of the place she was bound for? Green
Fancy! What an odd name for
house! And what sort of house
His reflections were interrupted by
the return of Mr.. Dillingford, who car
ried huge pewter pitcher from which
steam arose in volume. At his heels
strobe tall, cadaverous person in a
checked suit.
Never had Barnes seen anything
quite so overpowering in the way of a
suit. Joseph's coat of many colors was
no longer a vision of childhood. It
was a reality. The checks were an
inch square and each cube had a mar
row border of azure blue. The general
tone was dirty gray, due no doubt to
age and a constitution that would not
allow it to outlive its usefulness.
''Meet Mr.. Bacon, Mr.. Barnes" in
troduced Mr.. Dillingford, going to the
needless exertlon of indicating Mr.. Ba-
con with a generous sweep of his free
hand. "Our heavy leads. Mr.. MOnta-
que Bacon, also of New York"
"Ham and eggs, pork tenderlOin,
country sausage, rump steak and
spring chicken" said Mr.. Bacon in a
cavernous voice, getting it over with
while the list was fresh in his mem
ory. "Fried and boiled potatoes, beans
succotash, onions, stewed tomatoes and
-er.-just a moment, please. Fried
and boiled potatoes, beans
"Ham and eggs, potatoes and a cup
or two of Coffee" said Barnes, sup
pressing a desire to laugh.
"And apple pie" concluded the
waiter triumphantly. 81 knew I'd get
1t If you gave me time. AS you may
have observed, my dear sir, am moi
what you would call an experienced
waiter. AS a matter of fact, +"
The bell downstairs rang violently
Mr.. Bacon departed in great haste.
While the traveller performed his alb
Iutions Mr.. Dillingford, for the momen
disengaged, sat upon the edge of thu
he'd and enjoyed himself. He talked
"We were nine at the start" said h
pensively. "Gradually we were re
duced to seven, not including the man
nger. Two Of 'em escaped before TIN
smash. The low comedian and char
acter old woman. Joe Buckley and hi
wife. That left the old mani meal
Mr.. Rushcroft, the star-Lyndon Rush
croft, you knoW-myself and Bacon
Tommy Gray, Miss RushcrOft, Mis-
Hughes and a woman named Bradley
seven OF us. The woman named Brad
lay said h0r mother was dying in But