The Taney County republican. (Forsyth, Mo.) 1895-1992, 1920-01-22
The Trouble
Listener
Copyright, 1919. by the Mcclure News
paper Syndlcate,)
n
BY R. RAY BAKER

dark.haired, faShlOnnbly garbed man
of slender build, and allowed his cane
TO swing repeatedly against the wall
that embraced the terrace. Beneath a
small, dgnified muStache his lips
twitched nervously, and his black eyes.
set in pale. almost emaclated face,
roamed restlessly over the thr0ng that
was enjoying late afternoon slesta.
From his position at the gate he
could see two old men smoking corn
cob pipes contcntedly, chatting aimless-
ly as they rested on bench, against
which a pair of crutches leaned, Near
by was a languld young woman with
yellow hair shielded by n red parnsOl,
gazing dreamily into space and now
and then calling methodlcally: ed
ward, come here" to n barelegged
youngster rOmplng, needless Of her ad-
monltiOns, 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 f0lios and scattered them
over the grass.
The laborer glanced furtively about,
stepped gingerly on the lawn, and n
moment later moved out of sight along
the walk, whistling llstlessly no tune
In particular, the newspaper folded
compactly and protruding from cont
pocket.
Two girls passed near the observer
with the cane. One was chewing vi.
ciously on gum, punctuatlng 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 a wilted
handkerchief.
"Id tell I'm where tuh get of at
snapped the gum chewer. Don't let
I'm put anything like that over on
yuh. The idear dockin' yuh a whole
dollar jes cause yuh busted one meas,
ly III fift'-cent vase. Well, goo'by, !
gotta hurry home n get fed"
She hurried off 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 at the
next corner, where she was Joined by
n young man and ripple Of laughter
foated back.
The man with the cnne smiled
somewhat grimly and adjusted the
stick on bis arm.
1.-THE inhabitants Of this old world
certainly do have their troubles" he
sighed. and as he turned he colllded
with tall, thin, blond young woman
clad in pink.
Pardon" he murmured, and then as
he recognized her:
"Oh, hello, Evelyn. This Is n 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 need" she as
serted. "l'm In awful trouble-and It's
all on account Of my no-gOod husband
Joe, I wish I'd married you. Come In
the park and I'll tell you all about IL
and maybe you can advise me-"
With an air Of resignation he al
lowed himself to be piloted along the
park walk, They were just In time tC
see and hear the amiable discussion Of
the two old men with corncob pipes
break DIP In an angry, sputterlng argu
ment over the effect of the peace treat,
on the map Of Europe, or the higf
cost Of living, or the batting percent
age Of the major league catchers.
As the man and the girl passed tht
young woman with the yellow hair, thu
yothgster who had been romplng OF
the lawn came running TIP to her, spit
ting the air with shrieks.
The young woman manifested grea
annoyance, stopped gazing at distan
nothings, seized the bare.legged chllt
by the arms and dumped him uncere
monpusly on the bench beside her.
"Now, what's the matter7" she dc
mNnded angrily. Cant have a min
ute's peace? What are you roaring
abOutT"
II hit my finder" he walled. AM
let loose another torrent Of tears.
"Shut up" she commanded, an
gave him n slap across the face. H.
became silent Immediately, except IS
some half'sippressed snlfiles, eyidentl.
/ through feat. She looked up as Eve
Ign and her escort were passing an
nodded.
"Oh! Hos do you do. Mrs. Benja
min" she said. "Dld you ever Sc
such a kld1 don't have n second o
comfort. ! wish he'd never been born
He's driving the crazy"
"She thinks she's having troubles,
said Evelyn to her companion, as the
went down the walk. "f}ut her trOt
bles are nothing compared 10 mine
Wait TIL tell you. Come over to thi
bench"
--7---u7----.-..... --..s, .a'...s-s'ss