The Tomahawk., 1919-09-25
The Trouble
Listener
n
BY R. RAY BAKER
(Copyright, 1919. by the Mcclure News
paper 9yndicats.)

pspsr syndicats.)
He stood at the park entrance, a
dark-haired. fashionably garbed man
Of slender build, and allowed his cane
to swing repeatedly against the wall
that embraced the terrace. Beneath. a
small, dignified mustache his lips
twitched nervously, and his black eyes.
set in 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 languid young woman with
yellow hair shielded by a red parasol,
gazing dreamily into space and now
and then calling methodically: ED
ward, come here" to bare-legeed
youngster romping, needless of her ad-
monitions. on the lawn in the vicinity
Of keep off, sign.
A grimy laborer, clamping his jaws
placidly on plug and carrying dented
dinner pail. his shoulders hunched for
ward and his feet dragging after him,
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 nstlessly no tune
In particular. the newspaper folded
compactly and protruding from q 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
lips. 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 of at"
snapped the gum chewer. Don't let
i'm put anything like that over on
yuh. The idear dockin' yuh whole
dollar jes cause yuh busted one meas
ly III fift'-cent vase. Well, gooby, I
gotta hurry home n get fed"
| She hurried of 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 Mt the
next corner, where she was Joined by
| a In ~ In, rhk k<Ap
floated back.
The man with the cane smiled
somewhat grimly and adjusted the
stick on his arm.
"The inhabitants Of this old world
certainly do have their troubles" he
sighed, and as he turned he collided
with tall, thin, blond young woman
clad in pink.
Pardon" he murmured. and 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 arm.
you're just the man I need" she as
| serted. "Pm 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 plloted 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, 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
nothlngs, seized the bare-legged child
by the arms and dumped him uncere-
moniously on the bench beside her.
'Now, what's the matter?" she de-
manded angrily. Cant have a min.
ute's peace? What are you roaring
aboutT'
II bit my finder" he walled, and
let loose another torrent of tears.
"Shut up!" she commanded, and
gave him slap across the face. He
became silent Immediately, except for
some halfsuppressed SMILES, evidently
through fear. She looked up as Eve
lyn and her escort were passing and
nodded.
."Oh! How do you do, Mrs. Benja-
min," she said. Did you ever see
such a kid1 I don't have . second of
comfort I wish he'd never been born.
He's driving me crazy"
"She thinks she's having troubles"
said Evelyn to her companion, rs they
went down the walk. But her trou-
bles are nothing compared to mine.
Wait til I tell you. Come over to this
bench"
AZ they were being seated she re