New-York tribune., 1920-12-05


on. Let's go out on the porchw
NTOBODY even knew he was
there. Nevertheless, the tall
and solid Clairdyce was con-
scious Of him, but only, it proved. as
one is conscious of something to ease
ones weight upon. His elbow.
little elevated, was at the helch. of
Noble's shoulder, and this heavy o.
bow, without its owners direct or
active cognizance, found for itself
a comfortable resting place: and
then, as the story in progress ~
narration reached It's conclusion. old
Clairdyce joined the general mirtb
so heartily as to find himself quite
overcome, and he allowed most Of
his weight to depend upon the sun.
ported elbow. Noble sank like
feathers.
hefe v nat you d0ln?' he said
hotly. IN thank you to keep off q
mcW
Old Baldy recovered his balance
without being aware Of what had
threatened it, while his elbow. an
parcntly of its own volition, groped
for its former support. Noble
evaded and pushed forward.
Julia" he said ~ got to say
some"-
Bat the accursed music had begun
again, and horn-rimmed Newland
Sanders already had his arm about
her waist. They disappeared into
The ruck of dancers.
We'll, by Georgew said Noble.
BY George, Pm goin' to do some
thingw
He went outdoors and smoked Or
duma cigarettes, one after the other.
Dances and intermissions succeeded
each other, but Noble had enough
Of that, for one while" SO he NUT
tered.
Once Julia had told him that he
was killing himself smoking cigar
cites. "All right he said now. q,
he bitterly lighted his fifth at the
spark Of the fourth-"I hope |
win"
Lot O. difference It'd make.Y he
said, as he lighted the eighth of a
series which must, all told, have con
tanned nearly as much tobacco as a
cigar. And leaning back against
tho trunk Of one Of the big old wal
nut trees in the yard, he gazed
toward the house, where the open
window nearest him surqed with
splashing colors like bright and
crowded aquarium. "To her, any
wayl' he added, with a slight re-
morse, remembering that his mother
had frequently shown him evidences
Of affection.
Yes, his mother would care, and
his father and sisters would be up-
set, but Julia-when the friends Of
the family were asked to step by
for a last look, would she be one?
What optimism remained to him pre-
sented a sketch Of Julia, in black,
borne from the room in the arms Of
girl friends, who tried in vain to
hush her; but he was unable to give
this more hopeful fragment an air
Of great reality. Much more prob1
ably, when word came to her that he
had smoked himself to death she
would be bride, dancing at Niagara
Falls with her bald old husband
she would only laugh and pause to
toss a faded rose out of the window.
and then go right on dancing. But
perhaps, some day, when tears had
TAUGHT her the hollowness Of life
with such a mani
ow-wow!'
Noble jumped. From the dark.
ness of the yard beside the house
there came a griovous and savage
howl, distressful to the spinal mar
row, sound OF animal pain. 1t was
repeated even more psssionately,
and another voice. one both hoarse'y
bass and excruciating falsetto in the
articulation Of a single syllable, was
heard: "Ouch.' There were sounds
Of violent scuffling, and the bass-fal-
setto voice cried: whats that ven
stuck me WITH" and another. Drag
her. Drag her back in the house"
These alarms came from the n
most impenetrablc shadows Of & tiny
orchard which stood between tie
house and the fence bordering fhs
property adjoining. From the sae'e
was heard the repeated coa-
tact Of q heavy 6cev. sse...lei>
wooden or metallic. with the 4rogni.
and simultaneously an icy c.inkiag.
But high over all other tamults Il
. =.