Elbert County tribune and Elbert County banner., 1920-12-10

I ism newly tuned to health: and Lev
| ington fell asleep.
He took bis next-morning's walk
along the swayIng aisIes from coach
| to coach. He abandoned caution. and
| felt again a sense Of welI-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 a familiar figure
swing into the smoking compartment
Con felt the subconsciousness jerk at
his nerves. The man was short and
stocky. with a very large cigar dis
figuring his mouth, In brown-check-
ed suit of clothes that gave youth to
his appearance despite the gray bris-
ties that were cropped above his ears,
beneath the rim Of brown derby.
"Jee, If 1t aIn't Con Lexington II
said the hashy person, throwing out a
stubby but newly manicured right
hand.
How are you, StubT'
Never finer, son. It's great to see
you. Where you been keepin' your
self? They tell me you are hittin' the
strait and narrow; how about it?'
'Who told you that2" returned Lev.
ington, with laugh.
Don't we all know itf" 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 1t
Connie when the weather is woody
and soft. and the winter linin' goes
off your faster, and you feel drought
comm on that'll last you till snow
fes again."
Stubby cackled with head thrown
back until the derby was in danger
The other men in the compartment
wished to appear.
81 guess :hey had spell of hot
weather down In Cincinnati. didn't
they?" and Stub set himself off in
another fit of laughter. Lexington
nodded, grlnnlng. Then Taggart
lowered his voice dlscreetly and
whispered In his young friends ear +:
"On the level. now. how the - did
you keep from gettin' ride in the
blue buggy7 They tell me you had
everything your own way, with a gat
in both mlts."
II don't remember the Details" ans
wered Con, as he shifted the conversa-
ton. "What have you been doing,
Stubby? You look prosperous. Don't
tell me you've gone to work"
A hurt expression covered the red,
puffy face, but smile was In 1t.
"Work? Work? Amt always been
the little hummin bee for work?"
II thought perhaps you had a tree
full by this time"
mot at the present price O. liquor.
And say, we're goin' through a dry
state in few minutes. I'm in one
already. You don't happen to have a
drink anywheres on your"
So they chatted, and the past was
shifting before the young man. lurid
and restless as lava lake by night
They talked of the club members-ot
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 was
not sailing that day. AT four the
following afternoon Lexington went
down to his ship, the Ensurta Queen
not of regular line to the Orient
He remained in the cabin while she
cleared.
At dinner the next day there was
animated conversation, but Con was
not listening. He was watching the
steward choose e chair for Cecil Wed
gers Chinese cook, Chez Ming.
The wrinkled Celestial looked blank
ly around the dining-room. allowed his
narrow eyes to rest on Lexington q
moment, looked ut him and through
him and then on to finish the survey
without the least flicker of recogni
tion.