The Beaver herald. [volume] (Beaver, O.T. [Okla.]) 1895-1923, 1919-10-30

He stood at the park entrance, n
dark-haired. fashionabiy gprbed man
OF slender build. and allowed his cane
TO swing repeatedly against the wall
that embraced the terrace. Beneath a
small dlgnlfied mustache mis- lips
twitched nervously. and his black eyes,
set In " pale, almost emaciated face,
roaned restlessly over the throug that
was enjoying u late afternoon slesta.
From his position at the gate he
could see two old men smoking corn
cob pipes contentedly, chatting aimless-
ly as they rested on a bench. against
which pair of crutches leaned. Near
by was arlanguid young woman with
yellow hair shielded by red parasol.
gazing drenmily into space and now
and then calling methodically: ED
ward, come here" TO barelegged
youngstcr rOmping. Needless OF her ad-
monitions. ON the lawn In the vicinity
OF keep orr sign.
A grimy laborer clamping his Jaws
placidly on plug and carrying a dented
dinner pail. his shoulders hunched for
ward and his feet dragging after tlm,
slouched into the park and paused lear
the entrance, where the wind had sep-
arated an abandoned newspaper into
Its several folios and scattered them
over the grass.
The laborer glanced furtively about,
stepped glngerly on the lawn, and n
moment later moved out of sight along
the walk, whistling listlessly no tune
In particular, the newspaper folded
compnctly and protruding from a Goa.
pocket
Two girls passed near the observer
with the cane, One was chewing VI
.ciously on gum. punctuatlng her re-
marks with frequent smacks of the
lips. The 'other evidently had been
weeping, for there were traces OF tears
In her eyes and she carried a wllted
handkerchief,
"rd tell i'm where tub get Off at"
snapped the gum chewer. Don't let
I'm put anything like that over on
yuh. The idear dockln yuh whole
dollar jes cause yuh busted one meas
ly III fift' cent vase. Well, goo'by, l
gotta hurry home m get fed"
She hurried or through the park,
while the other girl walked on down
the street. soaking up more salt water
with the tiny lace-fringed square OF
linen. All this ceased abruptly at the
next corner, where she was Joined by
a young man and ripple Of laughter
hoated back. ~.
The man with the cane smiled
somewhat grlmly and adjusted the
stick on his arm.
"The Inhabitants of this old world
certainly do have their troubles, .. he
sighed. and ms he turned he colllded
with tall. thin, blond young woman
clad In pink.
Pardon" he murmured, ana then as
he recognized her:
"Oh, hello. Evelyn. This is a sur
prise. What are you doing. that you
can't see where you're going? Study
Ing astronomy"
Evelyn smiled sadly and took him
by the hrm.
You're Just the man need" she as
serted. "Tmr In awful trouble-and it's
all on account of my no-good husband.
Joe, wish I'd married you. Come In
the park and I'll tell you all about II,
and maybe you can advise me-"
With an air of resignation he al
lowed himself to be piloted along the
park walk. They were just In time TO
see and hear the amlable discussion Of
the two old men with corncob pipes
break up In an angry, sputtering argu.
ment over the effect Of the peace treaty
on the map OF Europe. or the high
cost Of living. or the batting percent
age OF the major league catchers.
AS the man and the girl passed the
young woman with the yellow hair, the
youngster who had been romping on
the lawn came running up to her, split.
ting the air with shrieks.
The young woman manifested great
annoyance, stopped gazing at distant
nothings. seized the bare-legged child
by the arms and dumped him uncere-
mcniously on the bench beside her.
"N3w. what's the matter?" she de-
manded angrily. Cant | have min
ute's peace? What are you roaring
aboutY
II bit my finder" he walled, and
let loose another torrent of tears.
"Shut upl" she commanded. and
gave him slap across the face. He
became silent Immediately, except for
some half-suppressed sniffles. evidently
through fear. She looked up as Eve
lyn and her escort We're passing and
nodded. ag
"Oh How do you do, Mrs. Benja-
min." she said. "Dld you ever see
such a kid? don't have a second OF
comfort. ! wish he'd never been born.
He's driving me crazy"
"She thinks she's having troubles"
said Evelyn 10 her companion. as they
went down the walk. "But her trou.
bles are nothing compared to mine.
Wait till ! tell you. Come over to this
bench"
AS they were being seated she re-