Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1922-08-02
Mary or
Eloise?
Which
Should Win
Unusual Hero?

lts nav. First be was duly robbed by
Heioise's recommended tailor, barber,
and haberdasher; then, self conscious
ana eiated, secretly grinning at his own
spiendor, he strOlled forth into the
quick stepping Fifth avenue crowd, He
walked with a cowboys rhythmic step,
ana, as the man inside the clothes
radiated originality, he attracted more
attention than he guessed, O lfeed
New York. 1t stirred and stimulated
MIN. Shop-windows, women, motors,
towering cliffs of stone, the canyons that
sent In their streams OF trucks and
taxicabs and hurrying travellers to the
great rivers Of traffic--every one of
these aspects hurried his blood. A man
VINO loitcrs and looks is man who
courts adventure. Q's temperament
was naturally lightning conductor.
I From the revolving glass door of large
store there stepped out slim and tall
lady in furs, n sumptuous Indy, white
faced and yellow haired IL the two
waved specimens above her ears were
to be trusted; as she trod past Q. just
glancing nt him with monkey brown
eyes, he saw, slnartly dressed youth
slide hand into the loop Of her shop.
ping bag and so cleverly relieve her of
1t that she did not so much as feel
its absence. The youth. however. was
smitten by prompt justice-a bolt from
the blue. He slid several yards along
the pavement, and Q, hardly breathing
more rapidly, relieved him Of his booty
and returned it to its owner.
There was n quick assembling Of an
appreciative crowd. the thicf WAS put
into the hands Of the law, and q, glow
ing with unexpected conspicuousncss,
gave his odd name to the authorities,
who made much Of its oddity, as did the
crowd, and. turning to receive his
thanks from the firrcd lady, found that
she had gone. This hurt his feelings
But it ought to have warned him past
any danger Of ensuing folly. What
happened next was so completely his
own fault that it could hardly be called
n happening; emphatically New York
was not to blame.
q )unched at Delmonico's because,
even in the remotest West. that res.
taurant. in the mind of cowboy and
ranchmnn. still stands for all that can
be imagined Of metropolitan fashion and
astronomical delight. lie placed him.
self on chair that faced the entrance
door. as though he were waiting for
a lunch companion. and there he studied
the rites of restaurant procedure until,
feeling mastery. he rose, checked what
should be checked, tipped who should
be tipped. and bought himself n small
tnblc not too near the music and pleas
antly near an open window There
he studied first the menu. consulting
gravely with his waiter. then, less con-
ccrncdly, his surroundings. At tho
nearest table, with her back to him. sat
the sumptuous lady with furS and blonde
hair.
She was lunching with man. better
dressed even than Q and less conscious
of it. He seemed, in fact, to be con
scious of very little in his own personal J.
ity and to care not ut all what impress.
sion he might be making on the world
nt large. He did not look like man
who probes any deeper than a mirror
surface into his own consciousness. llf
was, however, interested in some fash
ion. in the sumptuous lady. q had nc
business to listen to the conversation ai
this table. and having listened. he had
less business to resent 1t. No one wa
complaining of his own somewhat un.
usual manipulation Of forks and spoons
nor Of his filial attitude toward the
waiter. Nevertheless. q listened. H'
fcl, that fate must have meant some.
thing by its miscEievous trick of coin
cldcnce.
@ Struck Hard
The man was talking. His glabrous'
edpcloss voice flowed over the woman
and @ began to feel that it would cling
to her. Q had heard plenty Of vile con-
versation. he had heard filthy epithet'
such as this speaker would probably be
incapable of imagining, but he had neve
heard man, sane. sober. deccntl!
. clad, so deliberately insult delicately
nurturpd woman. She sat very still HI
could only see her back, except when
by turning his head Il fraction, he con
shifted n reflection, but this told hin
-, that she was cool featured, slim, ever!
detail of her perfectly chosen and ar
ranged. Her face had reddened lips
, her hair was probably doctorcd, bu
, she was gcntlewOmnn, or what in
democratic country passes for one:
married woman. for her left hand rest
ing Oh the table bore n plain bant
smothercd in bodyguard Of jewels
She listened to the man and gave M
; sign OF anger. only that - saw mel
moisten her painted lips.
When he had seen this little betray
ing action more than twice. and when
ched. Q found himself being ,unwillingl
. dragged out Of his seat. God knows NJ
didn't want to make n scene. God knows
he hated a row as any peaceful COW
, boy hates It, God knows 1t was all nom
Of his business and the West hates {
, busybody, but God knows, too. that n
, man with real blood in his body coult
, sit still and suffer woman to be 81
,, shamefully entreated. Besides. he ha'
already rescued her purse; wasn't he
nride of more importance to her?
White with discomfort, Q presented
himself before the large bodied, sleek
3 headed disturber Of his peace.
+ "I'm right sorry to butt in he said
. "but | cant lot lady be spoken t.
, thisaway in my hearing And. n
= the man cattered suddenly to his feet
t q struck.
They were forcibly torn apart fey
] seconds later by mob of white e,lippe
walters. q, having satisfied honor
f was ready to defend his action and t
. explain himself--he had opened hi
t mouth to do so when all virtue wn
taken out by him by the object OF hi
. chiyalry. She STOOD no whittier tina
before, her lips as red, queer. half
I amused, half -disgusted smile In he
v monkey brown eyes.
z "He simply for no reason in the worl
0 attacked my husband she sal
Y quite clearly and rather loud; i thin
= he must be out of his mind
n Q wilted. His defense died. He wa!
v il would seem, about to be placed undo
& arrest. A policeman had been sum
n ..,,