Middletown transcript., 1922-12-30

i = a.
Dowden, giggling triumpiantly. "Wha'S
now7" - : r
But where are the capsY,s a.ket
Dowden. grAvely.l J y N-Si} = 4
Folks all come,"C answered MI
Peck. with, complete. assurance
won't be no more cabs till they be
gin to 60 home" Ts-e ~
We plunged ahead as far as the
corner Of Beasley's fence, where Pecb
stopped US again, and we drew to-
gether, slapping our hands and stamp.
Ing our feet. Peck was delighted-a
thoroughly happy man his sour giggle
OF exultation had become continuous,
and the same jovial break was audi
BILE In CRISIS voice as he said IN tho
journal reporter and me:
go ahead, boys. Git your story.
Wen wait here fer you."
Ihe Journal reporter started to-
wafd the gate; he had gone, perhaps
twenty feet when Simeon Peck whist
led in sharp warning. The reporter
stopped short In his tracks. T.
Beasley's front door was thrown
open, and there stood Beasley himself
IN evening dress, bowing and smiling,
but NOT at u.s. for he did not see U.S.
me bright hall behind him was beau
tiful with evergreen streamers and
wreaths, and great Towering plants i'm
jars. A strain of dance-music wandered
out to US as the door opened, but there
was nobody except David Beasley in
sight, which certainly seemed peculiar
for n ball
REST Of 'em inside, dancn'," ex-
planned Mr.. Peck, crouching behind
the pcket-fence. "It'll be the house is
more'n half full o. low-necked VIM
mini"
SSH" said Grist. Listen to Dave
Beasley."
Beasley had begun to speak, and his
voice, loud and clear, sounded over
the wind. "Come right in, Colonel !"
he said. "Td have sent cab
FOR you If you hadn't telephoned me
this afternoon that your rheumatism
was SO bad you didn't expect to be
able to come. I'm glad you're well
again. Yes. they're oil here, and the
ladies are getting up a dance in the
sitting-room"
1t was at this moment that I re-
ceived upon the calf Of the right leg
kick, the ecstatic violence of which
led me to attribute it, and rightly, to
Mr. Dowden) q
"Gentlemen's dressing-room up-
stairs to the right. Colonel" called
Beasley, as he closed the door,
There was n pause of awed silence
among us.
Il improved 1t by returning the
Kick to Mr.. Dowden. He made no
Acknowledgements of its reception other
than to sink his chin little deeper
into the collar of his ulster.)
"By the Almighty said Simeon
Peck, hoarsely. "Who-what was
Dave Beasley talkin to? There wasn't
nobody there."
cit out Grist bade him; but his
tone was perturbed. "He seen that
reporter. He ives givin' us the
laugh"
Hes crazy!' exclaimed Peck, ve-
hemently.
Immediately all four members of his
party began to talk at the same time.
Mr. Schulmeyer agreeing with Grist,
and Mr.. Cullop holding with Peck
that Beasley had surely become in
sane; while the Journal man, re-
was certain that he had not
been seen. Argument became
excitement over the remark
able scene we had witnessed, and,
perhaps, certain sharpness partially
angendered by the risk of freezing,
led to some bitterness. High words
were flung upon the wind. Eventually,
for moment.
"See here, boys, there's no use
yittin' mad amongs ourselves" he
zone thing we're all
lgreed on: nobody here never seen no
such a dam peculiar performance as
We jest seen in their whole lives be-
'ore. Thurfore, ball or no ball, there's
mighty wrong about this
business. Amt that SOP"
They said it was.
"Well, then, there's only one thing
o do-let's find out what it is"
You bet we WILL"
81 wouldn't send no one in there
llone," Peck went on, excitedly, with
/ crazy man. Besides, want to see
what's goin' on, myself"
"And so do wet" This declaration
vas unanimous.
"Then let's see ff there amt some
way to do it. Perhaps he amt pulled
Ill the shades down on the other side
he house. Lots O. people fergit to do
hat"
There was but one mind in the party
'egarding this proposal. The next
minute saw us all cautiously sneak
ng into the side yard, a ragged line
# bent and Tapping figures, black
gainst the snow.
Simeon Peck's expectations were full
illed--more than fulfilled. Not only
we're all the shades of the big three.
aced bay-window of the sitting room
Ifted but (evidently on account of
he too great generosity of huge log
ire that blaZed in the old-fashioned
one Of the windows
vas half-raised as we'll. Here, in the
hadow just beyond the rosy oblongs
f light that fell upon the snow, we
altered and looked freely within