The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1922-04-13
by FANNIE HURST
OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES

a 1Ouf-a-uay snow! I'm SICK. SOlld
get a rest Or"
"Say, the next member of this COM
pany that lets out a squeal can dig
down in his jeans for fine before this
train pulls in
The muttering rose like wind in a
lonely place and the speaker threw out
his oratorical tones above it.
''This is a decent town with a decent
house; see that you treat it decent. The
milk special for Moline pulls out from
this station at Observation-Disclosures on
board"
Jaw, Lee, whatta you think we are
fourier! Say, a fellow that can
hand out a route like this would muir
der a man for a subway ticket"
He waved his hat in a great semi
circular sweep, creating a little gust
before it.
Cut it, I say, or down in your
jeans Fourteen is what l said-la-
dies and gents waiting rooms at sta
ton. Fourteen is what l said,'
He descended from the red plush
seat, his mouth sagging and the livid
red of eXertion in his face swelling it.
"AlI out. Buses at station. Don't
lag"
The procession, slow file Of NUT
terings, charivari, shOulderings and eX-
plOsiyes, squeezed cut upon the little
geranium-hedged station platform. A
line of omnibuses, lopsided SCARED
and travel-weary, their rear doors
hanging open, backed up against the
platform, and into the half-dozen of
them, full of travellers splenetic excite
ments, piled the thirty members of the
Forty Thieves" company: Chorus
girls who bent their feathered heads
and fiOunced in with a display of too
much ankle; show girls, full-busted,
but ever wary Of the double chin; mar
rOw-shOuldered young men with small
collar sizes and next years cut of
coat; principals with extra luggage and
lips too painted or too proud to smile,
and up and down the narrow platform,
snarling, swearing, shouting, Mr.. Char
ley Lee walked the cold cigar dangling
from his mouth. his coat collar turned
up against the November chill.
"Come on in, Lee, there's room here
on my lap"
"Naw, I'll walk-let 'er 60 boys,
whip up them nags."
The procession moved off, creaking,
swinging-across the railroad tracks
up a slight incline of hill, baggage
swaying perilously, drivers shouting
and barricaded in with more luggage,
horses straining at their groins !;
laughter drifting backward. And
from the rear windows of the rear ON
libus Mr.. Al Delanos white face,
Straining backward.
Charley Lee exhaled loudly, wiped
at his hatband and started across the
tracks.
At his side a step, light and full of
indecision.
Lee"
"Lo!"
A cloud spread over his brow, i'm
mediately evaporating into smile.
IF it amt the baby-doll Why amt
you in one of the busses, kiddO"
She slid a timid arm into his.
"I-aw, there wasn't any room"
They burst into a simultaneous ex-
plosion of laughter
"Wasn't any room! The little devil
wanted to walk up with me. Wasn't
any room! Cad, can you beat some of
'em for nerve?"
Il can dress in five minutes, Lee.
Il got my knickerbockers for the
prance on-on underneath"
Cad, l oughta fine you out of half
a weeks salary for travelling in your
wardrobe"
Like fun you would !"
cad, can you beat it for nerve? How
the little devil talks back ~
They turned up quiet street, where
trees met over their heads in a melan-
choly arch, and on both sides of the
road, well back, lights glowed behind
drawn shades and the gabled silhou-
cites Of cottages showed through the
darkness.
He linked her arm with a slow, in
gratiating movement.
Love me, baby-doll?"
"Silly"
you and my friend Al was pretty
thick all the way up from Higgins
vile, l see, just the same. Watch out
on his bar tonight, kiddO; that was
nearly nasty fall last night. That's
what you get for treating me so cold"
Didn't! Gee the way you was flirt-
ing. with me from the wings and all
was enough to give any girl the shiv-
ers."
THAT'S what l give you, the shiv-
ers, is it? I'm some little shiver-giver,
amt l, kid? At that, you only flung
me stingy rose instead of the wreath.
Stingy Stingy!'
Jaw, 1 know you. You don't mean
nothing you say to me. Why should
/ fling a fellow a wreath that don't
mean nothing he says to me?"
"Do"