Mountain advocate., 1919-10-03
The Trouble
Listener
copyright, 1919. by the Mcclure News
paper Syndicate.)
n
BY R. RAY pAKER

He stood at the park entrance, a
hark-haired, fashlonably CARRIED man
of slender build, and allowed his cane
to swing repeatedly against the wall
that embraced the terrace. Beneath a
small, dignifed mustache his lips
twitched nervOusly, and his black eyes,
set In a pale, almost emaciated face,
rOamed restlessly over the throng that
was enjoying a late afternoon siesta.
From his position at the gate he
could see two old men smoking corn
cob pipes cOntentedly, chatting aimless-
ly as they rested on bench, against
which pair of crutches leaned. Near
by was a languid young woman with
yellow hair shielded by red parasol.
gazing dreamily into space and now
and then calling methOdically: ed
ward, come here" to bare-legged
youngster romping needless of her adj
monitions, on the lawn in the vicinity
of keep off" sign.
grimy laborer, clamping his jaws
placidly on plug and carrying denied
dinner pail, his shoulders hunched for
slouched into the park and paused near
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 gingerly on the lawn, and a
moment later moved out of sight along
the walk, whistling listlessly no tune
in particular. the newspaper folded
compactly and protruding from coat
pocket.
Two girls passed near the observer
with the cane. One was chewing vi
ciously on gum, punctuating her re-
marks with frequent smacks of the
Ups The other evidently had been
weeping, for there were traces of tears
In her eyes and she carried wilted
handkerchief.
I'D 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 lOckin yuh Il whole
dollar jes cause yuh busted one meas
Is lii fift'cent vase. Well, gOO'by, l
gotta hurry home n get fed"
She hurried off 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
young man and Il ripple of laughter
flOated back.
The man with the cane smiled
somewhat grimly and adjusted the
stick on his arm.
1.-THE inhabitants of this old world
certainly do have their troubles" he
sighed, and as he turned he collided
with n tall, thin, blond young woman
clad in pink.
Pardon" he murmured, and then as
he recognized her:
"Oh, hello, Evelyn. This is 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 arm.
you're just the man need" she as
serted. I'm 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 it,
and maybe you can advise me-"
With an air of resignation he al
lowed himself to be plotted along the
park walk. They were just in time to
see and hear the amiable discussion of
the two old men with cOrncob pipes
break up In an angry, suffering 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 shriels.
The young woman manifested great
annoyance. stopped gazing ut distant
nOthings, seized the bare-legged child
by the arms and dumped him uncere-
mOniously on the bench beside her.
snow, what's the matter?" she de-
manded angrily. Cant | have a min
ute's peace? What are you roaring
abOut?"
81 bit my finder" he walled, and
let loose another torrent of tears.
"Shut up" she commanded, and
gave him a slap across the face. He
became silent Immediately, except for
some half-suppressed snlfIles. evidently
through fear. She looked up as Eve
Ign and her escort We're passing and
nodded.
"Oh! How do you do, Mrs. Benja-
min" she said. "Dld you ever see
such kid? | don't have second OF
comfort. l wish he'd never been born.
He's driving me crazy"
"She thinks she's having troubles"
said Evelyn TO her companion, as they
went down the walk. But her trou-
bles are nothing compared to mine.