The Ocala evening star., 1922-12-22

"Yes, Mr.. Beasley?" / encouraged
him, for he seemed 10 have dried up
permanently.
'WeTl, sir-I guess Hadn't you
better see some one else about that"
This with the air of a man who
would be but too fluent and copious
upon any subject in the world except
the one particular point.
/ never met anybody else who looked
so pleasantly communicative and man
aged to say so little. In fact, he didn't
say anything at all; and I guessed
that this faculty was not without its
value in his political career, disastrous
as it had proved TO his private happi-
ness. His habit of silence, moreover,
was not cultivated: you could see
that "the secret OF it" was that he was
born quiet.
My notebook remained noteless,
and finally, at some odd evasion Of
his. accomplished by a monosyllable,
/ laughed outrfght-and he did, tool
He Joined cachinnations with me
heartily, and with a twinkling quiZZi
caIness that somehow gave me the
idea that he might be thinking (rather
apologetically) to himself: "Yes, sir,
that old Beasley man Is certainly
mighty funny critter!''
When l went away. a few moments
later, and left him still internationally
chuckling, the impression remained
with me that he had some such depre-
catory and surreptitious thought.
Two or three days after that, as
started downtown from Mrs. Apper-
thwaite's,, Beasley came out of his
gate, bound in the same direction. He
gave me look of gay recognition and
offered his hand, saying, 'Well! Up
I'm this neighborhood !" as If that were
a matter of considerable astonishment.
I mentioned that l was a neighbOr,
and we walked on together. l don't
think he spoke again, except for a
"Well, sir!' or two Of genial surprise
at something I said, and, now and
then, you don't tell mev' which he
had a most eloquent way of eXclaim-
ing; but he listened visibly to my own
talk, and laughed at everything that
I meant for funny.
I never knew anybody who gave one
q greater responsiveness; he seemed
to be with you every instant; and how
he made you feel 1t was the true mys-
terry Of Beasley, this silent man who
never talked, except Gas my cousin
said) to children.
hoT hot hnc q
we were both starting down town, and
! walked on with him, several days in
succession; in a word, it became a
habit. Then, one afternoon, as
turned to leave him at the Despatch
office, he asked me if I would drop in
at his house the next day for cigar
before l started. l did; and he asked
me If l would come again the day
after that. So this became a habit
J too.
A fortnight elapsed before / met
| Hamilton Swift, Junior; for he, pool
! little father of dream-children, could
| be no spectator of track events upon
the lawn, but lay in his bed upstairs
However, he grew better at last, and
my presentation took place.
We had just finished our cigars ir
Beasley's airy, old-fashioned sitting
room," and were rising to go, wher
there came the faint creaking Of small
wheels from the hall. Beasley turned
to me with the apologetic and mono
syllable chuckle that was distinctly
his alone.
"Tve got little chap here" he
said; then went to the door. Bob 7
The old darky appeared in the door
| way pushing little wagon like a re
clining-chair on wheels, and in 1t sal
Hamilton Swift, Junior.
My first impression of him was thai
he was all eyes l couldn't look at any
thing else for a time. and was hardly
conscious Of the rest of that wea
zened, peaked little face and the under
sized wisp of body with its pathetic
adjuncts Of metal and leather. I thinl
they were the brightest eyes I evel
saw-as keen and intelligent as {
wicked old woman's, withal as trust
full and CHEEKY as the eyes of setter
pup.
"Hoo-rayl"
Thus the Honorable Mr.. Beasley
waving a handkerchief thrice arount
his head and thrice cheering.
And the child. In that cricket
voice Of his, replied:
"Br-r-ra-vor
This was the form Of salutation Ca
miliarly IN use between them. Beas
ley followed it by inquiring, who
with us today?"
I'm Mister Swift" chirped the littl
fellow. Mister Swift, If you please
Cousin David Beasley."
Beasley executed a formal bow
There is a gentleman here who'd Ek
to meet you" And he presented m
with some grave phrases commenda
tory of my general character, address
ing the child as Mister Swift"
whereupon Mister Swift gave me
ghostly little hand and professed hin
self glad to meet me.
"And besides me-" he added, {
Beasley, there's Bill Hammersley en-
Mr.. Corley Linbridge."
A faint perpIexfty manifested itsel
upon Beasleys face at this, a shadov
which cleared at once when l asked
/ might not be permitted to meet thes
personages, remarking that s. 1 ha
heard from DoWden Of Bill Hammer
ley, though until now a stranger
the fame of Mr.. Corley Linbridge.
Beasley performed the ceremon
with intentional elegance, while th