The Hope pioneer. [volume] (Hope, N.D.) 1882-1964, 1919-05-08
CHAPTER III.
Mr.. Rushcroft DissoIves, Mr.. Jones In
~tervenes, and Two Men Ride Away.

Mr.. Rusheroft D%issoIves, Mr.. Jones In
%tervenes, and Two Men Ride Away.
Mr.. Rushcroft explained that he had
had his supper. In fact, he went on
to confess, he had been compelled,
like the dog, to ''speak" for it. What
could be more disgusting, more degfad-
ing, he mourned, than the spectacle
of a man who had appeared in all of
the principal theaters Of the land as
star and leading support to stars, set
Ting for his supper by telling stories
and reciting poetry. in the taproom
of a tavern?
"Still," he consented, when Mr..
Barnes insisted that it would be a
kindness to him, "since you put it that
way, I dare say I could do with a little
snack, as you so aptly put it. Justa
bite OF two. What have you ready,
Miss Tilly" )
Miss lilly was a buxom female Of
forty OF thereabouts, with spectacles.
She was one Of a pair Of sedentary
mattresses who had been so long in the
employ of Mr.. James that he hated the
sight of them.
Mr.. Rushcroft's conception Of a bite
or two may have staggered Barnes
but it did not bewilder Miss lilly. He
had four eggs with his ham, and
other things in proportion. He talked
a great deal, proving in that way that
it was a supper we'll worth speaking
for. Among other things he dilated
at great length upon his reasons for
not being a member of the Players or
the Lambs in New York city, It seems
that he had promised his dear, devoted
wife that he would never join a club
of any description. Dear old girl, he
would as soon have cut off his right
hand as to break any promise made
to her. He brushed something away
from his eyes, and his chin, contract
ing, trembled slightly. "What is it,
Mr.. Bacon? Any word from New
York;"
Mr.. Bacon lowered near, perhaps
hungrily.
"Our genial host has instructed me
to say to his latest guest that the
rates are two dollars a day, in ad-
vance, all dining-room checks payable
on presentation" said Mr.. Bacon, apol-
o%getically.
Rushcroft exploded. 20 scurvy in
suit" he doomed. >"Confound his"
The new guest was amiable. He
interrupted the outraged star. "Tell
Mr.. Jones that I shall settle prompt
~" he said with a smile.
1T has just entered his bean that
you may be an actor, Mr.. Barnes" said
Bacon.
Miss illy, overhearing, drew a step
or two nearer. A sudden interest in
Mr.. Barnes developed. She had not
noticed before that he was an uncom-
monty good-looking fellow. She al
ways had said that she adored strong,
"athaletic" faces.
Later on she felt inspired to jot
down, for use no doubt in some future
literary production, a concise, though
general, description of the magnificent
Mr.. Barnes. She utilized the back of
the bill of fare and she wrote with
the feverish ardor Of OBJ who breads
the lnss Of a first impression. I here
with append her visual e~timate Of the
hero Of this story:
"He was a tail, shapely specimen
of mankind, wrote Miss lilly. Broad
shouldered. Snooth-shav<l face. Pen
etrating gray eyes. Short, curry hair
about the color Of mine. Strong
hands of good shape. Face tanned
considerable. Heavy dark eyebrows.
Good teeth, very white. Square chin.
Lovely smile that seemed to light up
the room for everybody within hear
ing. Nose ideal. Mouth same. Voice
%aristocratic and reverberating with
education. Age about thirty or
thirty-one. Rich us Croesus. Well
turned legs. Would make . good no
bleman."
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