Evening star., 1921-09-11

III
ventry the night when !
fought for his soul against
creeping madness. the tale that best
held him was the episode of Mayme
Mccartney and the Weeping Scion of
Wealth and Position. Indeed. he ex-
pressed interest to the point of wish
ing to recover promptly so that he
might go out and drown the Scion
in the fountain at the center Of our
square. 1t is just as we'll that he
did not. Even at that early day
given him.
At the time when she first asserted
herself as an element to be locally
reckoned with Mayme Mccartney
was bad little good girl. She in
ness. But 1t was for. her hardy and
happy impudence, her bent for in
genious mischief. her broad and cath
olic disrespect for law. conventions.
Of the devil in her black eyes that we
really loved her. Such is the per-
veraity of human nature In our
square 1 am told that 1t Is much
the same elsewhere.
by giving (unsolicited) a most scan.
dalous and inspiring imitation OF
old Nine. Tallafer. aforettme OF tne
southern aristocracy. in the act OF
dai Boggs c'Boggs Kills Bugs" In
his patent Of nobility. for eating
peanuts on his front steps. She then
earnestly solicited by q growing
of the little red doctor diagnosing
internal complications in q doodle
bug: Of MacLachan (drunk) singing
The Cork Leg" and MacLachan
thoiomew storrs Offering samples of
his mortuary poesy to q oereavea
second cousin: and. being decked
out in cotton batting whiskers (nmo
of SatanD. of myself pronering sage
square at large. Having concluded
she sat down on a bench and coughed.
Nd the Little Red Doctor, who.
A from the shelter of a shrub. had
observed with artistic appreciation
rather than with delight the presen-
,ation of his little idiosyncrasies.
drew nearer and looked at her fard.
For he disliked the sound OF that
cough. He suspected that his old
friend and opponent. Death, win
whom he fought an interminabie cam
paien, was mocking him from am
bush 1t wasn't quite fair play: si.ner: ,ar
Weapon we indicated by the cough on a
mere child. With her lustrous hair
loose and floating. and her smaN.
eager, flushed face. she iookeo "a.
abort of the mature and self-reilant
seventeen which was the tally OF her
experienced years.
"Hello," greeted the Little Red Doc
tor speaking with the brusque infor-
maiity of one assured of his place as
a local celebrity. Il don't know you
do To- ..,e ,,,,,
don't" she drawled, 'it amt for lack
Of tryin'. Is your hat glued on?"
Good Lord" exclaimed the Little
Red Doctor. Indignantly. DO you
think I'm trying to fiirt with you:
Get up to date" advised Mayme.
I'm old enough to be your steady.
."That's a bad cough you've got.
said the Little Red Doctor hastily.
i've got q better one at home. Like
to hear It some day?'
Bring it over to my ofice and
let's look at the thing" suggested the
Little Red Doctor. smiling
AS Mayme McCartnsY observed that
smile. with the shrewd d'1naemenI OF
lection, to girls of, her environment,
tSs suspicion and impudence died out
Of her face, which became friendly
and wistful. ''D'you think 1t means
anything:" she asked.
couidn't tell without examination
How much? inquired the cautious
The Little Red Doctor is a willing
liar in q good cause. mo charge Tor
first ofice consultation. Come over
4HH
When the test was finished the Lit
tie Red Doctor looked professionally
noncommittal. Live with your par
ents?" he asked.
avenue"
where do you work."
The Emporium" answered the girl.
naming the great and still fashion-
able downtown department store half
a mile to the westward
You ought to quit. As soon as
.And spoil my delicate Digestion"
who said anything about your d.
gestion?"
II did. If 1 quit workin' / quit
eatin'. And that's bad for me. tried
II see" said the Little Red Doctor.
recognizing a condition by no means
unprecedented in local practice.
"Couldn't you get a Job in some better
climate?"
where. for instance?"
Well. If you knew any one in Cali
fornia." ~
IT'S long" replied the Little Red
Doctor, seeing" again. Anyway.
you've got to have fresh air."
They serve it fresh every morning.
right here in our square" Mayme
Good idea. Get up early and nn
your lungs full Of it for an hour every
day" He gave some further instruc-
tions.
Mayme produced a dollar and deli
cately placed 1t on the mantel.
Take 1t away" said the Little Red
Doctor. Didn't tell you"
"Go-wanr' said Mayme. "Whadda
YOU think you are? Bellevue Hos
pital? pay as go. doc
The Little Red Doctor frowned
austerely.
whats the matter? Face hurt
you?" asked the solicitous Mayme.
the offended practitioner in dignified
tones.
"Oh. that's because they amt on to
you," she assured him. II wouldn't
call you doc myself if I didn't know
you was a good sport back Of your
blur
The Little Red Doctor grinned. look
ing first at Mayme and then at the
dollar. you aren't such q bad sport
yourself" he admitted. "Well. we'll
call this a deal: Office practice. But
II I see you in the square and give
nd