Carrizozo outlook. [volume] (Carrizozo, N.M.) 1910-1945, 1920-10-29

hour before the time nrtncu. "
| discovered how early I was decided
h lcltef In the park for a few min
utes. Old Rufus recently had given
M his Avenue residence and now lived
IN one OF those stately apartment
buildings erected In the East Eighties.
I turned into Central park opposite
my g~reat.uncle's street and dropped
into the frst bench I cnme TO, deposit
ing beside me n bunch OF roses | had
purchased as my first move toward
winning my grent-aunt's affections.
Lighting my pipe | gave myself up
to pleasant reveries, from which ! was
aroused by finding my rores tossed
suddenly TO the ground at my feet.
pardon me-" I said Indignantly,
but those belong 10 me"
benches amt for bundles" cronked
IN evil voice beside me.
Recovering my flowers, I turned TO
find seated beside me a rGt-eyed young
fellow, chenply dressed, cycling the with
an Insolent stare. As l looked at him
he began crowdlng yer toward me.
Plainly II wal his Intention TO GUST me
from the bench.
"There's plenty Of room on those
other benches over there" l suggested
resentfully.
BEAT II yourself II you don't like II
here" ne retorted. blowing the smoke
from a chenp cigarette In my face. 81
got n date here. and I'm going TO stay,
sect"
I answered with m nngry retort and
hot words followed. We had almost
come TO blows when the bushes OPP
posite us suddenly parted. | caught
sight for Just n second OF n vlllalnous
face, that Of n man about forty, nm
unforgettnble face with n red scar
across the left cheek. He raised one
finger in an imperative gesture. signal
ing to my unwelcome companion on
the bench. With n profane exclnma-
ton OF dlsmay, the rat-eyed fellow
sprang up and walked hastily away
along the park path. Wondering
what II vas all about, I watched him
out of sight around a turning Of the
asphalt and then glanced toward the
apartment house where In a few min
utes / was to be n guest.
As I looked n younk 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-
entity the lure of the greenery won her,
for she came on slowly toward where
l was sitting. As she drew nearer !
observed her with interest. for she
was one of the prettlest girls I ever
had seen. Her slim figure. her dainty
ankles, her carriage. everything about
her suggested the patriclan. Her face
rosy and youthful, was set OF by q
jaunty feathered toque, from under
which n pair OF soft, black, roguisf
eyes, shaded by long lashes, looked
out above n dainty nose, just n bil
tip tilted. on either side Of which Q
fugitive dlmple played.
To my great amazement she walked
right up TO me and stopped short.
observed then that she seemed to b'
greatly agltated. Involuntarily
sprang to my feet and removed m!
hat. feeling certain that she had mis-
taken me for someone else.
She looked straight at me with n
odd tightening OF the lips. Into he
great dark eyes came a look In whlcl
J pride and fear seemed to mlngle witt
utter lonthing.
II am here" she said.
In my confusion | murnbled some
thing, | hardly knew what. She look
cd me up and down with n puzzled nj
T and raised her hand TO a red carnl
+ tion she was wearing.
"You were to wear one, too"
~ don't understand" ! answered.
"Dldn't you" she asked hesitatlnl
o ly, didn't you come here about III
papers"
Q "What pnpersr
"You know"
e 81 don't know" ! replied. II kno'
nothing about any papers. You mui
have mistaken me for someone else"
d "But this was the ~place-this benc
= the first benchf"
= ~ sat down here quite by accident
"Ohi !" she exclaimed with n sigh
= relief. "And you're not wearing
q red carnation, either"
3 I recalled then with misglvlng thu
% tho lll-favored youth who just n IN
y ment ago had disputed the bench vii
. me had been wearing a red %enrnatio
4 and that he had muttered somethit
about having a date Yet II did m