The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1919-04-18
CHAPTER Il-continued.

no withstanding the fellows sprightly
impudence
81 happen to enjoy walking" said
he.
"If / enjoyed it as much as you do
I'd be limping into Harlem by this
time" said Mr. Dillingford sadly But
you see I'm an actor. I'm too proud
to walk
The cracked bell on the office desk
interrupted him, somewhat peremp-
torily. Mr.. Dillingford's face assumed
an expression of profound dignity. He
lowered his voice as he gave vent to
the following:
THAT man Jones Is the meanest hui
man being God ever let Yes, sir,
coming, sir.' He started for the open
door with surprising alacrity.
Barnes surveyed the little bedcham-
ber 1t was just what he had expected
it would be. The walls were covered
with Il garish paper selected by one
who had an eye but not taste for
color-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 We're of
fensively modern. Everything was as
clean as "a pin, however and the bed
looked comfortable. He stepped to the
small, many -paned window and looked
out into the night. The storm was at
its height. In all his life he never had
heard such clatter of rain, nor a
wind that shrieked so appallingly.
His thoughts went quite naturally
to the woman who was out there in
the thick of it. He wondered how she
was faring and lamented that she was
not in his place now and he in hers
What was she doing up in this God
forsaken country? What was the name
of the place she was bound for? Green
Fancy, What an odd name for a
house, And what sort of house
His reflections We're interrupted by
the return of Mr. Dillingford. who car
ried a huge pewter pitcher from whica
steam arose in volume. At his heels
strobe tall, cadaverous person in y
checked suit.
Never had Barnes seen anything
quite so overpowering in the way of a
suit Joseph's coat of many colOrs was
no longer vision of childhood 1t
was a reality. The checks We're an
inch square and each cube had a mar
row border of azure blue. The general
tone was dirty gray, due no doubt to
age and constitution that would not
allow it to outlive its usefulness.
Meet Mr.. Bacon, Mr.. Barnes" in
troduced Mr. Dillingford, going to the
needless exertion of indicating Mr.. Ba-
con with generous sweep of his free
hand. "Our heavy leads. Mr.. Monta-
que Bacon, also of New York
Ham and eggs, pork tenderloin,
country sausage, rump steak and
spring chicken" said Mr.. Bacon in
cavernous voice, getting it over with
while the list was fresh in his men,
DRY. Fried and boiled potatoes, beans,
succotash, onions, stewed tomatoes and
--er-iust moment, please. Fried
and boiled potatoes, beans"
Ham and eggs, potatoes and cup
or two of coffee" said Barnes, sup
pressing desire to laugh.
"And apple pie concluded the
waiter triumphantly. II knew I'd get
it if you gave me time. AS you may
have observed, my dear sir, am not
what you would call an experienced
waiter. AS matter of fact. /"
The bell downstairs rang violently.
Mr.. Bacon departed in great haste.
While the traveller performed his alb
lutions Mr. Dllingford for the moment
disengaged, sat upon the edge of the
bed and enjoyed himself. He talked.
1--WE were nine at the start said he
pensively. Gradually we We're 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 and his
wife That left the old man-I mean
Mr.. Rushcroft, the star-Lyndon Rush
croft, you know-myself and Bacon,
Tommy Gray. Miss Rushcroft, Miss
Hughes and woman named Bradley,
seven of us. The woman named Brad
ley said her mother was dying in BUT
falo, so the rest of us scraped together
all the money we had-nine dollars
and sixty cents-and did the right
thing by her. Actors are always do
ing darn-fool things like that. Mr..
Barnes. And what do you suppose she
did? She took that money and bought
two tickets TO Albany, one for herself
and another for the manager of the
company-the lowest, meanest orner-
lest white man that ever But l am
grabbing the old mans part. You
ought to hear what he has to say about
Mr.. Manager. He can use words |
never even heard of before. So that
leaves just the four of us here, work
Ing off the two days board bill of