The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1921-01-08


dies, bass fiddle. and saxophone seemed
to nave an evil sound His face became
40 strained that several people, who had
paused near him to take breath, FOUND
IL more interesting To- watch him than
to dance again.
When the music stopped he carenned
hastily through the room toward Julia.
but she was in thicket Of her guests
when he arrived. and for several mo-
ments Mr.. Ctairdyce's broad back kept
!ntcrvening-al,nost Intentionally. Is
seemed. When Noble fried to place HIM
self in position TO attract ,Julia's at
. tcntion. this back moved too. and No,
ble's nose but pressed black cloth. And
the noise everybody made was baftling
in order to he heard. Julia herself was
shouting Finally Noble contrived to
sQuirm round the obstrusive back, and
protruded his strained face among all
, the flushed and laughing ones.
Julia. I got to" he began.
But this was Just at the climax Of
story which three people were telling mt
the same time. Julia being one OF them'
and he received little attention.
Julia" he said hoarsety;''T got some
thing I want to tell you about"
| He raised his voice: Julia, come on!
, Lets go out on the porch"
Nobody even knew he was there.
Nevertheless, the tall and solid Clair
dycc was conscious Of him. but only, II
proved, as one is conscious OF some
thing to ease ones weight upon. His
elbow. little elevated. was at the
!, height OF Noblr's shoulder, and this
heavy elbow, without its owners direct
or active cognIznnce, found for itself
comfortable resting place; and then. as
the story in progress OF narration
reached its conclusion, old Clairdyce
. Joined the general mirth so heartily as
TO find himself quite. overcome. and he
allowed most of his weight to depend
upon tho supported elbow. Noble sank
, Ike feathers.
Here! What you doin'?" ne said hot
~. I'll thank you to keep of O me-
Old Badly recovered his balance with
out being aware what had threatened
, il. while his elbow, apparently Of its
own yoIitIon, CROPPED FOR its former sup
. port Noble evaded. and pushed for
, ward.
Julia" he said Il got to say some
But the accused music had begun
? again, and horn trimmed Newland San
ders already had his arm about her
, waist. They disappeared into the ruck
: OF dancers.
We'll, by George" said Noble. by
: George. I'm goin' TO do something"
, He went outdoors and smoked Ordu-
, ma cigarettes one after the other.
Dances and intermiss!ons succeeded each
other but Noble had enough Of that,
! for one while" So he muttered
Once Julia had told him that he was
killing himself. smoking cigarettes. All
right" he said now as he bitterly light
ed his fifth at the spark Of the fourth
, Y hope I will"
Lot O. difference it'd makc!" he said,
MS he lighted the eight Of series
, which must, all told. have contained
nearly as much tobacco as n cigar And,
leaning back against the trunk OF one
Of the big old walnut trees in the yard.
re gazed toward the house. where the
open window nearest him surged with
; splashinC colors like a bright and
, crowded aquarium, "To her. anyway"
, he added. with a slight remorse. remcm-
boring that his mother had frequently
shown him evidences Of affection.
Yes, his mother would care. and his
father and sisters would be upset. hut
Julia-when the friends Of the family
were ASKED to step by for last look
would she be onco What optimism re-
manned to him presented n sketch OF
Julia, in black, borne from the room in
the arms Of girl friends who tried In
vain TO hush her: but he was unable to
give this more hopeful fragment an air
OF great reality. Much more probably
: when word came to her that he had
smoked himself to Geath, she would be a
bride, dancing at Niagara Falls with
her bald old husband-sbe would only
laugh and pause to toss faded rose out
W the window and then 20 right on
dancing. But perhaps. some day. when
tears had taught her the hollowness OF
life with such man
"Yow-wow"
Noble jumped From the darkness Of
: the yard beside the house, there came
n gricvous and savage howl, dtstressful
: 10 the spnal marrow. a sound OF animal
''Spa!n. II was repeated even more pas
sionately, and another voice, one both
hoarsely bass and excruc!ating falsetto
in the articulation of n single syllable,
was heard: Ouch" There were sounds
Of violent scuftlng, and the bass-faiset-
TO voice cried: whats that YOU stuck
me with" and another: Drag her!
Drag her back in the house,.
These alarms came from the almost
fmpcnetrable shadows Of tiny orchard
which stood ebtween the house and the
fence bordering the property adjoining
From tn Same quarter was heard the
|
!ngly wooden or metallic, with the
ground, and simultaneously an Icy
cl!nknG. But high over all other tu-
nults OF the hidden conflict there Hose
a shrHking: Help! Help! Oh, hay
yulpw This voice was girlish. Hay
yulp!"
Noble dashed into the orchard. and
at once fell PROSTATE upon what seemed
u log. but proved to be large and SOL
idly packed !ce-cream freezer, lying on
its side.
Dark forms scrambled over the fence
and vanished, but as Noble got TO his
feet he was Joined by dim and small
ish figure in whie--though more light
would have disclosed a pink sash grid
ling It's middle. 1t was that Of Miss
Florence Atwater. Julia's newly thir-
teen y ear-old niece, seething with furios
agitation.
vile thieves" she painted
! Who" Noble gaSped. brushing ut his
knees, while Florence made some really
necessary adjustments of her own at
tire who were they?"
ut was my own cousin, Herbert At
water. and that nasty little Henry
Rooter and their gang. Herbert thinks
he has to act perfectly horrible, now his
voice is changing!" Said Florence, her
emotion not abated. Tried TO steal this
whole ice cream freezer off the back
porch and sneak 1t over the fence and
cat il! I stuck pretty long pin in Her
bert and two more of 'em, every hit as
far as it would 60" And in the extrem-
ity Of her Indignation, she shockingly
added: The dirty dogs"
! Did they hurt you?"
You bet your life they didn't" the
stirred child responded. Tried TO drag
me back to the house" She uttered I