The Jasper news. [volume] (Jasper, Missouri) 1898-1924, 1920-07-15

arrive. Round myoo1 npptUaCniuB
their residence fully three-quarters Of
an hour before the time named. When
discovered how early was l decided
t. loiter IN the park for q few min
utcs. Old Rufus recently had given
up his Avenue residence and now lived
In one OF those stately apartment
buildings erected In the East Eighties.
turned into Central park opposite
my Rreatsuncle's street and dropped
into the first bench came to. deposit
ing beside me q bunch Of roses had
purchased as my first move toward
winning mys great-aunt's AFFECTIONS.
Lighting my pipe l gave myself up
to pleasant reverles. from which was
aroused By finding my roses tossed
suddenly 70 the ground at my feet.
"Pardon me-" 1 said Indignantly,
but those belong to me-"
Trenches amt for bundles" croaksd
an evil voice beside me.
Recovering my flowers, turned TO
find seated beside me rat-eyed young
fellow, cheaply dressed, eycing me with
an insolent stare. As looked at him
he began crowdlng over toward me.
Plainly II was his intention to oust me
from the bench.
there's plenty of room on those
other benches over there" suggested
resentfully.
BEAT It yourself II you don't like It
here" he retorted, blowing the smoke
from a cheap cigarette In my face. 81
got date here, and I'm going to stay,
seer
answered with an angry retort and
hot words followed. We had almost
come to blows when the bushes cp-
posite us suddenly parted. caught
sight for Just second OF a villainous
face, that Of man about forty, an
unforgettable face with red scar
across the left cheek. He raised one
finger In an imperative gesture, signal
ing to my unwel0ome companion on
the bench. With q profane exclama-
ton Of dIsmay the rat-eyed fellow
sprang up and walked hastily away
along the park path. Wondering
what It was all about, watched him
out of sight around a turning Of the
asphalt and then glanced toward the
apartment house where in a few min
utes l was to be guest
| As looked young girl came out
Of the house and walked slowly to-
ward the park. At the corner she
hesitated. She seemed to be debating
whether to continue on down the ave-
nue. or to turn into the park. Appar-
emily the lure Of the greenery won her,
for she came on slowly toward where
/ was sitting. AS she drew nearer l
observed her with interest. for she
was one Of the prettiest girls ever
had seen. Her slim figure. her dainty
ankles, her carriage, everything about
her suggested the patriclan. Her face,
rosy and youthful, was set on by a
jaunty feathered tOQue, from under
which a pair Of soft, black. roguish
eyes, shaded by long lashes. looked
out above a dainty nose, just bit
tip tilted, on either side Of which q
fugitive dimple played.
To my great amazement she walked
right up to me and stopped short
observed then that she seemed to be
greatly agltated. Involuntarily
sprang to my feet and removed my
hat, feeling certain that she had mis-
taken me for someone else.
She looked straight at me with an
odd tightening Of the lips. Into heI
great dark eyes came a look in which
pride and fear seemed to mingle with
utter loathing,
II am here" she said.
In my confusion i mumbled some
thing. hardly knew what She look
ed me up and down with a puzzled niI
and raised her hand to red carna
: don she was wearing.
"You were to wear one. too"
II don't understand" l answered.
"Didn't you," she asked hesitating
ly, "didn't you come here about th'
papers"
"What papersr
"YoH know"
II don't KNOW" replied. II know
pothing about any papers. You mus
have mistaken me for someone else"
] ''But this was the place--this bencl
the first benchT
: 81 sat dow here quite by accident
"ohI" she exclaimed with a sigh o
relief. "And you're not wearing I
4 red carnation. either"
5 / recalled then with misgiying tina
the ill-favored youth who just mo
ment ago had disputed the bench witt
me had been wearing red carnation
and that he had muttered somethlnI