The Kentuckian. [volume] (Hopkinsville, Ky.) 191?-19??, 1919-08-20
&c

And George, In reporting this com
yersation to his mother, was ruefully
humorous. 'In fact, the old boy
cheered up so much" he told her,
you'd have thought he'd got real
load off his mind. OF course l know
he's anything but misery; still 1 can't
help thinking he must be sailing LOT
of money away. l know prices are
higher than they used to be. but he
doesn't spend within thousands Of
what he used ITO, and we certaIni4
can't be spending more chan we alwayt
have spent. Where does 1t all go tot
Uncle George told me grandfather had
sold some pieces Of property, and
looks little queer. 1 have a faint
suspicion, not that he's getting miseri1
not that at all-but that old age hal
begun to make him timid about money
There's no doubt about it, he's gek
ting a little queer: he can't keep hifi
mind on a subject long. Right In thu
middle of talking about one thing hen
wander off to something else; and
shouldn't be surprised If he turned
out to be a lot better OF than any oil
us guess"
Isabel had bright idea. "GeOrgieT
Instead of tandem wouldn't it inter
est you to get one Of Eugene's automO
bilesT
II don't think So They're fast
enough, of course. In fact, running
one Of those things is getting to be
quite on the cards for sport, and
people go all over the country in 'em.
But they're dirty things, and they keep
getting out Of order, so that you're
always lying down on your back in the
mud and"
"Oh, no." she interrupted eagerly.
Haven't you noticed? The way they
make them now you can get at most Of
the machinery from the top. I do
think you'd be interested, DEAR"
George remained Indifferent. "Pos"
sibly-but l hardly think so. I know
lot of good people are really taking
them up, but still"
"'But still whatY" she said as he
paused.
"But still-well, 1 suppose I'm a
little old-fashioned and fastidious, but
I'm afraid being a sort of engine
driver never will appeal to me,
mother. It's exciting, and I'd like that
part of it, but still it doesn't seem to
me precisely the thing gentleman
ought to do. Too much overalls and
monkey wrenches and grease! No; 1
believe I'd rather wait for September
and tandem, mother"
Nevertheless George sometimes con-,
scented to sit in an automobile, while
waiting for September, and he fire.
quently went driving in one of Eu-
genes cars with Lucy and her father.
He even allowed himself to be escort-l
ed with his mother and Fanny through
| the growing factory, which was now,
as the foreman of the paint shop In
formed the visitors, turning out car
and a quarter a day"
From the factory Eugene took them
| to lunch at a new restaurant, just
opened in the town, place which sur
prlsed Isabel with its metropolitan
| air, and, though George made fun Of
her. in a whisper, she offered every
thing the tribute of pleased exclama-
lions and her gayety helped Eugene's
to make the little occasion almost a.
festive one.
Georges ennui disappeared in spite
Of himself, and he laughed to see his
pother in such spirits. Il didn't know
,iGeral waters could go to Il persOn'sI
lead" he said. "Or perhaps It's this
place. 1t might pay to have a new res
taurant opened somewhere in town
every time you get the blues"
mo" Isabel said, what makes me
laugh so much at nothing is Eugenes
factory. Wouldn't anybody be delight
ed to see an old friend take an idea
out of the air like that-an idea that
most people laughed at him for
wouldn't any old friend of his be
! happy to see how he'd made his idea
into such a splendid, humming thing
as that factory-all shiny steel, click
ing, buzzing away, and with all those
wOrkmen, such muscIed-lOoking men
and yet so intelligent looking? It's
beautiful to see such a thing" she
said. ut makes us all happy, dear old
Eugenew
And with brave gesture she
! stretched out her hand to him across
the small table. He took 1t quickly,
giving her a look in which his laughter
tried to remain but vanished before a.
gratitude threatening to become emo
tional in spite Of him. Isabel, how
ever, turned instantly to Fanny. "Give
him your hand, Fanny" she said gay
ly; and as Fanny mechanically
Obeyed, ''Therel' Isabel cried. Tf
brother George were here, Eugene
would have his three oldest and best
friends congratulating him all at once.
We know what brother George thinks
about 1t, though. It's just beautiful,
Eugenep
Lucy leaned toward George and
| xrrh rrAHipo