The state herald., 1919-12-26


Dawes duties were Simple enough.
He had to drive a wagon to n coal
ynrd. where a very superior young
man. with collar. would express sur
prise that he had been so long gone,
and tell him to back in under chute
number so-and-so. It appeared to be
always matter Of great distress to
this young man that Dave did not
know which chute to bnck under until
he was told. Having backed into po-
sition door was opened. There wns
fiction that the coal In the bin should
then run into the wagon box, but, as
Dave at once discovered, this was
merely a fiction. Aside from a few
accommodating Jumps near the door
the coal had to be shoveled. Then
Dave had to drive to an address that
was given him. shovel the coal down
a chute located in the most inacces.
sible position the premises afforded.
and return to the coalyard. where the
young man with the collar would face
tiously inquire whether Mrs. Blank
had invited him in to afternoon tea.
or II he had been waiting for change
In the weather.
His work and supper were over by
seven o'clock each evening. and now
was the opportunity for him to begin
the schooling for which he had eft
the ranch. But he developed : sud.
den disinclination to make the start:
he was tired In the evening, and -
found II much more to his liking to
stroll downtown. smoke cignf .es on
the stree. corners. or engage In an
occasional game Of pool. In this way
the weeks went by. md when his
month with :. tforl was up he had
neglected to nnd another position, no
he continued where wns. He was
being gradually and unconsciously
submerged In an Inertia which. how.
ever much ;: might hate Its present
surroundings. had not the spirit to
seek a more favorable environment.
So the fall and winter drifted along:
Dave had made few acquaIntances and
no friends. II We except Coward.
whom be frequently met In the pool.
rooms and for whom he had developed
4 sort Of attachment.
One Saturday evening. as Dave was
on his way to their accustomed resort.
he fell In with Coward on the street.
"Hello. old manw said Coward
cheeriiy. II wns Just looking for you.
Got two tickets for the show tonight.
Some swell DANES 10 the chorus.
Come along. Thefe'il be dolnes."
There were two theaters in the
town. one Of which played to the bet.
ter.class residents. In II anything Of
. risque nature had to be presented
With certain trimmings which allowed
h to be classined ~ art" but in the
other house NO such restrictions ex.
lsted. II was to the latter that Con.
yard led. Dave had been there be-
6bre. In the cheap upper gallery. but
Oonward's tickets admitted to the best
Vats IN the house.
II wns an entirely new experience.
Prom the upper gallery the actors
md actresses always seemed more or
MSS impersonal and abstract, but here
hey were living. paipitatlns human
beings. almost within hand.reach, Ger.
Alnly within eycreneh. Dave found
himself regarding the young woman
lmmodlately before him: oil In white
she was. with some scintillating mate
hal that sparkled In the glare Of the
spotlight: then suddenly she was 10
oesnge. and pink. and purple. and
NATIVE. and hack ssain 10 white. And
although she performed the various
oleps with smiling abandon there was
d her dress and manner . modesty
vAlch fascinated the boy With Q sub
e1ety which . more reckleas appear.
oocs would have at once defeated.
And then Dave looked IN hsr face.
q was Q pretty face. notwithstanding
- grease paint. and Il smiled right
ineo his eyes. His heart thumped be-.
tween his shouldses - though II would
H1ive oil the air from bis lunss. She
oniied at hlm-foe himi Now they
we're away again; there were gyl.
Mons about the stage.
Theu there Was q sudden break.
svay In the dance. and the girl dls.
pearcd behind Q forest. Dave sup.
uosed she had gone TO rest; dancing
Ne that must be hard on the wind.
h found little TO interest him now In
Nhnt wns going on-on the .'ngc. 1t