Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1920-11-02

ooh, yes. there's an elderly matinee
idol lives here. who wouloct dare
leave his room until l nave renovated
him. If there was an alarm of fire
before l got here, l believe he'd burn
up"
Jack laughed.
But i see you have serious affairs
on your mind. Au revoir Come down
20 my place when you can. and We'll
talk philosophy"
IN to the elevator.
Meanwhile Jack had missed MOTH
ng of what went on at the desk. In
short while u messenger boy came
: carrying the packet he had seen
4 Anderson's hands. 1t was receipt
d for at the desk and tossed in the
igeonhole marked "F"' of the divis-
on for letters to be called for.
For twenty minutes thereafter
lack watched the comedy of The
Iotel Desk being played before him.
Unfortunately his mind was at too
ireat q tension to permit him to en-
oy the finer shades of comedy. He
silently swore at the crowd and the
onfussion which made 1t well nigh
impossible for one pair of eyes to fol-
ow all that was going on.
He concentrated on the letter box
marked "F,' and watched it until his
yehalls seemed ready to crack.
Finally the hand of one OF the
Jerks shot out to that box, and hast
" shutting the contents, picked out
he packet again. Jacks heart gave
jump, He hastily scanned the
'ow in front of the desk at the mo-
nent. but thefe was no figure among
hem THAT answered to the descrp-
ions OF Mr. B." At the end of the
cow WAS another messenger boy. The
clerk handed the packet to him
'Of course he wouldn't come him.
self" thought Jack
Jack followed the messenger out
If the hotel. Boylike, he shumbled
Up the street, whistling vocferously,
sossing the packet in the air and
,atching it again, careless OF the
pedestrians he collided with in his
the contents he would have treated
he packet with greater respect
He turned West In Thirty Fourth
street, stopping to gaze in every VIM
low that attracted his attention Jack
@as hard put to it to accommodate
himself. TO the snail like pace without
icing conspicuous, At the Madison
venue corner an automobile had
broken down. The boy hailed this
diversion with glee. and Jack. too.
had to stand around until the young
ster had gaZed his fill.
Suddenly the boy aimlessly darted
,cross the street like bird--or a
boy, threading his way among the
cars hurrying in both directions. Jack
almost lost him then. He finally
picked him up on the other side, en-
gagged In converse with another mes.
Senger. An argument developed and
hostilities We're threatened
Il kin lick you Wit one hand be-
hind me-
YOU'RE ,anuutter!"
Want to see me do it?"
"Ya- ah!"
You JUS say any more and you'll
see!"
amt askeered of yeh, yeh big
stiff"
You say that again!"
"Ahh! dare yeh to touch me!
dare yeh."
And so on, and so on. Jack, feel
ing very foolish, had to make out to
be studying the pattern of rug dis
played in a nearby window. Anybody
who knows boys knows that these
discussions are apt to be kept up
long time Without getting anywhere.
But they end as suddenly as they be-
gin. Having exhausted their powers
of repartee they parted, instantly
forgetting each other Jacks quarry
continued around the corner and up
Fifth avenue
There were other, Interruptions; n
man was painting a sign: another
was dressing a window. Jack almost
despaired of arriving at any destina-
ton. He wondered if the old man
was as impatiently awaiting his
packet. FINALLY it began to rain, and
led Jack into the Public Library,
and Jack with an accelerated beat
ing of the heart wondered if the
rendezvous were here. But the boy
went out again by the Forty Second
street door, and it appeared he had
only been taking advantage Of the
long corridors to walk dry shod.
7. The messenger darted across For
ty-Second street in HIS usual reCk.
less style, and Jack found himself
back in the vicinity of the Eureka
offices. TO his astonishment, the
boy turned into that very building.
Jack went up in the elevator with
him. He got out at the fourth floor,
and entered the Eureka offices
Jack fingered in The corridor, bit
ing his lips in chagrin. All his trou-
BILE amounted to this, that he had
been led back to the point he start