The Seattle star. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1899-1947, 1920-12-24
VI

sion 10 direct his good naturcd fire Of
raillery AZ the mistress. accusing her
OF encouraging the plague They
swarm up and down the river every
winter" he said. "rhcy overrun
New Orleans. and we catch the sur.
plus. which IN generally the worst
part And. a day or two ago.
Madame New Orleans, suddenly dis.
covering that she can't 20 shopping
without brushing her skirts against
great rows OF the yagabonds summing
themselves on the handuettes, aays
10 the police. Catch 'cm all. ana the
police catch "A dozen or two. ana the
remaining three or four thousand
overflow ~ and down tho ievess.
and madame pointing tragic
ally with the carving-knife at her
feeds them. They won't work. they
defy my overHeeru. and they make
friends with my dogs. and you. mad.
anne. feed them before my eyes. and
intlmidate me when would inter.
fero. Tell uH. please, how many to
day did you thus inclte 20 future lazi.
ness and depredatlong"
six. think" said madame. with a
reflective smile. but you know two
81 them offered 20 work. for you
heard them yourself"
The planters disconcerting laugh
rang out again.
one was an artificial flower maker.
and the other a Flasablower. oh. they
were looking for work. Not "a hand
would they consent 10 lift 60 labor
OF any other kind"
"And another one" continued the
soft.heartcd mistress. used quite
good language. II was really ex-
traordinary for one Of his class. And
he carried a watch. And had lived in
Boston ! don't believe they are all
bad. They have always seemed 10
mo 20 rather hack development.
always look upon them hs children
with whom wisdom has remained az
a standstiii while whiskers have con.
tinued 20 grow. We passed one this
evening as we were driving home
who had face As good a. Il was
Incompetent lie was whlstling the
intermczzo from 'Cavalicrla' and
blowing the spirit OF Mascagni him
self into g."
a hriRhteyed young girl who sat
nj the left OF the mistress leaned
over. and said In confidential un.
dcrtonc:
Il wonder. mamma. II that tramp
we passed on tho road found my
stocking. and do you think he will
hang Il up tonight Now I can hang
up but one. DO you know why !
wanted a new pair Of silk stockings
when ! have pienty7 Wen, old Aunt
Judy says. II you hang up two that
have never been worn. Santa Claus
will I'm one with good things. and
Monsieur Pambo VIII place In the
other payment for all the words you
have apokcn--good or had-on the
day before Christmas. That's why
I've been unusually nice and polite 20
every one today. Monsieur rainbe.
you know. IL witch gentleman. be
-
The words Of the young girl were
interrupted BY a startling thing.
Like the wrath Of some burned-out
shooting star. a black streak came
crashing thru the window rans and
upon tho table. where IL shivered
into fragments dozen pieces OF
crystal and china ware. and then
glanced between the heads Of the
guests 10 tho wall. lpprinting there
In deep. round indcn,ation. a,
which. today. the visitor to Belle
meade narvels AZ he gaxes upon I,
and listens To this tale as II Is told.
The woman screamed In many
keys. and the men sprang to their
feet. and would have laid their hands
upon their swords had not the yer
tiles Of chronology forbidden.
The planter was the first TO act,
he sprang 10 tho intruding missile,
and held II up 40 view.
by Jupiter he cried. "A mcteoric
shower Of hosiery Has communica.
ton at last boen established with
Mars1s'
Il should ray--aheml-venus.' .
vcntured a young gentleman visitor,
looking hopefully for appreciation
toward the unresponsivo young lady
visitors.
Tho plantyr held at arms length
the uncerernoniotss visitor--a lone
dangling black stocking. Its load
cd" he announced.
As he spoke he reversed tho stock
ing. holding IL by the toe, and down
from II dropped a roundish stone,
wrapped about by piece OF yellow.
lEh paper. Now for the first inter
stellar message OF the century, he
cried: and uodding TO the company.
who had crowded about him. he ad'
Justed his glasses with provoking de
liberation, and examined II closely
when he finished. he had changed
from the jolly host TO the practical.
decisive man OF business. He i'm
mcdiately struck a bell, and said TO
the silent.footed mulatto man who
responded. GO and tell Mr.. Wesley
to get Reeves and Maurice and about
ten stout hands they can rely upon.
and come to tho hall door at once.
Tell him to have the men arm them.
selves. and bring plenty OF ropes and
plough lines. Tell him to hurry"
And then he read aloud from the
paper these words;
To the Gent OF de House:
Derc IL five turf hoboes xcept me
self In the vaken lot near de road
war de old brick piles il. Dey got
me stuck up wild gun see and
taken dis means OF communica ton.