The Raymer enterprise., 1920-12-23

Ism newly tuned to health; and Lev
ington fell asleep.
He took his next.morning's walk
along the swaying aisles. from coach
to coach. He abandoned caution. and
felt again q sense Of well:being. The
breakfast coffee had been good. The
train was long and fast. He liked TO
stretch his legs. His spirit rose.
While awaiting his turn In the bar
ber's chair. he saw q familiar figure
swing into the smoking compartment
Con felt the subconsciousnes jerk at
his nerves. The man was short and
stocky, with a very large cigar dis
1guring his mouth, In q brown.check.
ed suit Of clothes that gave youth to
bis appearance despite the gray bris-
ties that were cropped above his ears,
beneath the rim Of brown derby.
"lee. II It amt Con Lexington 7"
said the flashy person. throwing out .
stubby but newly manicured right
hand.
"HOw are you. Stubr'
"Never finer, son. It's great to see
you. Where you been keepin' your
self? They tell me you are hittin' tho
strait and narrow: how about 1T"
"Who told you that1" returned Lev.
ington. with a laugh.
Don't we all know itT' exclaimed
Stubby Taggart. "Ain't saw you at
the club since Christmas"
"Was down Cincinnati way" said
Con, aware Of another backward rub
on his nerves. "I'm no good In cold
weather."
"But you sure do eat up them
nights In spring-ain't ! saw you do It,
Connie !-when the weather is woody
and soft. and the winter linin' goes
of your faster. and you feel drought
comm on that'll last you till snow
fles again."
Stubby cackled with head thrown
back until the derby was In danger.
The other men In the compartment
found It difficult to be as bored as they
wished to appear.
" guess they had a spell Of hot
weather down in Cincinnati. didn't
they7" and Stub set himself of In
another fit Of laughter. Lexington
nodded, grlnping. Then Taggart
lowered his voice discreetly and
whispered In his young friends ear
''On the level. now. how the - did
you keep from gettin' q ride In the
blue buggyi They tell me you had
everything your own way, with q gal
| In both mits."
II don't remember the details" aus
wered Con. a. he shifted the converse
ton. "What have you been doing
Stubbyi You look prosperous. Don't
tell me you've gone to work."
A hurt expression covered the red
puffy face, but q smile was In It
"Worki Work. Amt always been
the little hummin' bee for work."
II thought perhaps you had a tree
ful BY this time"
"Not at the present price o. liquor
And say. we're goin' through a dry
state In a few minutes. I'm in one
already. You don't happen to have q
drink anywheres on your"
So they chatted, and the past wa.
shifting before the young man. lu1d
and restless as a lava lake by night
They talked Of the club Members
Spike Taylor and Jim and Posy Mason
those high-strung. wayward children
who keep Mother Law awake Of
nights. and perhaps never come home
to her at all.
At Vancouver he found there wa,
not sailing that day. At four the
following afternoon Lexington went
down to his ship. the Ensurta Queen
not Of a regular line to the Orient
He remained In the cabin while she
cleared.
At dinner the next day there wal
animated conversation, but Con wa.
not listening. He was watching tn,
steward choose chair for Cecil Wed
gers Chinese cook, Chez Ming.
The wrinkled Celestial looked blank
ly around the dIning-room, allowed hi
narrow eyes to rest on Lexington {
moment, looked at him and through
him and then on to finish the survey
without the least flicker Of recogni
tlon.