Cleveland County herald., 1919-06-05
CHAPTER lI-continued.

Barnes laughed aloud. There was no withstanding the fellows sprightly impudence.
 "I happen ito enjoy walking" said he.
 "If I enjoyed it as much as you do I'd be limping into Harlem by this time," said Mir. Dillingford sadly. But you see rm ;an actor. I'm too proud to walk"
 The cracked bell on the office desk interrupted him, somewhat peremp- torily. MT Diiiingford's face assumed :ln expression of profound dignity. He lowered his voice as he gave vent to he following:
 "That man Jones is the meanest hu- ,1uan being God eever let Yes, sir, c.}oming, sir! !'' He startedffor the open adoor with surprising alaefity.
 Barnes surveyed the little bedcham- her. 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 6 taste for calor-bright pink flowers that looked more or less like chunks of shattered watermelon split promiscuously over a background of pearl gray. The bed stead, bureau and ,washstand were of fensiyely modern Everything was as clean as pin, however, and the bed looked comfortable. He stepped ito the smalE, many-paned window and looked out into the night. The storm was at it's height In all hfs life he neverihad heard such a clatter of rain, nor wind that shrieked so appaEingly.
 His thoughts went quite naturally to the woman who was out there an tthe thick, of it. He wondered how siie ysyas tariRg and lamented that she was not in his place now &nd he in hers. What was she doing Gp in this God-l forsaken country? What was the name of 4he place she was bound for? Green Fancy! What an odd name Gor a. house! And what sort of house--
 His reflections were interrupted by the return of NIr. Dillingfond. who car ried 6 huge pewter pitcher from wI&ch steam arose iR volume. At his heels .strode a tall, cadaverous person ill a checked suit.
 Never had Barnes seen anything cutie so overpowering in the way of a suit. Josaph's coat of many colors was 40 longer a vision of childhood. IL was a reality. The checks were an inch square and each cube had a naf- 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 it's usefulness.
 Meet MT. Bacon, MT. Barnes" in- trodueed MT. DilIingford, going to the needless exertion of indicating MT. Ba- con with generous sweep of his free hand. "our heavy leads. MT. Monta- que Bacon, also of New York"
 Ham and eggs. pork tenderloin, country sausage, rump steak ana spring chicken" said MT. Bacon in 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 A-er-iust moment, please. tried and boiled potatoes, beans
 Ham and eggs, potatoes and cup or two of coffee," said Barnes, sup pressing a desire to laugh.
 "And apple pie," concluded the waiter triumphantly. T knew I'd get it if you gave me time. As you may have observed, my dear sir, l am not what you would call an experienced waiter AS matter of fact, T."
 The bell downstairs rang violently. MT. Bacon departed in great haste.
 While the traveller performed his ap- lutions MT. Dillingford, for the moment disengaged, sat upon the edge or the bed and enjoyed himself. He talked
 .'We were nine at the start" said ne pensively. Gradually we were re- duced to seven, not including the man ager. Two of 'em escaped before the smash. The low comedian and char acter old woman. Joe Buckley ano his wife. That left the old man-i mean MT. Rushcroft, the star-Lyndon Rush- croft, you know-myself and Bacon' Tommy Gray, Miss Rushcroft, Mss Hughes and a woman named Bradley, seven of us. The woman named Brad- ley said her mother was dying in Buf-