The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1922-12-22


Miss Approximate was at home the
following Saturday. I found her in
the library with Lies Miserables" on
her knee when came down from my
room d 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
little awkwardness but plenty of
truth, five found out that I'm an aw-
full fool
But that's something" she returned
encouragingIy at least the beginning
Of wisdom"
81 mean about Mr.. Beasley-the
mystery was absurd enough to find
in 'Simpledoria.' want to tell you
oh, know" she said; and al
though she laughed with an effect OF
carelessness. 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,
as If she did not like to be too easily
read. ave heard all about it. Mr..
BeasIey's been appointed trustee or
something for poor Hamilton Swift's
son, pitiful little invalid boy who in
vents all sorts of characters. The old
\ darlzy from over there told our cook
about Bill Hammersley and Simple
doria. So. you see, / understand"
sI'm glad Won do" said.
A little hardness zone might even
have thought it bifterness-became
apparent in her expression. "And I'm
glad there's somebody in that house.
at last, with a little imagination!' r
From everything I have heard"
returned. sumnoning sufficient bold
ness, st 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 a
sudden. half-startled look Of trouble
Il can think of no other way to ex-
press it, that leaped into It; and she
rose, for the lunch-belI was ringing.
s'I'm just finishing the death of Jean
tu4JCdus JOu hAOW, AZ ACo NAlNcI-
ables.' she said. as we moved to the
door. "I'm always afraid I'll cry over
that. ! try not to, because it makes
my eyes red"
And, in truth, there was a vague
rumpr of tears about her eyes-not as
II she had shed them. but more as If
she were going to-though had not
noticed it when came in.
That afternoon, when /
reached the Despatch Office, / was
commissioned to obtain certain politi-
cal information from the Honorable
David Beasley, an assignment I ac-
cepted with eagerness. notwithstand-
ing the c0mmiseration 1t brought me
from one or two of my fellows in the
reporters room. "You won't get any
thing out Of himl" they said. And
they were true prophets.
found him looking over some docu-
ments In his Office; a reflective, I'M
lighted cigar in the corner of his
mouth: his chair tilted back and his
feet on window-sill. He nodded,
upon my statement of the affair that
brought me, and without shifting his
position, gave me look of slow but
wholly friendly scrutiny over his
shoulder. and babe me sit down. i
began at once to put the questions /
was told to ask him-interrOgation
che seemed to believe) satisfactorily
answered by slowly and ruminatiyely
stroking the left side of his chin with
two long fingers of his right hand the
while ne smiled in genial contempla-
tion Of tarred roof beyond the win
dow. Now and then he would,give me
a mild and drawing word or two. not
brilliantly illuminative, 1t may be re-
marked. "Well--about that" he be-
gan once, and then came immediately
to a full stop.
''Yes" ! said, hopefully. my pencil
poised.
About that guess"
''Yes. Mr.. Beasley?" I encouraged
him, for he seemed to have dried up
permanently.
well. sir-I guess Hadn't you
better see some one else about thatY'
This with the air Of 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
80 pleasantly communicative and man.
aged to say so little. In fact. he didn't
sag anything at all; and guessed
that this faculty was not without its
value In his political career, disastrous
a. u had proved to his private happi-
ness His habit of silence. moreover,
was Hof cultivated: you could see
that "fpe secret Of 1t" was that he was
born qllet.
sly 4ote-hook remained noteless,
ana nHai'y- at some odd evasionS Of
ne. accumulated by a monosyllabIe,
laughed o'Elsht-and he did, Zoo.