The Farmington times. (Farmington, St. Francois County, Mo.) 1905-1926, 1922-12-15
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PART I.--Newcomer in a small town,
a young newspaper man, who tells the
story, Is amazed by the nnaccountable
actions of man who. from. the window
Of q fine house, apparently has converse
with Invisible personages. particularly
mentioning one "Simpledoria." The youth
goes to his boarding house. the homo OF
Mxs. Apperthwaite, next door to the scene
OF the strange proceedings. bewildered.
his strange neighbor IL the Hon. David
Beasley, prominent politician, and uni
versally respected. Telling OF his last
ntght's experience. he is markedly inter-
rupted by Q fellow boarder, a Mr.. George
p6wden. Later. with Miss Apperthwaite.
he fs an unseen witness Of purely
imaginary jumping contest between Beas-
ley and q "Bill Hammersley." Miss
Appertbwaite appears deeply concerned,
PLANTATION of the strange proceedings.
PART III.-The reporter learns that
Beasley and Miss Apperthwaite had at
one time been engaged. and that the
young lady had broken the engagement
because OF Beasley's lack of imagina-
tipn."
PART Iv.-The mystery" Of Simple
doria" and bill HammerBley' is ex-
planned by Mr.. Dowden. Beasley is car
Ing for a small boy, Hamilton Swift.
Junior, a helpless invalid bodily though
more than ordinarily bright mentally, the
son OF dear friends who are dead. and
.sSimpledoria" and "BHl Hammersley''
are creatures Of Beasiey's and the small
boys Imagination, Beasley humoring the
little sufferer by the play acting"
v.
Miss Apperthwaite was at home the
following Saturday. found her In
the library with Lies Mlserables" on
her knee when came down from my
room a little before lunch time; and
she looked up and gave me smile
that made me feel sorry for any one
she had ceased to smile upon.
II wanted to tell you" said, with
a little awkwardness but plenty Of
truth, "I've found out that I'm an aw-
full fool"
"But that's something" she returned
encouragingly--"at least the beginning
OF WISDOM"
Il mean about MIR. Beasley-the
mystery l was absurd enough to find
In 'Slmpledoria.' l want to tell you
"Oh, l know" she said; and al
though she laughed with an effect OF
careiessness, that look which / had
thought 'far away" returned to her
eyes as she spoke. There was a GER
tain inscrutability about Miss Apper'
thwaite sometimes, 1t should be added
Us If she did not like to be too easily
read. 1--WE heard all about 1t. Mr.
Beasley's been appointed trustee OF
something for poor Hamilton Swift's
son, a pitlful little invalid boy who in
vents all sorts of characters. The old
darby from over there told our cook
about Bill Hammersley and Simple
dOrla. So, you see, understand"
sim glad you do" said.
A little hardness-one might even
have thought 1t bitterness-became
apparent in her expression. "And I'm
glad there's somebody in that house
az last, with a little Imagination"
"From everything I have heard
EeLuTuCut buluLhVhAh6 ouhANACht bV'h
ness, ut would be difficult to say
which has more--Mr. Beasley or the
child"
Her glance fell from mine at this
but not quickly enough to conceal 0
sudden, half-startled look Of trouble
Il can think of no other way to ex'
press IT. that leaped into 1t; and she
rose, for the lunch-bell was ringing.
"I'm just finishing the death of Jean
Vatican, you know, in Les Miser-
ables,'" she said, as we moved to the
door. "Pm always afraid I'll cry over
that. try not to, because 1t makes
my eyes red"
And, in truth, there was vague
rumor of tears about her eyes-not as
II she had shed them, but more as II
she were going to--though I had moi
noticed 1t when came in.
That afternoon, when
reached the Despatch Office, l wal
commissioned to obtain certain politi
cal information from the Honorable
David Beasley, an assignment | ac
eepted with eagerness, notwitlstand