Carrizozo outlook. [volume] (Carrizozo, N.M.) 1910-1945, 1919-11-21
rA.
M RCOW PUNCHER
EW&@ESssAGTKEEazA BY Robert &c Stead
Quthorf
" " GkS2fE%& kAeheLer. and other poems
~ N.Mt Wy y mamhomS kvb Ayrs .s--


aud actresses always seemed more or
less lmpersonnl aud abstract. but here
they were living. palplinting human
beings. almost within hnnd-reuch. Ger.
lninly within eye-rench. DIVE found
himself regarding the young woman
Immediately before him all In white
she was. with some sclntlllntlng mate
rial that spnrkled In the glare OF the
spotlight then suddenly she was In
orange. and pink, and purple. and
mmuve, and back again In white. And
although she performed the various
steps with smiling abandon there was
In her dress and AM n modesty
which fascinated the boy with . sub
llely which n more reckless appear.
nnce would have at once defeated.
And then Dave looked In her face.
II was II pretty face. Notwithstanding
lts greuse paint. and II smiled right
into his eyes. His heart thumped he
tween his shoulders as though II would
drive all the mir from his lungs. She
smiled at him-for him Now they
were away again; there were gyra-
tlOns about the stnge.
Then there was n sudden break.
away In the dance. and the girl dis
appeared behind n forest. Dave sup.
posed she had gone IN rest dancing
like that must he hard on the wlnd
lie found little to interest him now In
what was going on on the stage. II
seemed rather foolish. lie wished the
girl behind the forest would come
down and rest there. Then she could
see the show herself. Then she co Id
see
But there was n whlr from the for
est. and the girl reappenred, this time
all IN red. right before him And then
she looked down and smiled again ~
HIM. And he smiled back. And then
he looked ~ Coward and suw him
smiling too. Aud then he felt II very
distressing uncertainty. which brought
the color slowly 10 his face. lie re.
solved to say nothing. hut watch. And
his observations convinced him that
the smiles hnd been for Coward. not
for him. And then he lost Interest In
the plny.
IVY uuNlltu lulO lUflF uNfIfNulS W
the playing OF the nf-lonal anthem.
Hurry r. said Coward. Lets get
out quick Amt she some damei
There-through the side exlt-the
stage door Is that way. She promised
TO have her chum with her. They'll
be waiting II We don't hurry"
Coward steered him to the stage
entrance, where n little group was al
rendy c~ongregated. In a mNment the
girl appeared. handsomely dressed In
furs. With her was another girl. also
from the chorus, but Dave could not
recall her part. He was suddenly
aware OF being introduced.
"Thls Is my friend Belton." Con
ward was saying.
Dave vas about TO correct him when
Coward managed TO whisper
whist Your stage name. Mines
Edward. Don't forget"
Coward took the FIRST girl by the
arm. and Dave found himself follow
ing rnpidly with the other. They cat
through certain side streets, up y stair
why. and into n dark hall. A door
opened. Coward pressed a button
and they found themselves In a small
I comfortably furnished room-evl
IDENTIFY bachelor apartments.
The girls threw on their wraps and
sauntered nbout the glgce, while Con
ward started IA gus grnte and put som,
water to boil.
SORRY I've nothing for you 10 ent.'
he said. hut I've some good medlcln,
FOR the thirst"
"Entlng's poor business when there,
Il thirst to be q%uenched." said one OF
the girls with II ynwn. "And. bellev,
ne. I've a long one"
The glnsses were filled and raised
"tlOi' said Coward.
Here's looking !" said one OF IN,
girls.
Dave hesitated, hut the other cir
cllnked her glass against his. Here
looking At you" she said. and she up
peared to lay special emphasis on m,
last two woods. Certainly her eye
were on Dawes as she raised her glass
10 her lips. And under the spell o
hose cyes he raised his glass nnt
drained Il,
Other glasses were filled an,
drained. The three were chatterln,
awny. hut Dave vas but vaguely con
sclous OF their talk and could wenv,
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