The Ocala evening star., 1922-12-25
BEAsLEY's CHRISTMAS PARTY

Dowden, giggling triumphantly. "Wha'd d
/ tell you! How do you feel about II
now?"
But where are the cabsT' asked
Dowden, grayely.
Folks all come" answered Mr.
Peck, with complete assurance.
Won't be no more cabs till they be-
gin to go home"
We plunged ahead as far as the
corner Of Beasley's fence. where Peck
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 joviaI break was audi
BILE In CRISIS voice as he said to the
Journal reporter and me:
go ahead, boys. Git your story.
Wen wait here fer you"
The Journal reporter started to-
ward the gate; he had gone, perhaps
led in sharp warning. The reporter
stopped short In his tracks.
Beasley's front door was thrown
open, and there stood Beasley himself
In evening dress, bowling and smiling,
but not at US, for he did not see us.
The bright hall behind him was beau
tiful with evergreen streamers and
wrea his, and great Towering plants in
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 a BALI
'Rest of 'em inside, dancin'," ex-
planned Mr.. Peck, crouching behind
the picket-fence. It'll be the house is
more'n half full o. low-necked vim
minG
"Sh!" said Grist. Listen to Dave
Beasley."
BeasIey had begun to speak, and his
voice, loud and clear, sounded over
the wind. "Come right in, Colonel ~
he said. I'D 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 we'll
again. Yes, they're all here, and the
ladies are getting up a dance in the
sitting-rOom."
Ut was at this moment that / re-
ceived upon the calf of the right leg
q kick the ecstatic violence of which
led me to attribute 1t, and rightly, to
Mr.. Dowden.)
"Gentlemen's dressing-room up
stairs to the right, Colonel" called
Beasley, as he closed the door.
There was a pause Of awed silence
among US.
q improved 1t by returning the
acknowledgment Of its reception other
than to sink his elm a 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!"
"Git out" Grist bade him; but his
tone was perturbed. "He seen that
reporter. He was givin us the
laugh"
Hes crazy!' exclaimed Peck, We
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-
turning, was certain that he had not
been seen. Argument became a
wrangle; excitement over the remark
able scene we had witnessed, and,
perhaps, a certain sharpness partially
engendered by the risk of freezing,
led to some bitterness. High words
were flung upon the wind Eventually,
Simeon Peck got the floor to himself
for a moment.
"See here, boys, there's no use
gittin' mad amongs' ourselves" he
vociferated. "One thing we're all
agreed on: nobody here never seen no
such dam peculiar performance as
we jest seen in their whole lives be-
fore. Thurfore, ball or no ball, there's
somep'n' mighty wrong about this
business Amt that sop
They said it was.
"Well, then,- there's only one thing
to do-let's find out what 1t is"
'YOu bet we WILL"
81 wouldn't send no one in there
alone" Peck went on, excitedly. "vith
a crazy man. Besides. I want to see
what's g0in' on, myself"
"And so do wei" This declaration
was unanimous.