The news scimitar. (Memphis, Tenn.) 1907-1926, 1919-09-02
CONTINUED From Previous Iauua.)



CHAPTER Tx.
A human prism he was-refracting
the light in seven different colors. But
different In thls-he was not predict
able. Reds and blues and yelloys
there were in his moods, but some-
times the gold would predominate and
sometimes the indigo. Bill Porter's
vas a baffing spectrum Of gay and
somber hues.
These moods Of his we're ~inscrutable'
TO me. At times he was so aloof /
could scarcely get a word from him.
would go away seething with anger.
And In an hour he would come over
with h gentlest and subtlest persua-
sion 70 wheedle me into friendllness.
Bill, you've got a feminine streak
IN you; you're so damned unreliable"
| meant II for a singing rebuke.
Porter looked AZ me, putting on a
foolish shipper. 1T makes me quite in
teresting and enigmatic, doesn't it,
And then he became instantly Sc
rious. Sometimes things look SO black
TO me, Al ] don't see much use in
anything. I can't bet on myself. Some
times | want to have nothing TO do
with anyone and sometimes | envy the
defiance that seems to win you SO many
friends"
Sore at Jennings Popularity.
Porter could have walked down
Broadway and won the smiling salute
OF every celebrity for a mile had he
so wished. And yet he made that
comment one day because a half dozen
b~artenders had called me by name.
He had been very busy getting out
some stories. / had not seen him for
four days. | improved the time by strik-
ing up acquaintance with the elite of
the barrooms. One evening l was talk
Ing to the tender In a saloon across
from the F1atlron building. Both my
listener and were. excitedly going
through the perilous joys Of a holdup,
! heard q hesitating cough. Porter was
at my elbow.
'Did you find an old friend in the
bartender" he asked when we got out
side.
mo, / just met him yesterday"
well, / stood there 10 minutes with
a Sahara, thirst on me before he turned
to quench it. You're evidently more
riches to him than my dime.
i've been looking for you. colonel.
/ went into five different saloons. |
asked II a diminutive giant with a de-
mure face and red hair had been prowl-
ing about the premises. Who, Mr..
Jennings from Oklahomaf' they up and
says, n then they try to point out
your footprints TO me on the asphalt.
How do you do III"
Wanted Jennings for Mayor,
You ought to come here and run
for mayor. You'd be elected sure. And
then you could appoint me your secre-
tary. We'd be in clover
Many hours later we wheeled around
again near the Flatiron building. My
hat was carried away in the ornado
and then hurled down the street.
| started to run after 1t, Porter's
firm, strong hand was on my arm.
Don't, colonel. Someone will bring 1t
TO you. The north wind Is considerate,
II pays indemnities on the damage
wrought. It will send a porter to re-
turn your headpiece to you"
Like hell 1t will!'
A likely chance 1t seemed at 2 o'clock
In the morning. / shook off his arm,
determined to recover my property,
when dashing up from nowhere came
an old man. Pardon me, sir, is this
yours?"
For the second time in my life I
heard Bill Porter send up that bubbling,
sonorous laugh OF his.
For a moment / felt like a person be-
witched. Where In thunder did that
old gnome come from, anywayP
you oughtn't to be so particular
Your hat, haven't you?" S''
1t was a night of gayety. wen
continue this in our next, colonel. Come
over at noon" 1t was Porter's good
night.
was ready for the jaunt promptly
at T.: mt, Porter y n his rooms
the door. I could hear Bill ~stropping
his razor. l knocked. He did not
answer.
Gives Guest Latch Key.
Mindful q the, joyous byoyancy Of
It sa' the nasG door, Poi0 Re id Erg not c xaGlSus KICK
In a gale Of resentment and hurt
pride, l rushed to my room a block
away.
He's sick and tired Of me sliding
In there night and day." l thought.
up Pc my MHn suitcase to- 9 sc r and O' stated mSi Dumping 7 3
my clothes into it. planned to leave
New York that afternoon. ] was Just
jamming in the last few collars when
the door opened and BilIs rudy, I'M
derstanding face looked down at me.
a sixth sense, / could not distinguish
your knock from any one else's." Por-
ter slipped his hand into his pocket.
"Take this. AL, and let yourself In any
hour Of the day or night. You'll never
find Bill Porter's door or his time
locked against the salt OF the earth"
More eloquent than the gift Of a dol
lar from a Shylock was this tribute
from the reserved Bill Porter.
Philosophy Was Robust.
| was always under the impression
that Porter's spirit, ~unshadowed by the
walls of the Ohio penitentiary, would
have been a buoyant. fantastic incarna-
ton. He had a robust philosophy that
withstood without the tarnish OF cyni-
cism the horrors Of prison life,
Without these soaring memories !
think the debonair grace Of youth that
was uppermost in his heart would have
been the dominant force triumphant
over the ordinary melancholy of life:
Won, oolonel'S He was in one Of his
gently sparkling moods. Get into your
armor asinorum. for we fare forth to
make contest with tinsel and gauZe.
In other words, we mingle with the
proletariat. We 80 TO see, Margaret
Anglin and Henry Miller In that superb
| and realistic Western libel, The Great
Divide
After the play the great actress.
! Porter and ! and II or two others