The diamond drill., 1922-02-17


Mr.. MIlholland turned from his mir
ror and looked over the edge Of q
towel at his son. In the boys eyes
there was such dumb agony OF inter-
rogation that the father was little
startled
''Why. what Is II. Ramsey? Have
you" He paused, frowning and won
dering. "You haven't been getting In
to some mess you want TO tell mo
about. have Your
mo, sir"
His tone was meek. but n mute dis
tress lurked within II. bringing to the
fathers mind disturbing suspicious.
and foreshadowings OF Indignation and
of pity. "See here, Ramsey" he said.
"If there's anything you want 10 ask
me. or 10 tell me. you'd better out with
II and get Il over. Now. what is lit"
WELT isn't anything"
"Are you suref"
Ramsey's eyes fell before the severe
and piercing gaze OF his father. 'Yes.
sir"
Mr.. Milholland shook his head doubt
fully; then. as his son walked slowly
out OF the room. he turned 10 complete
his toilet In somewhat uneasy frame
OF mind. Ramsey had undoubtedly
wanted TO say something 10 him and
the boys expression had shown that
the matter In question was serious.
distressing. and. II might be. critical. &
In fact IL was--to Ramsey. Having :
begun within only the last few hours
20 regard haberdashery as OF vital Inn
portance, and believing his father TO
be possessed Of the experience and au-
thorlty lacking IN himself, Ramsey had
come TO get him to settle a question
which had been upsetting him badly.
In his own room, since breakfast. What
he wanted 10 know was: Whether IL
was right 10 wear an extra handker-
chief showing out OF the coat breast
pocket or not, and. IL IL was right
ought the handkerchief TO have col
ored border or to be plain white? But
he had never before brought any such
perplexlties 10 his father. and found
himself too diffident TO set them forth.
a few minutes later he boldly showed
an inch OF purple border above the
pocket: then, as he saw himself about
TO encounter several old lady pedes-
trians, he blushed and thrust the hand
kerchlef down into deep concealment-
Having gone block farther. he pulled
! Il up again and so continued TO oper-
ate this badge OF fashion. or unfashlon.
throughout the morning; and suffered
great deal thereby.
Meantime his father, rather relieved
that Ramsey had not told his secret.
whatever II was, dismissed the episode
from his mind and Joined Mrs. Mil
! church.
where's RamseyT' he asked.
He's gone ahead" she answered.
buttoning her gloves as they went
along. II heard the door quite little
while ago. Perhaps he went over Ia
walk down with Charlotte and Vance.
Did you notice how neat he looks this
morning.
"why. no, | didn't; not particularly.
| Does hep
Il never saw anything like II be-
fore" said Mrs. Miholand. "Hs only
| has three neckties. but ! saw him sew
sral times In ench OF them. He must
have kept changing and changing. I
wonder She paused.
I'm glad he's begun TO take little
care OF his appearance at last. rli
I have 10 take look az him and give
him n word OF praise. | suppose he'll
be In the pew when we get there"
But Ramsey wasn't In the pew; and
Charlotte, his sister, and her husband,
VINO were there. said they hadn't seen
/ anything of him. II was not until the
members OF his family were on their
way home after the services that they
caught glimpse OF him.
They were passing a church little
distance from their own here the con-
gregation was Just emerging TO tho
open. and among the ssdate thronK
descending the broad stone steps ap-
peared an accompanied Ramsey--and
a red. red Ramsey he was when he
beheld his father and mother anil Sis-
ter and brother-in-law staring ~ IT
him from the pavement below They
were kind enough not 10 come =" VA
absolute halt. hut passed slowly un.
so that he was just able TO avoid pa
rading mp the street In front OF them.
In hoarse whispers, Mrs. Milholland
chded her husband for m exclama-
tion he had uttered. "yohn On SUM-
day You ought TO be ashamed"
II couldn't help H." he exclaimed.
who on earth is his ciinging vinef
Why. she's got lavender tops on her
shoes and"
"Don't look round" she warned him
sharply. Don't"
"Wen. what's he doing at q Baptist
church, what's he hdgeting at his
handkerchief about7 Why can't he
walk like peoplef Does ne think It's
obligatory 90 walk home from church
anchored nrm-in-hrm like swedes on