South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1920-12-29
FROM EACH ACCORDING TO HIS ABILITY
o. Henry
O. Henry

ting down again. cts bully OF yol
%. put ne wise knew there was
something wrong. but I couldn't
just put my finger on it. I guess II
CORES by nature to know how TO
wear clothes"
"Oh. 7 suppose" said Vuyning.
with laugh that my ancestors
picked up the knack while they
were peddling clothes from house 10
hotse q couple ~ hundred years ago.
I'm told JEcy cid that"
And mine. said Emerson. cheer
fully were making their visits at
night. I guess. and d.dnt have "a
chance % catch on 10 the correct
styles"
tell You what said Vuyning.
whose ennui had taken wings. IN
take you 20 my tailor. He'll elm
mate tie mark of the beast from
your exterior. That is. if Won care
To go any further in the way OF ex-
peuse"
Play 'em TO the ceiling" said
Emerson, with boyish sroile Of JOY
I've got roll as big around as 70
barrel Of black-eyed peas and as
loose as the wrapper Of two-for-
nver. ] don't mind telling YOU that
j was not touring among the Anti
podes when the burElar-prOof safe
Of the Farmers National bank OF
Buttervllle. Ia, flew open some
mconless nights ago 10 the tune OF
SIG. 900"
Aren't YOU afraid" asked Vuyn-
ing, that III call q cop and hand
you OVER
You tell me-" said Emerson.
4
He laid Nuyuings pocketbook and
vatcn-the VuyninE 1CO-year-old
family watch--on the table.
An, said Ndynlng. revealing.
'did you ever hear the tale Kirk
tells about the siX-pound trout and
the old Hshcruan2''
Seems not" said Emerson, po-
litely I'D like TO-"
But YOU won't" said Vuvning.
I've heard IL scores of times. That's
why ! won't tell YOU. was lust
thinking how much better this is
IMAM Il club. Now, shall we 90 80
nay tailor?"
Boys. and elderly gents" said
NCyningt five days later at his club.
standing up against the window
Wnere Eis Coterie was gathered. and
keeping out TIE breeze, ga friend Of
mine from the west viii dine at our
table this evening"
win nc ask if we have heard
inc latest from Denver ." said "a
member. suuirIuing in his chair.
VIII he mention the new twenty
thrce-stOry Masonic temple. i'm
Quincy. III. o." inquired another.
dropping his nose glasses.
VII! ne spring enc OF those west
ern Mississippi river catfish stories.
IN which they Use yeaTling calves for
bait 20 demanded Kirk. fiercely.
BE ComfOrted." SAID VuyuinE
"Hc has none Of the little vices. Ha
is burglar and safe-blower and
pal or rhine"
"Oh, Mary Ann" said they. Must
YOU always adorn every statement
with our alleged humOr2"
II came 10 pass that AT in the
evening a. calm, smooth, brilliant.
31dble man sat at WINNINGS right
hand during dinner. And when the
ones Tho pass their lives in city
streets spoke of slSyscrapers or Of
The H.tle Car on his far. frozen
throne, or of insignificant fish from
lncoEScduentiaI streams. this bis.
deeD-chcsted man, faultlessly cloth
ed, and eyes like an emperor. dis
with a wink Of his cyeiash.
And then he painted for them
with HARD. broad strokes "a marvel
lous hngual panorama OF the west
He stacked snow topped mountains
on the table. freezing the hot dish
es of tho waiting diners With a
, wave Of mis- hand he swept the club
/ house into a piue-Crowned gorge.
turning the walters into a grim posse
and each listener into a blood-stain-
ed fugitive, climbing with torn I'm
gers upon the ensanguined rocks
Tie touched the table and spake.
and the five painted as they gazed on
barren lava beds. and each man
took his tongue between his teeth
and felt his mouth bake at the tale
Of "A land empty of water and food
As simply as Homer sang. while he
dug tine of his fork leisurelv into
thu tablecloth. he opened a new
world TO their view, as does one who
tets a child OF the Looking Glass
country.
As one OF his listeners might have