Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1921-11-24
leopyrieht 1921 by tie Bell Syndicate. Inc


and you ought to do good deal what
they say while they're still alive"
"That's what l say" Henry agreed
gloomily; and then, without any al,
iteration of his tone or Of the detected
thoughtfulness of his attitude, he
changed the subject in way that
painfully startled his companion.
'Have you seen Wallie Torbin today.
Herbert?"
'sWhatl"
"Have you seen wallie Torbln to-
day."
Herbert swallowed. "Why, what
makes-what makes you ask me that,
Henry?" he asked.
"Oh, nothin'" Henry still kept his
eyes upon his gloomily scuffing toe.
ct just wondered, because I didn't
happen to see him in school this after
noon when / happened to look in the
door of the Eight-A when it was open.
didn't want to know on account of
anything particular. I just happened
to say that because didn't have any
thing else to think about just then, so
just happened to think about him,
the way you do when you haven't got
anything much on your mind, and
might get to thinkin' about you can't
tell what. That's all the way it was;
I just happened to kind of wonder if
he was around anywhere, maybe"
Henry's tone was obviously, even
deliberately, sincere; and Herbert was
treasured. "Well, didn't see him."
he responded. Maybe he's sick"
"No, he isn't" his friend said.
FLORENCE said she saw him chasin'
his dog down the street about noon"
At this Herbert's uneasiness was
uncomfortably renewed. "Florence
did? Where'd you see Florence?"
Mr. Rooter swallowed. "a little
while ago." he said, and again swal-
lowed. "On the way home from
school,"
"Look-lool herel'' Herbert was
furried to the point of panic. "Henry
did Florence-did she go and tell
you-did she tell you-?
81 didn't hardly notice what she
was talkin' about" Henry said, dog
gedly. "She didn't have anything to
say that I'd ever care two cents about.
She came up behind me and walked
along with me a ways, but l got too
many things on my mind to hardly
pay the least attention to anything
she ever talks about. She's a girl
what / think about her the less people
pay any 'tention to what she says the
better off they are"
''That's the way with me, Henry"
his partner assured him earnestly. II
never pay any notice to what she
says. The way l figure it out about
her, Henry, everybody'd be good
deal better off If nobody ever paid
the least notice to anything she says.
l never even notice what she says.
myself"
II don't either" said Henry. "All'
| think about Is what my father and
mother say. because I'm not goin' to
have their advice all the rest o. my
life. after they're dead. If they want
me to be polite, why, I'll do it and
that's all there is about It,"
"It's the same way with me, Henry.
If she comes f1appin' around here
blattin' and blubbin' how she's goin' to
have somep'm to do with our news
paper, why, the only reason I'd ever
let her would be because my family
say l ought to show more politeness
to her than up to now. / wouldn't
do it in any other account, Henry"
Neither would l. That's just the
same way look at it. If l ever egln
to treat her any better, she's got my
father and mother to thank, not me.
That's the only reason I'd be willing
to say we better leave the plank down
and let her in, If she comes around
here like she's liable to-"
"Well." said Herbert. "I'm willing.
l don't want to get in trouble with the
family"
And they mounted the stairs to
their editorial, reportorial, and print
ing rooms; and began to work In
manner not only preoccupied but APP
prehensive. Now and then they would
give each other a furtive glance, and
then seem to reflect upon their fathers
and mothers wishes and the troublous
state of the times. Florence did not
keep them waiting long, however.
She might have been easier to bear
had her manner of arrival been less
assured. She ronped up the stairs;
came skipping across the old floor,
swinging her hat by ribbon, hung
open the gate in the sacred railing
and flounced into the principal chair.
immodestly placing her feet on the
table In front Of that chair. Addi-
tionally, such was her riotous liyeli-
ness, she affected to light and smoke
the stub of a lead pencil. wei,
men, she said heartily in voice as
surned to be that of a tall, powerful
man-'T don't want to see any loafin'
around here, men. I expect to have
pretty good newspaper this week