The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1922-12-04

SIS he liked to call America Dan put
Walt Whitman into his hands and
afterwards regretted It, for Allen de-
veloped an attack of acute Whitmania
that tried Dams patience severely.
Dan had passed through Whitman at
college and emerged safely on the
other side. He begged Allen not to
call him "camerado" or lift so often
the perpendicular hand. He sug.
gested to him that while It might be
fine and patriotic TO declaIm
When Hlacs last in the dooryard
bIoom'd.'
from the steps OF the monument at
midnight, the police might take an
other view of the performance. He
began to see, however, that beneath
much that was whimsical and senti-
mental the young fellow was sincerely
interested in the trend of things in
what. during this Whitman period, he
called these States" Sometimes
Aliens remarks on current events
struck Harwood by their wisdom: the
boy was wholesomely provocative and
stimulating. He began to feel that he
understood him. and in his own home
lessness Allen became a resource.
Allen was a creature Of moods, and
vanished often for days OF weeks He
labored f1tfully in his carpenter shop
at home or with equal irregularity at
bench in the shop of Luders, a
cabinetmaker. Dan sometimes sought
him at the shop. which was a head
quarters for radicals Of all sorts. The
workmen showed a great fondness for
Allen. who had been much in Ger
many and spoke their language we'll
He carried to the shop quantities of
German books and periodicals for
their enlightenment. The shops visit
crs included several young Americans,
among them a newspaper artist, a
Yiolinist in a theater orchestra, and
q linotype expert.
Allen was a friendly soul and every
one liked him. It was impossible not
to like a lad whose ways were so
gentle, whose smile was so appealing.
He liked dancing and went to most
Of the parties-our capital has not
outgrown its homely provincial habit
OF calling all social entertainments
parties" He was unfaIlingly courte.
GUS, with a manner toward women
slightly elaborate and reminiscent Of
other times. There was no question
OF his social acceptance; mothers OF
daughters. who declined to speak to
his fatheg, welcomed him to their
houses.
Allen introduced Dan to the house
holds he particularly fancied and they
made calls together on Dams free
evenings or on Sunday afternoons.
Snohbishness was a late arrival among
US; any young man that any one
vouehed for might know the INCEST"
girls. Harwood's social circle was
widening; Fitch and his wife said
good word for him in influential quar-
tiers, and the local Yale men had not
neglected him Allen liked the the
alter, and exercised considerable inge-
nuity in devising excuses for paying
for the tickets when they took young
women OF their acquaintance. He pre-
teided to Dan that he had free tickets
or 60. them at a discount HIS father
made him a generous allowance and
he bought a motor car in which he
declared Dan had half interest; they
needed II, he said. for their social ad-
ventures.
At the Thatcher house. Harwood
caught fltful glimpses Of Aliens
father, a bird Of passage Injured TO
sleeping-cars. Occasionally Harwood
dlned with the father and son and
they would all adjourn to Aliens shop
on the third floor to smoke and talk.
When Allen gave rein to his fancy
he
grandeur Of the Republic and the
Beautiful Experiment making in
these States" Dan would see a blank
puzzled look steal into Thatcher's
face.
Thatcher had not been among
Bassett's callers in the new office in
the Boordman. but late one afternoon,
when Dan was deep in the principles
of evidence, Thatcher came in.
I'm not expecting Mr.. Bassett to-
day, II you wish TO see him. said
Dan
Nope" Thatcher replied IN
differently. I'm not looking for Mort.
He's in FraserviIle. happen TO
know. Just talking to him on the
telephone. so I rather guessed you
we're alone; that's why came up.
want to talk TO you a little bit, Har-
wood. It must be nearly closing
time, so suppose you lock the door.
You Sea-" he continued. idling about
the room, Morris in the newspapers
a good deal, and not being any such
terrible sinner as he is I don't care
TO have his labels tackled on me too
much. Not that Mort isn't one Of
my best friends, you know: but
family man like me has got to be
careful of his reputation"
HARDWOOD opened his drawer and
took out box of cigars. Thatcher
accepted one and lighted 1t deliberate
did so. He even strolled through the
library to the open door Of Bassett's
private room beyond. The map of
Indiana suspended above Bassett's
desk interested him and he stood lean
ing on his stick and surveying it.
There was something the least bit in
sinuating in his manner. The room,
the map, the fact that Morton Bas-
sett OF Fraservills had. so to speak,
planted a vedette in the heart Of the
capital. seemed to afford him mild,
cynical amusement. He drew his
hand across his face, twisted his
mustache, and took the cigar from
his mouth and examined the end of it
with fictitious interest
We'll" he CALCULATED, damn It all,
why not?"
H1rrood SID ma Irro-r ~x-h- -.