The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1919-05-16


said Barnes, slipping his big pacl
from his shoulders and letting it slide
to the floor.
'Rear that feller in the taproon
talkin'? Well, he Is one Of the lead
ing actors in New York-in the world
for that matter. He's been talkiD
about Broadway for nearly a week
now, steady"
"May I inquire what he is doing W
here in the wilds?"
"At present he ain't doing anything
except talk. Last week he was treddin
the boards, as he puts it himself. Bust
ed. Up the flue. Showed last Satur
day Light in HornvilIe, eighteen mile
north of here, and immegiately after
the performance him and his whole
troupe started to walk back to New
York, a good four hundred mile. They
started out the back way Of the opery
house and nobody missed 'em till next
mornin' except the sheriff, and he
didn't miss 'em till they'd got over
the county line into our bailiwick.
Four Of 'em are still stoppin' here
just because amt got the heart to
'em out ner the spare money to
I, 'em tickets to New York. Here
comes one of 'em now. Mr.. Dilling-
ford, will you show this gentleman to
room eleven and carry his baggage up
fer him? And maybe he'll want a
pitcher of warm water to wash and
shave in." He turned to the new guest
and smiled apologetically. "We're a
little short O. help just now, Mr..
Barnes, and Mr.. Dillingford has kind
~ consented to-"
"My word!" gasped Mr.. Dillingford,
staring at the register. Someone
from little old New York? My word,
sir, you--- Won't you have a-er-
little something to drink with me be-
fore you"
HE wants something to eat" inter-
rupted Mr.. Jones sharply. "Tell Mr..
Bacon to step up to his room and
take the order"
"All right. old chap-nothing easier" !"
said Mr.. Dillingford genially. "Just
climb up the elevator, Mr.. Barnes. We
do this to get up an appetite. When
did you leave New York;"
Taking up a lighted kerosene lamp
and the heavy pack, Mr.. Clarence Dill
led the way up the stairs.
He was q chubby individual Of indef-
mite age. At glance you would have
said he was under twenty-one; Sec
ond look would have convinced you
that he was nearer forty-one.
Depositing Barnes pack on a chair
in the little bedroom at the end of
the hall upstairs he favored the guest
with a perfectly unabashed grin.
I'm not doing this to oblige old
man Jones. you know. won't attempt
to deceive you. I'm working out
daily board bill Chuck three times a
day and a bed to sleep in-thats what
I'm doing it for, so don't get it Into
your head that I applied for the tob.
Let me look at you. I want to get
good square peep at a man who has
the means to go somewhere and yet Is
boob enough to come to this gosh
awful place Of his own free will and
accord. Darn it, you look intelligent.
I don't get you at all. What's the mat
ter? Are you fugitive from justice"
Barnes laughed aloud. There was
no withstanding the fellows sprightly
impudence.
II happen to enjoy walking" said
he.
IF I enjoyed it as much as you do
I'd be limping into Harlem by this
ime," 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 hu-
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 a garish paper selected by one
who had an eye but not a 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 were 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 al
it's height. In all his life he never had
heard such a clatter Of rain, nor q
wind that shrieked so appallingly.
His thoughts went quite naturally
to the woman who was out there IL
tho thick of II. He wondered how sne